12 hours ago, cncappsjames said:

2020's been stable though for me since getting the installation squared away. However, it takes over a minute to launch. I looked at the log and there are no issues there. With the specs on my rig, the launch should be near instantaneous.

My new work computer is slower than death, esp with Mastercam....   Not quite the specs you have, but it has very good specs for a laptop.  Slower than death for everything in comparison to my 4 year old personal rig...

7 hours ago, David Colin said:

i'm looking for adapters KM63XMZ to Capto C6 or C5.

I've never heard of one.  But there isn't any reason why one could be made as a special.  Anything specific you need one for, why not just build the whole tool out in KM?

I have models for an m560v.  Pretty similar no?  I have a sim setup, but need to redo it, as I stupidly built it in inch....  Wasn't thinking that day.  Works fine, as a manual check just doesn't properly do collision detection.

CALL OO88 is just an offset calculator for 3+2 (5ax config) or 3+1(4th planar) work work only. Takes your starting offset and calculates the needed offset based on the angle inputs.  It's main advantage is that it uses the kinematic offsets in the control instead of them being hard coded in the program.  Generally speaking the macro also has framework for many different types of machines built into it.  When initially setup you have to configure the macro for you machine, but if the kinematic offsets get updated down the road you shouldn't have to do anything to the CALL OO88 program.

Do either of the above take into account accel/decel or allow you to put those values in? 

I would assume this to be correct, as the each brand of self locking form is likely under patent, where separate methods are patented.  They can't copy each other exactly, but the fact that it is self locking is likely not patent-able anymore.  Therefore the method of which they do it is, and therefore is different. 

Someone please correct me if my assumptions are incorrect.

Are you using coolant or oil?  What does the thread finish look like?  I am assuming you are using a rigid tapping cycle as well?  Have you tried a snycroflex tap holder?  Is the tap showing any signs of wear or galling?

2 hours ago, Grievous said:

All of you... watch and learn

https://twitter.com/engineers_feed/status/1103628364684972032?lang=en

 

I thought that one was very tasteful when I first saw it.  All you gotta do is.....

14 hours ago, Tinger said:

You can adjust the minimum arc radius on the dynamic toolpaths to control an internal rounding radius.

Not on dynamic contour finish passes.  This is where having arc feedrate adjustment and the ability to add an internal corner radius value would be nice.

Operation Defaults, Template Files, and Operation Libraries ready for import is all I can suggest.

I wish that was in the dynamic contour toolpath also, that and being able to add an internal corner rounding radius when it goes into a sharp, that way you don't need to draw extra geometry. 

7 hours ago, lowcountrycamo said:

I took the 5x post class with Colin but is has been a couple years now and forgot about that switch.

It has been a dogs age since that class hasn't it been.

Under further review, look for this in the post and change it from a zero to a one and your problem should be solved without needing a workaround.  However if you ever want to force this behavior to work it was, you know how to work with it if you need to.

frc_cinit    : 0

FYI, I just tested this.

I'm assuming C is your primary axis.  Put a value of 360 in mi4$, and see what it does.  If it doesn't act like you want also see what happens when you flip on or off biasnull in the post.  Shouldn't effect things in a toolchange, but it would between operations.  I recall this being an issue for me on the routers, but I can't remember what happened in the posted code.  I do recall hand editing this from time to time, but usually didn't care, as 99% of the time I never worked from with the spindle vertical.

If none of the above works, create a plane that would force the C to 0 with the A tipped slightly from 0, and add a retract point operation before the toolchange so it will force the c to zero , and the tool change.

Otherwise to fix it in the post you would need to get the variable name to initialize/update in the post during tool change to reset to the value in mi4$, you might be successful in getting this from your reseller, or having them make the mod to make it work for free.

6 hours ago, 5th Axis CGI said:

figured if I can hit the 5 Cubes per horsepower mark Ingersoll says is supported with  there tools on a 100 HP spindle I shouldn't have any problem hitting at least 280 to 350 cubes.

And I'm doing amazing if I can get over 15 cubes cutting Ti....  Horsepower and Torque are not my limiting factors.  Previous to this project 50 taper spindles have treated me well.  My opinion of them has changed greatly. 

Wishing I had an aluminum project to work on with some hogging on it.  Given you are cutting aluminum you shouldn't have to worry too much about bending moment at the spindle connection.  But do pay attention to it, you don't want to exceed it's capability.  Long gage lengths creep up on you, and all of a sudden you are scratching your head as to why your holders are fretting.

For reference, a CAT 50 connection has a bending moment capability of 940Lb-ft.  HSK-100A is 1105, HSK125 2139.  If you need more, which in the world of high strength materials, is absolutely necessary, then you option for more connection strength is to go KM4X100 @ 3540Lb-ft, and KM4X125 @ 5310 LB-ft.

As far as strategy on a large format machine, whatever keeps the cutter in material the most will typically be the best strategy.  You should have the rigidity to deal with heavy radial cuts, so you shouldn't need to worry about radial engagement so much, meaning don't worry about using adaptive paths, just good ol fashioned efficient tool path.  Depending on feature depth and shape, make the best call on whether to go solid or inserted.   I can easily see a 1" KOR5 doing 300 cubes.  Biggest limiting factors to achieving that is feedrate and horsepower.  To give you an idea that would roughly be 500IPM feed sucking down 100HP or so.

Have fun.

3 hours ago, 5th Axis CGI said:

You can make geometry from the base Coordinate system and then analyze angles. 

Or you can just post out your path after you create the plane and then update the plane name with the resultant angle from the code.

20 minutes ago, huskermcdoogle said:

Is there anything that can be done about the retracts coming all the way out instead of staying down?

I ended up doing adding a pocket pass with zero stock to leave at the top of the radius, ghosting it and adding it to the stock model.  This resulted in keeping the tool down.

Thanks everyone.  I think I can make this all work as I had envisioned it.

Edit:  I also changed the part clearance value to .05 insetad of .15.

1 hour ago, David Conigliaro CNC Software Inc. said:

This will fix things in OP4

David,

Which file were you working with?

Anyway, I think I understand what you did.  This certainly helps.  Is there anything that can be done about the retracts coming all the way out instead of staying down?

Still not perfect, but pretty good.  I hadn't though to try to adding a pocketing routine to create a fake rough situation.  I still don't understand why Optirest is doing what it is doing.  Makes no sense.

This method may be viable for the moment, thanks.

4 minutes ago, ajmer said:

take a look at this file all i did was a containment

What am I missing?  It's taking it in two depths.  8 minutes.  No good.

Toolpaths are dirty to save space on the upload.  Regen...

Anyway, I have a sample pocket here.  My pockets are similar, long in shape but this is the basic idea.  I want to rough the radius a little bit as I step out the wall.

I am pre-drilling to get into these pockets as we are cutting a superalloy and ramping any distance takes forever and wears out expensive tools.  Without using rest material, I get a decent result minus the control of the helix from the upper z depth to the lower z depth.  Ultimately it's wasted motion, but not a big deal, as it would end up being a two minutes on a five hour cycle.  I mainly want to know if I am missing something here, as I could see this as a problem down the road.  I feel we need more control here / why can't we just plunge.

If I select rest material it cuts the whole pocket twice! Once at the upper z depth and once at the floor, then steps up.  If you turn off the upper z depth it will cut around at the top of the surfaces, which I don't want to do.  It also does a full vertical retract instead of a minimum retract.  Makes no sense.

I you don't select the pocket walls you get a decent result minus the full vertical retract, but it's a minute longer...  Though this seems to be as it is not respecting avoidance wall geo.  If you force that with offset in toolpath control the two methods are in line with each other.  But you still get the full vertical retracts....

Optirough_Rest_Problem_2020.mcam

I have seen it as well.  Not sure what is causing it, but I've noticed usually after fixing them a few times, it won't happen again on that particular plane.

Hello all.

I have finally taken some time to write a batch file to toggle my Mastercam.workspace file from Laptop Mode to Docking station mode, and vise versa.  I have a 4k monitor so it was pretty much a requirement for me to do so.  Plus I like to leave my planes and level manages on the other monitor to save space when in the dock, sick of having to redo it all the time.  I am frequently in the dock and on the go multiple times a day.

Anyway:

Read through the batch file attached and decide if you want to use it or not.  But basically it is just a toggle.  It will save last exited workspace changes to the appropriate config, and then load the other config as the workspace file, flipping from one mode to the other.

then you can launch the version of mastercam you have it setup for

To setup (if you have a default install):

update the user and mcamver variables in the batch file

copy your Mastercam.workspace file and create two copies.  Mastercam.lapspace and Mastercam.dockspace

create an empty text file which indicates which config your Mastercam.workspace file is currently configured for:  for laptop monitor create lapspace.ws for dockingstation dockspace.ws, the batch file simply checks for this file to keep track of which file is current so it knows which one to save...

backup any Mastercam.workspace files you don't want to lose into a separate folder or under a backup name

run batch file from any location, I keep on my desktop

launch Mastercam

If you don't care to press any key each time you hit the toggle and just want it to do it's thing and close, delete the pause on the line of the file.

Feel free to provide feedback on or update with enhancements that would make this more useful.

Toggle MCAM workspace.bat

1 hour ago, JParis said:

Draw your path exactly as you want it at each depth of cut

I just about had to do this on the part I am working on now.  At some point I am sure I will have to do it.  I can see saving another 5 minutes and increasing tool life significantly, just some small tweaks to the path that already exists.

Are you going to rough then finish it, or just pound it out in one shot with a ball mill, stepping down.  If the second option.  Curve 5x, or axis sub, all day.