A while back I did a work around for that threading function which uses a lathe finish cycle but posts as a threading cycle. I just chained the cross sectional profile of the thread and then used Misc Variables to set the thread start, end and taper. That technique worked pretty well to use a grooving tool to thread a profile.

I've used it a couple times to demo the function for customers who do oil field threads which have tricky tapered profiles. Basically it allows you to draw the thread and then just select a chain instead of specifying parameters for start and end point, taper and so on. The post has to be adjusted to make it work as well. Personally I've never cut a part with it but I have two customers that I know of that use it regularly and find it much quicker to program threads when they are starting with an accurate solid model that they can get a chain from. It would really be a shame to lose it but I can see the problem if no one is using it. I think it would be great to just add the option to select a chain in the normal threading cycle. I think the other threading function that Ajmer and Glenn mentioned to rough and finish using a cutter that isn't the same shape as the thread form is a great idea. I often get requests for this. Mostly from companies trying to cut very large buttress threads (often tapered) using a grooving tool.

I don't know of an easy way to do this. To do a global change to the exported text file of a tool library you would need to use a script since a simple find and replace won't work. You could quite easily change the operation defaults so that the coolant is on. Do you have the "Use tool's step, peck and coolant" setting turned on. If so the tools coolant settings will override the operation default settings.

Looks like the lines you've pointed out in the post are overriding the Control Def settings. If you want to set those values through the Control Def only then just comment out those lines in the post with a # at the beginning of each line.

That's odd. I usually get people to try disabling the graphics acceleration when they have really slow cards to fix their problems. It obviously slows things down but usually it cleans up other issues. Good to hear that it's fixed anyway. Have a good one.

Is that a new card that you just got? I'm assuming it's the one that's in your signature. Was everything working fine before and what changed to cause the problems. We rarely see any issues with those cards. I've seen cases where rolling the drivers back to an older version fixed the problems but that's a bit of a long shot.

Because of the new folder structure in Mastercam X5 the config files are located in the individual users Documents folder. Whenever a different user is logged into Windows they automatically get their own config file now. In previous versions you had to create your own config file manually like the guys have been mentioning.

I've noticed a couple differences with this release. Most notable for me is the move of ArcGeometry and LineGeometry classes to the Mastercam.Curves namespace. Is there any method to this move and what else should I look out for?

I think the image thing is something they are working on for the new emastercam.

I think for the toolbar file the problem is to do with a toolbar button referring to an add-in or a C-Hook that isn't installed in your new version. There's a "Purge Errors" button in the warning window that will eliminate the problem toolbar button from the toolbar file and stop the error in the future. For the config file I believe you can just copy it over but then you have to go into "Settings, Configurarion" and adjust all the directories manually so they refer to the new install directories. If you do a side by side install of Mastercam and then carry over your configurations Mastercam should do all this stuff for you. I like to have at least one older version on my computer in case I run into a problem with the new version, but that's very very rare.

If you've recently updated you should be entitled to X4 MU3. If it was an old update that you're just installing now you should be able to use the "Update Folder" function in the File menu in Mastercam to update the machine and control defs as well as default files and operation libraries. The only thing that you can't update is your posts. You'll have to use the "UpdatePost.dll" C-Hook for that. There's a Transiiton Guide in the Documentation folder that has details on how to deal with the update. What's happening to make you say it doesn't work?

Hey Cobra95kev, good call on the Advanced Multi-Axis toolpath. You don't get those cool clearance options in the normal 5 axis stuff. That looks like it should run pretty sweet now.

If you use the cylinder clearance area centered on the X axis it will probably work well for this part.

Looks like the gap size was set too large in the original toolpath so it was trying to merge the drive surfaces throught the check surface. I decreased the gap size setting to 0.01" and it seems to avoid the check surface. Glad to hear the other method worked out too.

In 2D HST you can use "Corner rounding" or in Dynamic you can set the "Toolpath radius".

I just thought of another common problem with this operation. Depending on the post that you're using and the machine control, you may have to avoid programming the tool to cut directly on the center of rotation. This causes multiple solutions and either the post or the control (or both) may not be able to deal with it.

You also have to have both Mill Level 3 and Lathe products activated on the same hasp for it to work.

It all depends on whether or not you are breaking the original solid into several parts. If you are breaking it up then you can't keep the associativity. If you trim the driving entities and create two solids instead of one then you can keep your associativity. It's more work but it might give you the end result that you're after.

The easiest way is to use a "surface finish project" toolpath. You can either project the text onto the sphere from a plane or project the text onto the sphere based on the direction of the normal of the sphere. If you need to rap the text farther around the diameter than 90degs you'll need to break it up and do it in segments. Of course then you will need a machine that can pull it off or a way of fixturing the part so you can rotate it in several ops to reach everything. Hope that helps.

I'm available for contract work. I've been pretty busy lately but it sounds like very challenging work so I'd definitely be interested.

What about sub-threads? That way you can comment on someones comment without dragging everyone else into the semi-private conversation.

Sorry for the delayed reply. I've tried a bunch of different settings and I can't repeat what you've got happening. Maybe try looking through the parameters of the problem toolpath for a 0.25" setting like a retract or something. Try changing it and see if it adjusts the problem area. If you can find a parameter that's related to the problem it might give you a clue as to what's causing it. If you like you can email me the file and I'll take a look at it for you. I can't promise anything though.

What type of toolpath is it doing when it crashes? I'll try it out and see if I get the same results.

I'm unclear as to what you're asking. If you mean you need to set a specific Approach or Retract point then you can do this with the "Ref Point" check box and button in the "Lathe Rough Parameters" window on the "Toolpath Parameters" page in the bottom right corner. If I've misinterpreted your question please clarify and I'll try to help out.

Moldplus is an add-in for Mastercam that has lots of great tools for working with mold parts. Check it out http://www.moldplus.com/