Roger, That's what I'm trying to figure out how to do... can you help? Josh

Thanks guys for the replies. I was pretty sure I could create a fs without changing xout... that was the intent all along. To output positions for the probing cycles they need to be absolute and non assigned positions. I don't want to change the entire program output but just for the CDC. John: you're right on with what I'm looking for. Colin: I created prb_x to sub as the xout for the probing but it only output zeros no matter where I told the cycle to start. Tim: Is that the probing cycles for a Haas with a Renshaw? Thanks again Guys, Josh

Howdy all, Can I create a fs2 for x/y/z/a/b/c postion outputs without the axis assignments? I want the cartesian coordinates but without the axis letter. Example: code: G421 ;(TOUCH PROBE - DATUM SET - INTERNAL HOLE) Q273=+1.5 Q274=-3.2 Q262=1.25 ;(NOMINAL HOLE DIAMETER) . . . Instead of: code: G421 ;(TOUCH PROBE - DATUM SET - INTERNAL HOLE) Q273=X+1.5 <===== Axis assigned Q274=Y-3.2 <===== Axis assigned Q262=1.25 ;(NOMINAL HOLE DIAMETER) . . . This is for a Probing Cycle in the Custom Drill Cycle section of V9 GEN_FANUC_5X.PST that's been modded for a Heidenhain TNC430. I used *xout/*yout for the assigned statements. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Josh

bhideam, Mastercam is not a parametric software so you will not get the model tree inheirant to Pro Engineer. You can export files in almost any generic file format available (iges, parasolid, step, etc.) But to answer your question... yes it's a "dumb solid"

Upload the file to the ftp site and we'll take a look

Try the Raster path in the HSM section. There is way more tool control and it may give you what you're looking for. HTH Josh

Hey Jeremy, Hope things are going well with the Integrex. Your sales guys was supposed to give me a call when you guys got it so we could take a tour of your place. You may need to check with In House about that. The .psb files (and most of their posts) are locked binarys so I would screw around with it unless you had to. If you see the "STARTBIN" in the post then don't touch the .psb file!!! Friendly heads up Drop me a line and we can discuss Josh

Our company has a contract with Deckel Maho. I would LOVE to have the Matsuura MAM72 but we get such a good discount with Deckel it's crazy. Timken all together has around 150 of there machines. I had a thread about changing our trunion posts over to nutuating so I'll have a challenge when we get the DMU.

Our Ball Bearing Plant in Keene NH has about 40 of these machines and they love them. Pretty basic twin spindle stuff... not alot of posting issues (wait codes, sync codes, timeouts, etc.) like other twins. These machines run non stop 24/7 and they have very little mechanical issues with them. They have the 70SP models. HTH

The surface models are supplied by the customer but we may need to look into reverse engineering for the future. They are Catia models from GM so they are very tight... no issues on the surface quality. Clearances may be an issue. The heads we're doing are for the GM L850 I-4 for now. If we move to the OHV engines then we may have to look at different machines. Hopefully we'll have our DMU125 by then! Tooling is another issue. I'm sure there are several companies that specialize in the lollipop tools but I don't know about them. Can someone throw us a line? Thanks in advance, Josh

I'm very interested too... just put a thread up on this Port on a Haas

And we just spent $15,000 for Wirefree DNC sigh

Has anyone tried it? We've been given the challenge and we wanted to make sure our equiptment was capable of doing this. I know people have used special axis configurations (like the ones you see at the tool shows) but I didn't know if anyone has tried it on a Haas. VF3 with the TRT160. Thanks in advance, Josh

Don't know if this will help or not but we just got a version of this and it's awesome! Every machine in the shop is networked. Wirefree CNC

Try this. Man, I think I did this like 10 mins ago dejavu???

pop pop pop.... My next bowl of Jiffy is almost done!!!

dwmartin, I've ran into this situation several times with importing models. If the toolpath is a true contor, try Create - Curve - Slice then pick the surface at which you want the slice to be made through. You must provide a Z plane deeper than the top of the surface to create the curve properly, I'd suggest using a different color than the base geometry for visual purposes. Once the curve has been generated use it for the countour chain geometry and see if that helps. It usually works for me. HTH Josh

Christian nailed it. If your machine has a Heidenhain control and your post is setup to output the PLANE SPATIALs (CYCLE 19s) and the M128 you're all set. You could probably setup the program to L call a probing routine at the beginning of the program to probe every part that runs. This would remove any doubt that your parts are datumed correctly. HTH Josh

We had the X3 whats new seminar with our reseller and learned about the FBM (Feature Based Machining) Is anyone using this? Pros / Cons? Special thanks to Jimmy & Mike at Barefoot CNC for the great seminar! My reseller RULES! Josh

It'd be nice if the circle mill toolpath could output G13s. Maybe wishful thinking.

Thanks for the advise Ron. I'll give it my best effort. I didn't know if this was a common thing or not. I've seen Haas Trunions run super smoothly on true 5X paths and I'm just trying to get ours to run at that level... you know... that whole "Continuous Improvement" stuff I keep hearing about! Josh

See my siggy

JP (AKA Mr. Haas) you out there?

Hey Guys, I'm using X2 with a modified generic Fanuc post flavored to taste for a Haas VF series mill. I 've turned on the post switch below: code: use_clamp : 1 #Use the automatic clamp Mcode It will output the brake release/engage M codes on a normal index: code: :12001 (1-2 GENERIC OP2NC) (TIMKEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER GREENVILLE PROTOTYPE) (MACHINE CNC: HAAS VF-SERIES 5AXIS) (DATE: 02-10-08) (PROGRAM GENNERATED IN MASTERCAM vers_no 11.) (PROGRAMER - JOSHUA TURNER) (WORK OFFSET LOCATIONS) (X/Y/Z/A/B = C.O.R.) () (TOOLS) ( TOOL - 18 - 3.0000 FACEMILL ) ( TOOL - 22 - 3/8 STUB ENDMILL ) ( TOOL - 21 - 14MM REAMER ) ( TOOL - 1 - 1.000 2 FLUTE GARR ) ( TOOL - 14 - 3/4 2 FLUTE GARR R.125 ) ( TOOL - 17 - 1/2 BALL CEM ) ( TOOL - 12 - 1.000 EXHAUST PORT TOOL ) ( TOOL - 20 - 3/4 GARR CEM - SPOTFACES ) ( TOOL - 25 - 1.000 LONG 2 FLUTE GARR ) ( TOOL - 5 - 1/2 - 2 FLUTE GARR ) ( TOOL - 16 - #8 3 FLUTE GARR DRILL ) ( TOOL - 13 - 17/64 3 FLUTE GARR DRILL ) ( TOOL - 15 - 13/64 X-LONG DRILL ) ( TOOL - 11 - .203 BALLNOSE CEM ) ( TOOL - 10 - 3/32 CEM ) ( TOOL - 6 - .3438 GARR 3 FLUTE DRILL ) ( TOOL - 3 - #L DRILL ) ( TOOL - 7 - 1/4 DRILL ) ( TOOL - 2 - 3/8 DRILL-MILL ) ( TOOL - 8 - .3750 GARR 3 FLUTE DRILL ) ( TOOL - 9 - .8430 REAMER ) ( TOOL - 24 - 1/4-20 TAPRH ) ( TOOL - 4 - 8.00-1.25 TAP RH ) G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 G94 G98 G0 G28 G91 Z0. G0 G28 ( 3.0000 FACEMILL TOOL - 18 DIA. OFF. - 18 LEN. - 18 DIA. - 3. ) M11 <===== M57 <===== T18 M6 G0 G55 G90 X-9.175 Y-6.0999 B0. A0. S7500 M3 T22 M10 <===== M67 <===== G43 H18 Z10. M8 But not on a true 5 Axis path: ***5X Curve Path Example*** code: G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 G94 G98 G0 G28 G91 Z0. G0 G28 ( 1/2 BALL CEM TOOL - 17 DIA. OFF. - 17 LEN. - 17 DIA. - .5 ) T17 M6 G0 G55 G90 X-3.75 Y-5.3836 B0. A30. S2000 M3 G43 H17 Z7.0925 M8 Z3.1925 G1 Z3.0925 F50. Y-4.3836 Y-4.3316 Z3.0071 F30. Y-4.2759 Z2.924 Y-4.2166 Z2.8436 Y-4.1538 Z2.7658 Y-4.0876 Z2.6909 Y-4.0182 Z2.6189 Y-3.9456 Z2.5501 Y-3.87 Z2.4846 Y-3.7916 Z2.4225 Y-3.7105 Z2.364 Y-3.6269 Z2.3093 Y-3.5409 Z2.2582 Y-3.4527 Z2.211 Y-3.3625 Z2.1678 Y-3.2706 Z2.1285 Y-3.1769 Z2.0934 Y-3.0818 Z2.0625 Y-2.9855 Z2.0359 Y-2.888 Z2.0137 Y-2.7896 Z1.9957 Y-2.6905 Z1.9822 Y-2.5909 Z1.9731 Y-2.491 Z1.9684 Y-2.352 Z2.0145 A28.879 Y-2.1601 Z2.1148 A26.331 Y-1.964 Z2.2064 A23.783 Y-1.764 Z2.2893 A21.237 Y-1.5607 Z2.3632 A18.691 Y-1.3542 Z2.428 A16.145 Y-1.1449 Z2.4836 A13.598 Y-.9336 Z2.5298 A11.052 Y-.7203 Z2.5666 A8.506 Y-.5055 Z2.5938 A5.958 Y-.2899 Z2.6114 A3.413 Y-.0736 Z2.6194 A.866 Y.1429 Z2.6179 A-1.681 Y.3589 Z2.6068 A-4.227 Y.5745 Z2.5861 A-6.774 Y.7887 Z2.5558 A-9.32 Y1.0014 Z2.5161 A-11.866 Y1.2121 Z2.4669 A-14.412 Y1.4205 Z2.4083 A-16.959 Y1.6261 Z2.3405 A-19.505 Y1.8285 Z2.2637 A-22.052 Y2.0272 Z2.1781 A-24.598 Y2.222 Z2.0836 A-27.146 Y2.4124 Z1.9806 A-29.693 Y2.523 Z1.9694 A-30. Y2.6228 Z1.9755 Y2.7223 Z1.9861 Y2.8211 Z2.001 Y2.9192 Z2.0203 Y3.0164 Z2.044 Y3.1124 Z2.072 Y3.2071 Z2.1042 Y3.3002 Z2.1407 Y3.3916 Z2.1812 Y3.4811 Z2.2257 Y3.5686 Z2.2741 Y3.6539 Z2.3264 Y3.7367 Z2.3823 Y3.817 Z2.442 Y3.8945 Z2.5052 Y3.9691 Z2.5717 Y4.0407 Z2.6415 Y4.1091 Z2.7145 Y4.1742 Z2.7903 Y4.236 Z2.869 Y4.2941 Z2.9503 Y4.3486 Z3.0342 Y4.3836 Z3.0925 Y5.3836 F200. Z3.3425 G0 Z7.0925 M9 M5 G0 G28 G91 Z0. G0 G28 It's probably not recognizing the switch string on the 5X path but I don't know how to add it. Thanks for the help in advance, Josh

man... this is best popcorn I've tasted in a long time! ...Carry on