XP Home will work ok, but as Todd said you're better to invest in Pro.

From "Art Menu" go to "Import File To Art Base Surface". That will bring the STL file into art. From there run art toolpaths to your liking. It's not near as long to open this way as it is with file open and is customizable with all Art functions. You might what to buy the book "Mastercam Art Training Tutorial" found on this web site if you are just starting with Art. It will give you the basics to get started.

I'm Runing one right now. Works Great 1.6 Core 2 Duo 1 Gig Ram Nvidia Geforce 8400M GS 128 Mb WINDOWS XP PRO

I've used STL's from both Vector Art 3D and Vector Clip 3D in Mastercam and had great results from both. Also Vector Art has a free program called Vector Art 3D Machinist you can download from there site. I've used it with great results also. Both have free samples. Download them and try it out.

Here's another one http://www.vectorclip3d.com/

Here are a couple http://www.carve3d.com/ http://www.vectorart3d.com/

There's one on the FTP site in MC9 files

Check out the calculator in this thread http://www.emastercam.com/ubb/ultimatebb.p...ic;f=1;t=027041

CNC Apps Guy, Once again the book is S**T. Not sure about what you say. When I get a chance I'll try it at the Machine and see what happens. Dragracer1951, The check is in the mail.

On the tool registration page on the control instead of calling a tool number say 15 you call it 9015 then in your program call T9015 M6 and it will always isolate that tool from all others. Any tool number from 0001 to 0999 is a small dia tool, any tool number from 1000 to 8999 is a medium dia tool and any tool number from 9000 to 9999 is a large dia tool. The book is real vague on all this but after you read it about 50 times it starts to make sense.

Finaly figured it out. The book is hard reading but it's in there.

How do I isolate a tool in the tool carosel on a Mori so that no tool can be put next to it.

OSBORN PRODUCTS INC. .............DATA FOR PIPE THREADS............. ................. 3/8-18 NPT .................. Outside diameter of pipe....................... 0.6750 Threads per inch............................... 18.0 Decimal lead................................... 0.05556 P.D. at beginning of external thread (E0)...... 0.61201 Length of handtight engagement (L1)............ 0.2400 Number of threads engaged...................... 4.32 P.D. at length of handtight engagement and at gaging notch or large end of internal thread(E1) 0.62701 Effective thread length of external thread (L2) 0.4078 Number of threads in effective thread length... 7.34 P.D. at effective thread length, external (E2). 0.63750 Length from handtight engagement to effective thread length.................................. 0.1678 Number of threads from handtight engagement to effective thread length........................ 3.02 Wrench makeup length for internal thread (L3).. 0.1667 No. of threads in makeup length for int. thd... 3 P.D. at makeup length for internal thread (E3). 0.60159 Vanish thread length........................... 0.1928 No. of threads in vanish thread length......... 3.47 Overall length of external thread.............. 0.6006 Nominal complete external thread length (L5)... 0.2967 P.D. at nominal complete ext. thread length(E5) 0.63055 Height of thread............................... 0.04444 Increase in diameter per thread advance........ 0.00347 Width of flat is...................from 0.0021 to 0.0057 Run date is 06-27-07 OSBORN PRODUCTS INC. .............DATA FOR PIPE THREADS............. ................. 1/4-18 NPT .................. Outside diameter of pipe....................... 0.5400 Threads per inch............................... 18.0 Decimal lead................................... 0.05556 P.D. at beginning of external thread (E0)...... 0.47739 Length of handtight engagement (L1)............ 0.2278 Number of threads engaged...................... 4.10 P.D. at length of handtight engagement and at gaging notch or large end of internal thread(E1) 0.49163 Effective thread length of external thread (L2) 0.4018 Number of threads in effective thread length... 7.23 P.D. at effective thread length, external (E2). 0.50250 Length from handtight engagement to effective thread length.................................. 0.1740 Number of threads from handtight engagement to effective thread length........................ 3.13 Wrench makeup length for internal thread (L3).. 0.1667 No. of threads in makeup length for int. thd... 3 P.D. at makeup length for internal thread (E3). 0.46697 Vanish thread length........................... 0.1928 No. of threads in vanish thread length......... 3.47 Overall length of external thread.............. 0.5946 Nominal complete external thread length (L5)... 0.2907 P.D. at nominal complete ext. thread length(E5) 0.49556 Height of thread............................... 0.04444 Increase in diameter per thread advance........ 0.00347 Width of flat is...................from 0.0021 to 0.0057 Run date is 06-27-07

If you set up a toolbar with the Screen: Display graphics view axis button you can toggle the axis on and off. It works both on the screen and with the print mode.

Hope this helps. ..............OSBORN PRODUCTS INC.............. Pitch diameter tolerances and other data for THREAD PLUG GAGES , class 1B, 2B, 3B, series UNC, UNF, UNEF, UN, UNJ, UNS. Number of starts............................... 1 Threads per inch............................... 48.0000 Decimal lead is................................ 0.02083 .342-48 UNS-2B THREAD PLUG GAGE The go major diameter is....................... 0.3420 +0.0004 The go pitch diameter is....................... 0.3285 +0.00020 The not go major diameter is................... 0.3412 -0.0004 The not go pitch diameter is................... 0.3322 -0.00020 Pitch diameter tolerance for 2B is............. 0.0037 Best wire size is.............................. 0.01203 Constant is.................................... 0.018042 Measurement over wires, go..................... 0.346542 Measurement over wires, not go................. 0.350242 The helix angle is............................. 1.15648 Or if you prefer 1 Degree 9 Minutes 23 Seconds These are COMPUTER values...................... Run date is 11-03-06

Look for a line like this: linarc : yes # yes (or '1') = linearize ALL arcs no (or '0') = leave the arcs alone! Set it to Yes. If you can't find this line add it.

Colin Great tip! I havn't noticed that option before. Very fast way to put tabs where I want them.

From ThreadTech v2.21 ..............OSBORN PRODUCTS INC.............. Pitch diameter tolerances and other data for INTERNAL THREADS, class 1B, 2B, 3B, series UNC, UNF, UNEF, UN, UNJ, UNS. Number of starts............................... 1 Threads per inch............................... 32.0000 Decimal lead is................................ 0.03125 .164-32 UNJC-3B INTERNAL THREAD The pitch diameter is......................from 0.1437 to 0.1465 The minor diameter is......................from 0.1336 to 0.1417 Pitch diameter tolerance for 3B is............. 0.0028 The helix angle is............................. 3.95980 Or if you prefer 3 Degrees 57 Minutes 35 Seconds These are COMPUTER values...................... Run date is 07-24-06

The translator does not work on autocad 2007 See this thread: http://www.emastercam.com/cgi-bin/ultimate...t=021436#000000

Here is a handy Chart that covers most all metric tolerane. http://www.ex.ac.uk/~sritchie/hydro/datasheets/D780Ref.pdf

Machinist Assembles, repairs, and fabricates metal parts by operating mechanical equipment. Assembles parts into sub-units or complete units. Uses blueprints and design sketches to ensure the proper dimensions and tolerance levels of the finished product. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. May be required to meet certain certifications in field and to have at least 0-2 years of experience. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a supervisor/manager. Tool and Die Maker Builds and repairs machine shop tools. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. May be required to complete an apprenticeship and/or formal training in area of specialty with at least 5 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of complicated tasks. May lead and direct the work of others. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

Contact Southwest Industries http://www.southwesternindustries.com/swi/contact.shtml

quote: Carl how many files have you tested this on. As I have found this not to work well at all. We've been using this for two months. About a hundred files with no problems yet.

Lathe-Mill Your email address is blocked. Send me your address and I'll send the file to you. Also I uploaded the file to Jay's FTP site. /Mastercam_forum/Apps_files/Feb04sworkstree.zip

If you have a copy of Mastercam Direct for Solidworks for ver 9 It will work in Solidworks 2006. Unfortunately it is no longer avalible on Mastercam's download page. I can email you a copy if you want it.