Well I guess I should get my bum in gear and install 2018 and get the free tools downloaded.

Ernie, As part of the free tools?

It looks like it is set to output inverse (but no G93) or it might be calculating degree per minute feed rates . Look in the post, likely it isn't hooked up to the control def. There should be a switch in the initialization section that controls this behavior, if not look for a feed calculation post block.

Some quick testing has yielded a pretty strong theory that the values in the opcode output are in world top, regarless of plane settings or origins. So that being said, shouldn't be terribly difficult to do some maths using plane information to compare values against output values. Output values in the nci are in the toolplane reference.

So, I have done some digging on prmcodes for ref points. I have figured out the codes for when the main checkboxes are on the settings for which direction and abs/inc, however I havent found much reference to the numerical values that are entered into the box 10080<>10082 and 12259<>12261. Are these in world coordinate, or in your tool plane in relation to your OP WCS? So I will have to do some thinking on how to implement a post warning based on those settings, with the lack of some easy targets to compare against some help on some logic to follow would be greatly appreciated. I would like to create a post block for those of us that struggle with this issue so we can copy and paste into a few places in our posts to accomplish this check. I couldn't find anything from previous posts where this was solved in the post. Last time this issue made it to the machine for me it cost $40k.

I knocked a spindle out of a machine with this bug back in X4 days.... Still gives me trouble to this day. I need to spend some time and see about putting a warning in the post to check it they were output or not. I look at all my posted code null tool changes every time I post code to the machine. But mostly I avoid ref points now unless I am going from one side of the part to the other now, and I never let the machine fly through those sections of the program.

Look in end of file post block. You will have the end of file retract and so on so forth. You will have to add it there as well.

You are going to have to create a convention, then stick to it. Firstly you will have to use some rules to make sure that you and the operators follow. Do you pick up a new base offset each time you set up the job on a new face? If so, there isn't anything to worry about. Once you have a base offset for a given face you can calculate the rest from there no problem. The B offset in the work shift does nothing other than make sure you move to the right location. All the offset calculator cares about is the base offset and the angle relationship to the positions you will move to. So.... Simplified Example of Work and Programming Flow Program Job as if it is going on B0 Face of tombstone, with rotations in that convention. Mount Job on any face Pick up "Base" Offset, Update G10 line with new "Base offset" and add B angle word onto line the of face you mounted the job onto. After your G10 line (singular) you will execute the offset calculator for each rotation you will use. -This will run each time you run the program! -Offset Calculator needs to calculate X Z and copy over Y and B to destination work offsets for each rotation. -Add incremental G10 lines for each offset after to make small relational shifts if you need them. I used to do pretty much this minus the B angle mounting changes all the time. I would enter it as a manual entry in the beginning of the program. On our cell systems, it would call an offset program each time if loaded the job, so I would program it in there on those. Glad to explain further or help with a more detailed example if needed. Husker

Are you just zeroing, or fixing alignment of the above components? If you need to correct zero due to a crash most certainly you need to check alignment as well, I would highly suggest getting a tech in to train you. Lot more going on there then meets the eye.

I would cheat it and be done with it for now if this is a one time thing. Draw out a straight line profile as you want your cut to be, as if it is not tipped (at right radius) and use axis sub with a standard 4 axis post.

All it takes to adjust programmed face is change the work shift B word. No adding or variables required.

He knows the offsets based on a certain face. If he moves the base face to another face the relationship to c/l isn't necessarily the same. Yes the relationship of the offsets is the same in theory, but if they need to move a little bit, that process could be easily automated. If they parts are raw, likely it wouldn't make much difference.

Be glad to help in any way I can to get something implemented for you! My offset calculator saved our setup guys bacon many a time in the past. I would love to have an excuse to make some updates and increase its flexibility for other applications that I could potentially run into in the future.

Yup get this once a day or so. Just restart Mastercam and it will be good.

Unless like for the one place that stock model would be useful for me that mc crashes no matter what... (The problem is logged in R-11614.) Apparently it doesn't like large round tools with rotary motion. Best to create stl using verify or mach sim and import back in, but in this case associtativity isn't a big deal.

Maybe mach sim?

I knew about this one so I posted it. http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/cnc-machining/opinions-suggestions-dynamic-offset-macro-329987/?highlight=rotation+macro Otherwise, tooks some digging but this was about all I came up with. And this is applicable too...

Yup certainly is, and isn't hard to customize or implement. Just need to get your setup folks to buy into it.

For an institution like that I would suggest Dell. Likely you already have a contract with them, or could get a decent discount based on order size and status. Then you will have reliable support if you need it.

Build an offset generator file, and have a rotation macro populate your offset registers based on CL in the machine. If your fixtures go from face to face you just set the b value on the base offset. the rotation macro will take care of the error. If a job starts on a side face you can handle that as well if you specify the original location for where those offsets were picked up. Just have to build in the logic.

Wow , I totally surfed past that branch when I went looking for it.... Thanks JP.

Is it possible to change the number of decimal places for the normal in the analyze dynamic screen? Three places just isn't enough.

Extend Trim - Side Extensions Also break it up into two operations. First the Radius, Then the walls. You will probably like the result.

What about creating an offset surface at tool centerline then using morph with a very small tool?

Sometimes adaptive cuts in the surface quality area or calculate based on tool center in the misc settings will help, but I have found not to help much when there is a big difference in the angle between surfaces that are blended.