But should we use the downloaded SP2 OR wait for the CD? I don't want to mess-up SP1, but I am anxious to upgrade. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

Sandybar- You stated you were using a Diamond Fire card. In talking with Mastercam tech support many years ago, they always said that they would "cringe" when a customer mentioned Diamond products. Go for the nvidia card, a Ti4400 and your problem will be solved. My boss just purchased a new machine for me and in trying to save money, installed a Radeon 9600 (ATI card) and it crashed right away. Installed the Ti4400 and problem solved. Glen Stephens with Cad-Cam Consulting here in So. Cal. recommended away from the Ati and to get the nvdia. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

Ditto- Create letters, box. Been using it for years to engrave forging dies on all kinds of surfaces. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

Thanks guys. But how do you stitch surfaces into a single sheet?

We are using MC8.1sp1 and 9.1 at work. I'm starting to use solids instead of surfacing to build forging dies for valve body forgings. Because of natural draft used in forgings, I have always used surfacing. But because of the ability to trim a solid to a surface now in 8.1, this has become easier. Now to cut through the BS, my question is this. Can you now trim a solid to MULTIPLE surfaces in 9.1. I hope this question isn't too convoluted. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA [ 05-01-2003, 12:42 AM: Message edited by: Die Sinker ]

Our dealer in So. Cal. told us last week that we would get ours in about a month. Can't wait! Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

To All- Many who are protesting the war to oust that jerk from Iraq, seem to be saying we are rushing to war. Veterans know better. They do not want war, but they know we have a job that needs to be done. I have an 18 yr. old son who is in the 1st Cav and is being deployed to Iraq. He volunteered last July and has wanted to go since Sept. 11th. We are praying that he and all those men and women of our armed forces return safely. Veteran 3/60, 9th Inf. Div., 1966-67 Mekong Delta, South Vietnam Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA [ 02-07-2003, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Die Sinker ]

When I have trouble like this, I do "Modify, X to Nurbs, Surfaces". Click the surface, then trim. It has worked for me before with "seemingly difficult to trim surfaces". It has been a while since I needed to do this, but someone else might have used this as well. Try it. It can't hurt. But, as others have stated, get the construction plane correct. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

To All- Nobody mentioned LOCKING the toolpath after generating. Always seems to work for me(3D multi-surf paths) in 8.1.1 and 9. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA

Republic of Vietnam 1966-67 U. S. Army- Mekong Delta 9th Infantry Div. To all who served and those now in harm's way- I salute you. Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

See you tomorrow, Jay. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises Santa Fe Springs, CA

What a small world. I have a cabin in Wrightwood, my grandfather built it in 1926. I just wish I could use it more. Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

I never miss these! See you guys there. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA

In our small shop (Haas V2 and V4, Seaburg 120x48 and large Viper) we make forging dies. Each one of the four of us draws, programs AND cuts his own work AND is responsible for his work and production. We are all well paid and the boss doesn't question what's being done. Maybe this is the way some shops should be set-up. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA

Thanks James- That suggestion worked great. No more errors, no more corruption. Those two friends you spoke of are bright people and can catch on quick. Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

No real explanation. It just gets corrupted and this is the FIX. I did find that I can replicate the problem by using the C-Hook SETDIRS. That's a bummer,because I use this a lot to set project directories. Anybody have this occur with this C-Hook? Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

Got an answer from Rob D. at Cad-Cam Consulting today about this problem. Just delete the mill.cfg file from MC and restart MC. The application reverts to old defaults and runs fine- NO warning messages! Gary Armitstead Burbank,CA

Thank you. Did that, but no change. Gary Armitstead Burbank,CA

To All- I have been a user for over 10 years! I should know how to do this,but...... This morning when I started MC, during startup, I got a warning that said "WARNING! Library not found"(CMCAM8my project namedefaults.df8). I did not change anything the night before. Any suggestions? MC v 8.1.1 and all patches! Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

Marc- I am running the GE Force Ti 4400(128 mgs) on a Pentium 2gig machine and it works extremely well with MCam. The trouble has to be in the settings. Go to the nvidia tab and check the settings and drivers. Gary Armitstead Burbank, CA

Hopefully it has been fixed. I started using it right away at its initial release earlier this year. But I had so much trouble with toolpaths that I had full confidence with in V8 (and the boss was'nt real tickled either) that I have used V8 since then. But after hearing all the raves about V9 SP1 here, I will start using it again Monday morning. No pain, no gain. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA

Just my .02 here. This country's workforce IS the smartest in the world! I am in a very small die shop in So. Cal. We used to produce many forging dies for Boeing. That is by far the most predatory company on the face of the planet. If anyone has seen the program on PBS on the 777, you know exactly what I mean. A small manufacturing plant in Australia was making tail section parts for the 777. They had a short margin for delivery-almost impossible to meet, but they did. But of course some engineers in Seattle made some last minute design changes to their parts and said the small company STILL had to meet the deadline. They didn't and delivered their parts late and of course were fined by Boeing in their infinite wisdom. There are many stories like this that I know about personally. As far as the Russians meeting a faster and more productive criteria, that's pure horse****! We had a couple of Russian die makers working for us. They were worthless and technically in the manufacturing Dark Ages. They had no clue! Maybe Boeing and these other worldwide manufacturers should have thought about this many years ago when they started sending work overseas(Cheaper is better attitude). Because very soon we WILL be in a war with Iran and probably most of the Middle East. There won't anybody left to do the defense work and these United States will be in BIG DO-DO. If I sound bitter, you're right. There should be many more replies to this thread. Hopefully this will start it. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises (Forging dies for defense) Burbank, CA

I have had a similar problem with V9. Draw a horizontal or vertical line and it crashes MC. Don't know about the number of lines drawn, but it occurs frequently. I draw a few lines and then save. I use AUTOSAVE frequently. I still like V9 for its toolpath enhancements, but I believe we need a patch here quick. I just refuse to go back to V8.1.1! Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises ElMonte,CA

JSP MOLD- I have a Haas post I have used in V7, V8 and V9 in a Haas V2 and V4 and never had this problem. I do multi-surf and 2D and it works great. Let me know if you can use it. Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA

Hi Jay- I was planning to attend, but I had a die I just had to complete. With the industry in a very slow state, we have to please the customer with fast delivery dates. But, Mastercam is the software keeping us in business! Gary Armitstead Santa Fe Enterprises El Monte, CA