Tyler, What model of Fanuc is acheiving this "CNC type accuracy". I'm planning a meeting with Fanuc in Mississauga and will be taking our FARO arm to test out some of their machines. I would like to have a better series of model specific questions to ask them... Specifically about raw computer to arm accuracy - before any filtering or adjustment is made. How did your meeting go at Fanuc, was the robot as accurate as they claimed?

I've used Mastercam in conjunction with Robotmaster for a few years to program a 6-axis Motoman HP50 waterjet cutter. The interface of the two programs is great and I'm usually only limited by my imagination when creating paths... And the whole system continues to improve. BUT Speaking to the accuracy of the system: We're really limited to what the robots can achieve. Even with an aftermarket filter, over a meter cubed envelop we're lucky if we see +/-2mm in a single configuration. Start working on a lot of different planes and the +/- grows and grows. The strong point of the robot is its repeatability... So, basically you need to cut safe, CMM the part, alter your CAD to suit and do a final cut. That's how we achieve the tolerances that we need. Once you have to program set up, the robot's repeatability won't let you down and a production part run can be made.

I've noticed this same problem... Makes for much less efficient paths when you're roughing out material that doesn't necessarily need a climb or conventional specific path.

This may not be what you're looking for but... From the op manager open the "Properties" tree... Enter the "Files" Section. From there go to the "Operation Defaults" section and click the exclamation point. This will open the "Edit Operation Defaults" window. In there you have another "Properties" tree... From there, go into the "Tools" section and change your settings. We had some luck with changing our defaults this way... hope that helps. -Jake

We use a 6-axis Motoman robot to waterjet cut. The programming is done via Mastercam and we have the Robotmaster plugin to aid in posting and simulate toolpaths. As far as Robotmaster is concerned, we could not achieve the production that we do without it. We have a drill tool station that the robot can pickup and use, and with the correct attachments you could have many tools, depending on rigidity and design. Our Robot isn't nearly rigid or accurate enough to machine metal, but there are other robots out there that work with robotmaster. For our purposes, holding the waterjet paser, the robot works great. I would suggest contacting Robotmaster about your application to see if they can help you.

If you check your nethasp.ini check to see if the NH_USE_BROADCAST = Disabled. We had some big problems at our facility with Mastercam opening and just brousing for the first license that it found... From the sounds of it you only have one license on your network, so this may not be a problem. I had a similar problem with people checking out my 5axis license that was fixed by adding the "no" command line switch to their shortcuts. I think that the "/noL" switch will stop a copy from grabbing a lathe seat.

I tried the above formula (5/4)+1 and it would not work, that said, at this point division won't work at all... Not even 1/1, but division did work in the past. I tried (5*4)+1 , (5*4)+(2*2) ... and that worked fine. Again though, as soon as a decimal is introduced the cell produces an error. I'll try a division formula again after a restart and see if it makes a difference.

I've been messing around with some post files that we have here at our facility with varying degrees of success. I wish I understood better how the files worked, or even where to get more information about writing posts. How would I go about educating myself on the topic. What is the scripting language? Are there places that can teach you how to write? Any information would be appreciated.

It took a while today for this error to occur, but it did. I was able to try the following equations: 1.1+1 , 1+1.1 , 1+1+1+1.1 , 1.1+1+1+1+1 and so on... I tried this with all simple functions (+,-,/,*) and every time I got the same error. I tried mixing up the number and signs in the equation. Every example would work without the decimal, but as soon as a decimal was added anywhere in the cell I would get the error.

Just an update on my issue... The .dll reg helps, but after a certain point I have to re-reg the file. I'm going to send the issue to QA and see what they say.

Roger, thanks a million... Registering the DLL fixed the issue right up. -mada, I'm also using 64bit windows, you should try Roger's fix of registering the MCEval.dll. Before running this reg I wasn't even able to calcutlate 1.1+1 in the fields.

Is it just me, or are all the "Math Capable" boxes terrible at math... It seems that they can do simple math, but as soon as a decimal is introduced it spits out an error -1.0E38 to +1.0E38. Has the math functionality gotten worse, or am I doing something wrong.

More to this for my case... I just found Miscellaneous Values switch that sets my initial primary axis bias to a positive or a negative. It looks like this in my post: # mi4 - Start initial primary rotary axis bias # +/-999 represents start as close to limit as possible # 0 represents calculate without using bias # Any other value represents an angle in degrees to attempt # to position near. # -999 = Low, 0 = Off/Default, 999 = Hi, Value = Angle bias I don't see where the post calls this value for output, but it works.

The machine config settings in my machine def seem to have no effect on the output of my NC files. In my post there is a Nutating bias switch between + and - that (I think) should tell the post to use the -90 or 270 coordinate... It doesn't change a thing for my output, but may help you.

I've been trying out the "Convert to 5 axis" paths with some success on the screen... I was having problems with my terrible Onsrud post though. I think that I have it sorted now and am eager to try some new programs on the machine. -Thanks for all the help

I searched for prior topics but to no avail... I am curios to hear about other MC users experience with parallels. I have a mac mini (2.0ghz intel core duo, 2gb ram) running a light version of XP pro on Parallels 3.5. I have Mastercam X sp11 installed and working on the mac. Have you had success with the latest release Joerg?

I love the dual setup with Mastercam, but sometimes as different windows open for settings of toolpaths and geometry my active program changes. It's not the biggest deal, but I'm wondering if there is a fix for this - or should I just get used to alt+tabbing back to X2 while I program. -Jake

I commonly have to machine some pretty deep pockets with a 5-axis router. Often, I don’t have enough tool hang-out and have to create clearance around the tool holder by adding some tilt. I’ve tried using the Advanced Multiaxis Converstion to 5 axis path, referencing a Surface Rough Pocket path, but I end up with some pretty crazy paths… This may have a lot to do with not having a continuous C. I’d like to do a pocket pointing through a point – does anyone else have any techniques that they use to do this? Or is 5-axis machining mostly reserved to contours and surfacing? -Jake

Starworlds... I think that your talking about the Machine Definition tab that is in the Advanced Multiaxis toolpath manager - I was just looking at that today and can see that it's for some kind of simulation option. What I was talking about is in; Settings - Machine Definition Manager - In the bottom left of the window there is a "Machine Configuration" window... If I double click on the "C-axis" line you'll get a "Machine Component Manager - Rotary Axis" Window. In this window there are a bunch of parameters and limits that can be changed. Is stuff also only for simulations, or should it affect the posting of a file? -Jake

The other night I had it almost every two minutes... Even when I was doing something as simple as adding some line entities. All three of the machines here have the problem from time to time. I almost expect problems from some of the slower machines, but the one that I use has the following specs: Intel Duo E6850 - 3GHz 4gig of ram Quadro FX 1500 XP pro 64bit -Jake

Sorry to hi-jack, but this problem seem simular to the one that I'm having with a 5ax router... The C-axis of the machine rotates about the Z from -110 to +290. Initially the limits of the axis in the post was set incorrectly by the manufaturer, correcting this helped, but we still have problems. Lets say that I'm cutting around a part in a clockwise direction. If I start at 270 and move CW around the whole part (270..180..90..0..-90) I would end up at -90 - staying in the limits. The problem is the post spits out a start position of -90, so with my limits, as the machine moves CW and passes -110 I get a flip. The Machine Component Manager - Rotary Axis settings seem to have no affect on how programs post, but I could be doing something wrong there. Is there a way to change the post so that a path is analyzed in order to decide if the coordinate between quadrant 3 and 4 should be -90 or 270?

I have one and it works great in Mastercam... But no support is offered for 64-bit platforms. I now run Solidworks 2007 x64 and it will not work with it.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that this robot is a 6-axis machine so I have to program from the TOP WCS. On top of that, because of the Robot's dynamics, the program must be filtered to adjust for gravity and load on all of the joints. The filter only works for one coordinate system, so if I trick the machine to move to the part and it filters for where it "thinks" it's going I won't be able to hold my tolerances.

The company put a 1500 in my machine and I think that it's great... I actually had to slow down my Robotmaster simulation so that I could see what was going on. It keeps Solidworks running nicely too.

When paired with a fast computer that has a good graphics card it is a phenomenal tool. I use it everyday and it allows me to test toolpaths and setups without ever going near the machine.