could someone please tell me where and what in the lathe post to change to output "R" instead of "I" and "J". Thanks

If I go into the parameters and change the wcs (G54 to G55) and do a regenerate, instead of just regenerating the op I was working with, another op is generated. I am not a "guru" and this is very confusing.

I just started working at this place. I start to do a "surface rough pocket" and I get an error that says Level 2 required to machine surfaces. Now this is the strange part, when I start mastercam I can see where this should be "Mill Level 3". what the hell is going on?

Getting new machine and was wondering which machine definition would be best to start with. THe machine is a "trunion" type machine.

We have XP upgrade discs but when I try to do a fresh install I get an error message that says I have put in a full window version of anything between 3.5 and XP pro. I have vista on the machine therefore xp uprade should recognize vista as a micrsoft product. I hate freaking VISTA!!!!!

I am currently using X2 no MR1 or MR2 Windows Vista, any patches or anything that will help straighten this thing our the graphics uses the G965 intergrated crap and other than going and buying a graphics card is ther a fix

kaz, that is correct. you can do this by translating your tool path in op manager or place the geometry at the know location. What I do is place the part (in vise or fixture) then fid distance from COR to origin of part in "X" "Y", then I set my tool length offsets at COR in "Z". I have found that using "incremetal" on toolpath definitions works best, because if you have to move your geometry in "Z" then the toolpaths will follow where if you use absolute you will have to relect your rapid, retrac, top of stock and depth, that gets to be a pain very quickly. When using the incremetal be sure that you put in enough distance to clear part or clamps. HTH

ppos_cax_lin #Position the rotary axis before move - rapid if index, pindex else, [ if fmtrnd(prv_cabs) <> fmtrnd(cabs) & rot_on_x, [ sav_gcode = gcode$ gcode$ = zero n$ "G0 G91 G28 Z0.0", n$ "M28", e$ pbld, n$, *sgabsinc, *sgcode, *g_wcs, e$ n$ *sgabsinc, *sgcode, pfxout, pfyout, pfcout, *speed, p_spindle, e$ n$ pwcs, "G43", p_tlngno, pfzout, scoolant, e$ pcan1, pbld, n$, sgfeed, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pccdia, pxout, pyout, pzout, pcout, `feed, strcantext, scoolant, e$ !cia ps_cinc_calc gcode$ = sav_gcode n$ "M27", e$ This is what I have, what I want to do is at M28 (table unlock) have z retract to machine ref, table move and lock, z return to tool initial position, then to feed plane, then pick up tool feed IPM and continue own. this is what I get using what I have G1 X22.3672 Y9.2322 X22.453 Y7.1512 X22.4571 Y7.0513 G0 Z11. G0 G91 G28 Z0.0 M28 G90 G0 G54 G90 G0 X22.3751 Y-7.0516 A-270. S3500 M3 G43 H11 Z11. M27 Z8.1 G1 Z6.4583 F15. (this is tool assigned feed) second time found in program G0 Z4.9851 Z12. G0 G91 G28 Z0.0 M28 G90 G0 G54 G90 G0 X21.1297 Y-6.4125 A45. S5000 M3 G43 H5 Z12. G17 M27 Z7.4415 G1 Z6.9415 (don't know why feed was not out put here) also can anyone tell me what this ( ' )does when used in 'sgplane and if I use "gcode=save g_code does that save all G codes in this paticular toolpath. I don't know jack **** about posts and what I have learned has just been through (change post and see what the changes did to the program) Thanks Terry

Is there a way to associate geometry to a WCS. I am running 4 parts at differet WCS (2 vises part on each end of vise) is there away that when I select an entity such as a point for drilling the WCS is automatically picked up. If I need to upload the file to FTP let me know Thanks Terry

what I am trying to do is make a cut like a 5axis swarth using lower and upper rails so that the A-axis rotates. any help?

if i was to export out the op file in mcamx2. would mcamx read the tool op file? i'm taking it with me today to see if this will work, but an help before hand would be helpful.

yep thats what I thought. no biggy, as long as I can bring X with toolpaths to X2 and keep the toolpaths

is there anyway to do this, or can you only go from older to newer

Beats me, I can't get to it either. If any one would please email hole axis chook to me I would appreciate

would someone be kind enough to email the "hole axis chook to me at [email protected] thanks Terry

While creating the geometry for some holes that are drilled on compound angles that really seems fairly straight forward I'm not getting the results that I expected. rotaions for angle is this right CPlane is 18 degrees Front CPlane rotate 17 degrees. when ever I drill the holes the 17 degrees is 17.8 and the 18 degrees 17.2 and no I don't have the cplanes reversed. also the top of the part has 18 degree angle left and right side of center line. Part is 1.972 round stock which center line is z axis. The 18 degrees is cut on left half of face and right half of face and stops at cneter line in y axis. My question is should I create a reference plane that is the 18 degrees for holes on right side and then create a plane that perpindicular to the 18 degree reference plinn and then rotate the second plane 17 degrees. I will try to get geometry on FtP site in the MC9 folder called Terry 18 degree.mc9 Thanks Terry

I am going to describe the part, there are 14 cuts, 7 left 7 right, from a side view they look lik a right triangle and are aprox 14" long, I used a 5 axis swarf to cut the angle on the face, one cut the entire length of each row. on the point of the triangle there is a .043 rad. which runs the length of each entity. I am just using a flowline finish with a 1/8 bn w/.004 step. what I want to happen is cut x+ rpw 1, x- row1, x-row 2, x+ row 2 and so on. I don't know why I think there is a place where order cuts can be set. May be another cam package that is slipping into my head. Hoe this makes it more clear for you. I will put it on the FTP site in MCX II folder called "oventrey.mcx" and then you can see what I am talking about

sometimes DXF comes as polylines, always makes things a pain. When in doubt redraw with lines and arcs

How can I make the cuts (14 different places but same path) run in the order I selected them. The only way that I can get them to is to use a bounding box and then the path will run in the order I chained the bounding box. I know this is an easy fix with out having to xform the toolpath. Thanks, Terry

I forgot I had 9 still loaded........why do I feel like a dumbass!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where could I get those.

I have had to make a complete set of drawings in MC for a number of years and now I don't know where the layout templates are, or if they are even provided anymore. Thanks

Mill Runner, I have been in this trade for over 30 years. I have been in your predicument many times. Attempt #1 THe first thing you need to do is pick a time to talk to him about something else and make sure the converstation is friendly, like just "chewing the fat", if you feel it is the right time, bring up the MCX deal, and how you feel it would increase your productivity as MCX has evolved greatly since ver8 and that not allowing you to make use of it is only hurting the company, not you. Also let him know that when you upgrade to MCX that you can still use any version of MC prior to MCX. If you are unsuccessful then use this approach, but I warn you, be very, very cool when using the following, cause you can really screw yourself with your supervisor. Attempt #2 Unless your Boss is different from everyother Boss that has used a certain software for a long time, and (a) knows nothing about MC ( thinks because it works for him it will work for you (these are the really stupid ones) © is afraid that someone younger and less experienced than him may show him up once they get really cooking with MCX (and that is what wil eventually happens) I hate to tell you this but you have an uphill battle. Here is what I have found that worked for me in the past. First go to his supervisor or company owner, explain the situation in that you deeply feel not upgrading your software from a version that is at least 6 or 7 yrs old is really doing a diservice to the company as the latest version is by far much more productive, that while you understand the software your supervisor uses works well for him, all that you have read and heard about MCX it is now one of the most powerful packages available today . DO NOT DEGRADE OR MAKE DISRESPECTFULL COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR SUPERVISOR TO HIS SUPERVISOR!!!!!! THis only makes you look bad. Explain that you only have the company's best interest in mind and if you didn't feel so strongly about this issue, you would never go over your supervisor's head. YOu are in a very precarious situation and if not handled correctly could cause you a great amount of grief further down the road. I am not familiar with "PowerCad" and thats not saying because I haven't heard of it, it's not any good. It may be somewhat like "SmartCam" while in its day it was great. But method of operation totally out of date, and actually it has gone by the wayside. I have heard that Point Control is revamping and will put on the market again sometime in the future. Good Luck my friend,

I am starting out with a fresh MPFAN post. The only things I would like to change is for it to always post "G54" as a default, remove the A0.0 from op start lines and at the end of the program as there is no 4th axis. even though I say add 0 to length offset is is still adding one, so tool 1 gets h2......not good thanks Terry

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!! MANY THANKS !!!!!! NOW BACK TO WORK