One way to check which can be kind of tedious is to post your program then before you send it to the machine search for G5. Then keep hitting search next and you will find every fixture offset in your program one at a time. Like I said kind of tedious but better than crashing a machine or scrapping a part. I have all my multi axis post set to universally lock onto G54 so I have to edit the post if I want to use another fixture offset. This is for the exact reason gcode is talking about. "If you post a couple of ops in the middle of a file you may get burnned". Not if your post is set to universally lock onto G54. My 3-axis posts are set up like yours because I frequently use multiple fixture offsets in a single program.

ckwhite, Ours machine is a Kitamura My Center HX630i. I would look into getting a post from In House Solutions.

Here is a better description. WCS is set to top. Front plane = B0 C0 Right plane = B90 C0 Left plane = B90 C180 Top plane = B90 C90 Bottom plane = B90 C270 We have purchased all of our 5-axis posts thru In House Solutions and are very pleased with all of them.

Our 5-axis horizontal post is set up like this: WCS is set to top. The front plane is B0.

We have a Kitamura 5-axis horizontal. We got the post from In House Solutions. It did not work correctly right out of the box, but In House and our Reseller helped us get it dialed in perfectly. I have not programmed this machine yet but I can look and see how it is set up tommorrow.

I happen to be enrolled in Algebra and Trigonometry this semester. 8(20+x+y) is an example of the "Distributive Property" that states a(b+c)= ab+ac. In our book back in chapter 1 we had similar problems that were presented as follows: Use the Distributive Property to remove the parentheses: 8(20+x+y) = 160+8x+8y or (x+2)(x+4) = x²+6x+8 Without seeing how the problem was presented it's impossible to know for sure but it was most likely used to teach students how to use the Distributive Property which is very useful for solving all kinds of mathmatical equations.

Alan, I emailed you the parasolid. Let me know if you have any problems opening it.

Xform Stretch then window your lines and enter the value to extend them by.

Matt, What post are you using? I use mpmaster and set the post to universally lock onto G54. That way I always get G54 and I do not have to change any settings. There is also a miscelaneous integer that allows you to lock onto first wcs so all you toolpaths will use the same work offset as your first operation.

I prefer to program from solids. My method is to import the solid with no edge curves and position it where I want it. Then I create wireframe on seperate levels to drive my toolpaths. I use the solid to select my depths. To me working with solids seems to be cleaner than working with surfaces. Auto cursor will snap to features on the solid to help you analyze and select features on your model even if you don't have wireframe geometry. You can't do this with surfaces. I also prefer to verify my toolpaths using my solid as stock to see if I am gouging the part anywhere. Designing with solids is faster and easier than designing with surfaces. You can also use solid faces to drive 3D toolpaths so creating surfaces is just an extra step. Not having a solids liscense and having to use WCS to position your solid model is also a disadvantage. I prefer to be able to rotate and translate my model and use WCS. The more flexibility the better.

alanu23, You have mail. I had to send you an .emcx file because I am at home and do not have my SIM with me. It should open with no problems, just unzip the file and read it into mastercam. If you have any problems let me know and I will send you a parasolid tommorrow.

I have one I can send it to you tommorrow. Where do you want me to send it?

Dave, We are talking about the same thing just wording it differently. What I mean is that my tool isn't driving down the center of the geometry I chained. It is offset half the diameter of the cutter so there is no need to put an entry in the geometry column at the machine. So when I say the edge of the tool I mean in relation to the geometry I chained. I agree this is the best method although the great debate of wear vs. control cutter comp comes on the forum quite regularly. Hopefully someone will get you an answer to your real question. I don't mean to get off topic. Have a great Easter

Dave, Im not sure about turning but for milling when I climb cut I set the compensation direction to left and set the compensation type to wear if I want to use cutter comp. At the machine I have zero in the geometry column for diameter and make fine adjustments with the wear column. When using this method I look at it like the toolpath is programmed to the edge of the tool not the centerline of the tool. I just want to make sure I understand what you are asking because you say you use wear and are programming to the centerline of the tool. Hope this makes sense.

Once you get the tool out clean the spindle and tool holders really good and lightly coat the tool holder tapers with some WD-40 or something similar and it will help prevent the tools from sticking again.

Specv, Did you compare them to The Viper from Destiny Tool? Maybe I could save some money.

Jay, I got a certificate from you guys back in 2004 for Mastercam 9.1. Rob was my teacher. At the time I was working for Tim and Dean at ATC. I also worked for Randy at PGT Engineering and I am good friends with Chris K. who used to work for you guys. I hear he now has his own machines. In Newbury Park I worked for WTM Manufacturing and Oglesby Machining. I would have loved to stay in the area but things didn't work out that way. It was a good choice to move because things could not have worked out better for me.

I just realized I wasn't a member on streaming teacher it was on eapprentice.net The video lessons were very good.

Jay, I left about 5 years ago.

Chip, I grew up in Ventura. What's happening in Camarillo?

Getting it to work correctly sounds like it will be a combination of several things. 1. The parameters in the machine are set up correctly. 2. The new hardware is working correctly including the cables. 3. The software is set up correctly. We use cimnet and they have great tech support to guide you through setting up new machines. I would start by contacting Cimco, Fanuc, and the people you purchased the hardware from.

Thanks everyone for your input. No training actually took place today. Everyone was busy doing other things. On Monday I am going to get a few people signed up on Streaming Teacher and start showing them how I program. Then they will eventually go to our Reseller for classes. One thing I should have mentioned is that these guys are being trained to program at one of our other buildings that is right down the street. I'm going to be back and forth until they are up to speed. Mic6, I don't keep any gems to myself. The reason being I have a very talented mentor who freely shares with me all of his knowledge. I've even tried to get him to become a member on this site. Instead of joining he ocassionally asks me to post a question for him and I do. My motto is learn all you can and teach people all you know. As I have progressed in my career and become more confident in my ability I have become more secure as a leader so I have no reason to withhold knowledge from anyone. Just my two cents.

Dave, No offense taken. I'm sure I will be a good teacher. For better or for worse mastercam is a huge part of my life. Like most of you I spend countless hours on and off the clock learning about this software so I can become better at what I do. Your right about Streaming Teacher. The video lessons are very good. I was a member for a few months and made a notebook of all the tips and tricks I picked up along the way. I've also purchased most of the In House tutorial books and took classes through my reseller but that was a long time ago. Having them work at their own pace sounds like a great idea so I think I will suggest Streaming teacher as well. One of the great things about teaching people is by helping them you are also helping yourself. I got thrown into this on one days notice and come tommorrow morning the training starts so I'm just looking for some good ideas. I appreciate the advice.

Mic6 Thanks for the link. Very informative.

Thanks for the advice that makes sense. We use solid models imported from Catia and Solidworks to program all of our jobs here. Starting off with wireframe creation and simple toolpaths sounds like a good idea.