Ron, I used the HTML for a long time about a year ago but I have not thought about using is for this? Is it possible to get sevaral hundred tools documented from the tool library without having them tied to ops? Thanks for the help

Hello, I am wondering if anyone could give me a few ideas on a type of software or method to modify the Detail doc file for the Tool Library. We have cells of horizontal mills where we must keep track of the tools. The method I have been using is to make and keep current my Mastercam library and also keep an Excel file that is done manually. This is far to time consuming. I would to take the detail doc file I already have and just manupulate it with a editor scripting type of thing? to get a man readable version for the floor. IE: From this: Tool Number = 325 Tool Type = Drill Tool name = .1719 PARA JOB DR Diameter = 0.171900 Radius Type = None Corner Radius = 0.000000 Threads = 0.000000 Tip Angle = 135.000000 Dia. offset number = 325 Length offset number = 325 Feed rate = 0.000000 Plunge rate = 0.000000 Retract rate = 0.000000 Spindle speed = 0 Number of flutes = 1 % of Matl. SFM = 220.000000 % of Matl. Feed/Tooth = 0.006300 Coolant = Flood Material = Holder dia. Tool filename = C:MCAM9MILLTOOLSDRILL.MC9 Required pilot dia. = 0.000000 Flute length = 2.125000 Overall length = 2.400000 Shoulder length = 2.125000 Shank Diameter = 0.171900 Holder dia. = 2.000000 Holder length = 1.000000 Spindle rotation = CW Manufacturer's tool code = CLEVLAND Q-COBALT Chuck = ER16 LONG Metric Values = No 1st peck (% dia.) = 100.000000 sub. peck (% dia.) = 50.000000 Peck clear (% dia.) = 10.000000 Dwell = 0.000000 Retract (% dia.) = 10.000000 Cycle = G81/G82 - Drill/Counterbore To this: Tool Number = 325 Tool name = .1719 PARA JOB DR Manufacturer's tool code = CLEVLAND Q-COBALT Chuck = ER16 LONG Thanks for any suggestions Mike

The first thing I would do is to ask your dealer to get the latest mpmaster Fadal post for you. That is what I did. I believe that is was very close to perfect from the begining. I only had to add a few minor customizations that were specific to our preference. Mike

Code_Breaker, This may help at times: Operations Manager >right cick> Options > Select by geometry. Thanks, Mike

ssaults, It sounds like you have the same thing happening as what happened to me. You can put the part file anywhere and translate it in and it should work fine. If you want to translate an assembly file, the piece parts (*.prt) must be in the same folder that the assembly file is in. The assembly file just kind of links all of the parts together. Mike

fyi: I did more testing with some other files from a different source and I have confirmed the issue as: you must have the part files resident in the same directory as the assembly file. Tech-support also helped me out. I think I was kind of panicking because I just had to have this thing figured out. Thanks

Hello, We just purchased the Pro-E translator from CNC software and we are having great results with the part(*.prt) files. The issue is that when I try to convert in an assembly file(*.asm) it either just bombs and throws you out of Mastercam or it says that the file does not contain solid geometry. I think the problem is that you must have all of the individual part files(*.prt) in the same directory as the assembly file(*.asm) that you are trying to translate. Is this the problem? Thanks for all the help, Mike [ 03-18-2004, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: Michael Whitten ]

Power Point works good as well. I just use it because I have it. Mike

Bryan, Thanks, I will try it out. I really appreciate that. Mike

Hello Ken, Q1 I greatly rely on the views moving with the geometry. Named views are very powerful and greatly simplify programming for multi-axis machines which is what I do most. They make it very simple to move the part about System Origin. Q2 The implementation between the geometry and the view itself would also be very good. I guess this could get "real deep" though. I have always wanted a way to do this. I have been using the named view features since V7.2 and after figuring them out, with the exception of a few of the early V9 versions, they have always worked perfect for me. It would be nice if it was a little faster to switch views when programming, you know like if a view was just one click away instead of having to go into the view manager, select the view and set the current T and C plane. I am hoping that if and when you guys change it around that all of the V9 stuff will be supported without having to change the views around, just like going from V8.1 to V9. Thanks for you support, Michael Whitten

Hello MayDay, I have used this feature in other softwares and I believe that for certain parts, it is very effective. As far as I know, Mastercam does not have it. I think that CAMAIX has an "add-on" but I have never used it. I did get "Mouse Machining" logged as "Request 23494" back in 6/11/2003 Maybe if more people would inquire, they would add it for us. Thanks

The house prices are the same up here, actually a little higher that down there I think. California is beutiful but very expensive!

Ron, So you are down in Carlsbad, I am from San Diego. I left there in 1980, back then my dad worked in Carlsbad, at Hughs Aircraft. it was a very small town back then. Is it fairly big now? Mike

Ron, I know, I just am probably being a little to cautious. I did talk to the dealer in that area about a year ago and he said that there is plenty of work there but of course I have friends that say all they do over there is make horseshoes and tractor parts. You know, it is just kind of an unknown. Thanks, Mike

Ron, It sound like you had a lot of great experiences in your earlier days. I wish I could have done at least some of the stuff that you got to do. My career has been very specific in that I spent most of my time in milling and turning in a job shop in my early days. The last 10 years or so I have just specialized in milling, production and proto. Thanks for the advice Ron. Mike

Hello, I am thinking about relocating at some point to the Reno/Carson, NV area. I am hoping to stay employed at my current job in the Silicon Valley, CA area just working mostly from home. There is always a chance that this may not work out so I am trying to gain information about the overall machine shop environment in that area using Mastercam for milling. I wonder how many of the bigger shops in that area run Mastercam. I just want to get an Idea if it is realistic to find work over there. Thanks for any input that anyone may have. Mike

I just tried it on two different MC9 files about five different way and it works. I am not saying that there is not a problem, you just have to find out the pattern and then you will find the problem. I always end up having the tool numbers non-unique( they are all different tool numbers). What version are you running? Thanks

Jbel, I do it the same?? I will try it out some more and post later on today. Thanks Kathy, If you just renumber the tools with all the tool numbers being unique( not all the same number) does it work?

I am thinking that if you import ops as was said earlier and all of the tools have the same tool number then that is where the problem is. Mike

Thanks guys, Mike

Hello, Has someone logged this and got a bug number? This way we can keep tabs on them repairing the issue. I use the renumbering funtion fairly often, but for some reason it has always worked for me. It must have something to do with all of the tool numbers being the same? I have only used it to renumber a program that has tool numbers that are wrong but they are different. IE: I may go from 18,25,201,36 to 1,2,3,4. Thanks, Mike Thanks [ 01-23-2004, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Michael Whitten ]

Yikes! Ron, I guess them Thermwood routers are mighty serious. I am hearing that the Mastercam/Thermwood stuff is getting real popular these days. I would imagine that the axis accerations and feedrates and stuff are kind of REAL FAST! Since they don't have to be as accurate like a mill, they can put some very agressive screws in it Huh? What type of Rapid and feedrates do they achieve? Mike [ 01-23-2004, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: Michael Whitten ]

Jimmy, That's a good one! That could save a lot of time for the setup guys if there was an error in the MC9 file. Thanks, Mike [ 01-22-2004, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Michael Whitten ]

Thanks for the input Guys. I guess it must be a more popular thing to just move the part. Mike

Hello Jimmy, It is a Matsuura Table/Table machine. I have worked with CNC and our dealer and am now running a very very nice! post. CNC says that the section that runs the offsetting is broke and they are / will work on it. saxisx : 0 #The axis offset direction? I am also going to work with our dealer very soon as he has some ideas. I am basically just wondering if anyone has actually done something with this or if there is some other way to accomplish this without moving the part and regenerating. The post looks like it does so many things that maybe there are other ways? Thanks for the help, Mike [ 01-22-2004, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Michael Whitten ]