All the information that was into the post text file is now hold into the Control definition manager, mostly into the text section and into the machine cycle section for the drill cycle. These info can also be found at the complete end of your post. Look for a line that would start with [CTRL_MILL... or [CTRL_LATHE... or [CTRL_MT_LATHE... for a 3+ axis lathe post HTH

If you don't copy the source operation this may make some sens because you are leaving the work offset to -1 which is not recommended because it lets Mastercam decide and increment the generated value based on the use of the toolplane. If you copy the operation in it, you won't get this problem. Now I don't know how you could do it without having to set it in the source operation without having Mastercam to increment it.

I don't remember having to set the work offset prior the transform. I just tried it again, with a rotate transform around the X axis 3 copy and I usually choose to copy the source operation within my transform. Set the work offset numbering to Assign new, start 0 increment 0 and I get only G54's all the way down.

I think the help file is not clear enough in this case. Based on my experience when you set it to OFF and that you don't have a change in your toolpane orientation no work offset should output, but if you do a rotate for example, you are going to use a different toolpane for every instance. And if you are using the option OFF, it tells mastercam to use the default option, which is to increment the work offset number for every different toolplane. The easiest way to get what you want , is to set it to Assign New, set your starting work offset (the same as your source operation) and put the increment value to 0. This way you will never get incremented. That's the way I usually do it. HTH

On some post I've seen, it is just a switch in the post itself that defines if you output G19 ou spatial angle. Might wnt to look with your reseller or the person who provided you the post.

Look on the Mastercaqm web site, in the support/download section for X4 you will find it there.

but is it the same gcode you'll be running on the machine? The logic can be implemented into your own 5 axis post to output something that would be really close to gcode simulation as the coordinates given to the mach sim would be generated from the the same logic which generate the Gcode you put on the machine. This way you know that if you have a choosen in your misc value to use the positive solution of your tilt axis instead of the negative, you will see the good movement on the screen, for example. I know it has been done already.

Hi James, If your tools are numbered sequentially you can always use the following, select all operations then right click on one of them and choose edit selected operation\renumber tool. There you can add the desired value to your lenght or your diameter offset. HTH

Hi Spade, Look into settings\machine definition\ the into the edit the control definition icon and in this page look for the nc output section, the options are there.

You could say for exemple, sav_mi7 = 0 (or your off value) once you have pass through your condition, this way if it was ON you have now cleared the value and if it was already OFF you haven't change anything at all. Another way, if you save you misc value like this: sav_mi7 = mi7$ at the end of your psof$ ,toolchange (ptlchg$) and null toolchange (ptlchg0$) block your value will be reset by itself to the next value, so it will be 0 if you don't want the output for this operation and 1 if you want it. Therefore, no need to add sav_mi7 = 0 after the output of your spindle reverse sequence. HTH André

Hi Josh, The problem here lies in the fact that pretract is called in the beginning of the next operation, therefore it has already read the misc value of the next operation. The best solution is to save the value of your misc value like it has been mentioned and work with the saved value instead of the predefined one. This way you will be able to activate it even if you have only one operation. HTH

Thank you Roger,I have got the file this morning!Everything looks good, might want to add those links in the reseller download section.

Thanks Roger, I was refering to a what's new file for the SDK not of Mastercam X5 itself. Thanks for investigating about the CHM file!

Hi all,I was wondering why there was no help file (CHM) for the Nethook API into the sdk folder of X5?Does anybody knows?Thanks for the help in advance.

Computer compensation means that the tool radius is compensated in Mastercam based on the tool diameter define in your operation. If your tool diameter changes on the machine, you need to change it in MC because there is no compensation call made (no G41/G42 for example). Control compensation means that the tool radius is compensated by the control on the machine. This means that in the control in the diameter (or radius) offset page (I don't know how it is done on a Hurco, some other may help you on this) you need to enter the exact value of the tool currently in the machine. So if the tool diameter change no need to change the program, you can change it on the machine. Now keep in mind that usually you need a linear lead in at least equal to or bigger than the tool radius in order to let the machine compensate properly. Also you will have problem if you try to do arcs that are smaller than the compensated value. Wear compensation is a combination of both computer and control. Which means that MC will output the code already with the radius offset based on the tool in the operation but it will also output the compensation code call in the NC alowing you to adjust the tool radius on the machine based on tool wear. Usually rencent control have a separate page for wear offset that you enter only small value like Dave mentioned representing the tool wear. It not only allow you to compensate on the machine for small variation, but also will give much less problem with arc that have a radius close to the tool diameter, not to mention the lead-in length that only needs to be equal to or bigger than the maximum wear that you tolerate on a specific tool, instead of the radius of the tool. I hope it may help you understand a bit more the differences between the different compensation mode.

Try this, it comes from the mpmaster post. code: ptlchg1002$ #Call at actual toolchange, end last path here if op_id$ <> last_op_id, [ pset_mach #Set rotary switches by reading machine def parameters if cuttype = 1, sav_rev = rev * m_one #Save the current rev value so Axis Sub doesn't start again at 0 (avoid unwind) ] pspindle whatline$ = four #Required for vector toolpaths if gcode$ = 1000, [ #Null toolchange ] else, [ #Toolchange and Start of file if gcode$ = 1002, [ #Actual toolchange pretract ] if stagetool = one, prv_next_tool$ = m_one prv_xia = vequ(xh$) prv_feed = c9k <--- add this line------ ] HTH

Make sure that you write it prv_fr$ HTH

yes that the option!

To prevent any dogleg problem you can check the box to use High feedrate instead of rapid moves in the code. the movements are the same but this way you stay in G01 with the feed that is increased at the beginning of the movmement and decreased before it gets back into material. And no Mastercam should not program a shortest distance through the part. If it does so it is a bug and you should refer it. HTH

dfehrman, The problem you have with your tool compensation G41/G42 in G112/G113 is a post issues not related to the software. Now if that post you are using as been provided by the machine control suplyer then what the MC dealer told you is true, if the post is encrypted there is no way he would be able to make any change in the encrypted section. Although you may ask your MC dealer to put you in touch with people like In-Houses Solutions who can provide you with a wide variety of functionnal mill-turn post for any combination (3-4-5 axis, single-dual turrets, single or dual spindle). I'm sure there are others also like ICAM, etc... A great software with a poor post won't do anything good. But a good software with a solid post can do amazing things. People often understimate the importance of the post-processor they are using, as in fact it is the only part that can translate properly to the machine what you want it to do through the software. I don't wnat to offend anyone with this last comment but that's what I commonly see. HTH

You could add a diameter multplier value in your post, so that in Mastercam you enter your value on the radius and the post would output the value on the diameter like you want it to. I've seen this in many post. look for dia_mult in the mplmaster post from In-House and you'll have an idea of how it works. HTH

Have you ever try the change recognition feature? That is supposed to do what you are looking for. Find it from the File scroll down menu. HTH

If you absolutely want the points to be created you can go into the configuration CAD settings page and in the top left corner of the page choose the option: Point in the rectangle: type of center line. You will then be able to assign those specific points created with the arcs onto a specific level or to be of a specific color or to keep the current active value. HTH

You might want to try to look at the tool_typ$ variable, which refers to the tool type you select in your tool filter page, now if you drill with something else than a drill, you might have a problem but stilll, might worth the try. HTH

Hi Roger, Jaouad already have the Chook SDK in his possession, one of the major problem he has and that we have trouble to help him out is to install properly the SDK into Visual studio. It looks like there are a lot of environment variable or parameters that are not well configured after the install. Could you or anybody help with this issues or tell us where to look at to find more information on this? Thanks