There are a lot of good programs that will convert raster images to vector images. Adobe Streamliner Trac Tric 2000 R2V Corel Draw Scan 2 Cad Wintopo Pro Just to name a few. All of these programs can import the vector image to Mastercam.As to what is the best it depends on what you want. If you want really good detail you will have to clean up the final results no mater which program you use. In my opinion the Raster to vector c-hook is the best. I think all of these programs have a demo version. Try them all and see what you like the best.

diamondd, Look on the FTP site under MC9 files. File name is TX2.mc9. I copied this from the Corel draw disk.

+1 to PhilCott also pack part in dry ice before machining.

Rookie 1, Specs from ThreadTech program: OSBORN PRODUCTS INC. .............DATA FOR PIPE THREADS............. ................. 1 1/4-11.5 NPT .............. Outside diameter of pipe....................... 1.6600 Threads per inch............................... 11.5 Decimal lead................................... 0.08696 P.D. at beginning of external thread (E0)...... 1.55713 Length of handtight engagement (L1)............ 0.4200 Number of threads engaged...................... 4.83 P.D. at length of handtight engagement and at gaging notch or large end of internal thread(E1) 1.58338 Effective thread length of external thread (L2) 0.7068 Number of threads in effective thread length... 8.13 P.D. at effective thread length, external (E2). 1.60130 Length from handtight engagement to effective thread length.................................. 0.2868 Number of threads from handtight engagement to effective thread length........................ 3.30 Wrench makeup length for internal thread (L3).. 0.2609 No. of threads in makeup length for int. thd... 3 P.D. at makeup length for internal thread (E3). 1.54083 Vanish thread length........................... 0.3017 No. of threads in vanish thread length......... 3.47 Overall length of external thread.............. 1.0085 Nominal complete external thread length (L5)... 0.5329 P.D. at nominal complete ext. thread length(E5) 1.59043 Height of thread............................... 0.06957 Increase in diameter per thread advance........ 0.00543 Width of flat is...................from 0.0033 to 0.0073 Hope this helps.

Gismo, Great job. How do we go about ordering this from you.

Murlin, Look here: http://dirtbag.biz/ This will help alot. Still use your box but add the dirt bag.

Mark, Check out this site: http://www.moxa.com/product/Serial_Device_Servers/index.htm It works great. I have 8 machines tied into this. You can program from any computer on the network and send to any machine in the shop. Cost is about $1000.

I put 12 Mastercam files on cadcam's FTP site. they are in the MC9_files directory. Named deer01 thru deer12. Cadcam, I screwed up and tryed to create a folder for these. I Sould have read this first. quote: Guidelines: 1) Don't create folders in the root directory. anyway I put the new folder under MC9_files and was going to name it animals and put my files there.I managed to create a new folder but could not rename it and did not get the files in that folder. I pretty much messed that up. Sorry!!! Anyway I hope some of you can use these files.

Check your E-mail. Hope it works for you.

I'm starting to feel old after reading this. Started machining in 1967 NC's in 1971 Cad Cam in 1980 And Mastercam ver 3.1 in 1990

Roger quote: Would any of these programs support a macro that would automatically change a color to another one? As in mastercams black background to white. SnagIt will do this. If've been using it for about 4 months now and love it. I also like the window capture mode.

There are a lot of good programs that will convert raster images to vector images. Adobe Streamliner Trac Tric 2000 R2V Corel Draw Scan 2 Cad Wintopo Pro Just to name a few. All of these programs can import the vector image to Mastercam.As to what is the best it depends on what you want. If you want really good detail you will have to clean up the final results no mater which program you use. In my opinion the Raster to vector c-hook is the best. I think all of these programs have a demo version. Try them all and see what you like the best. Good Luck!

Open MCU goto options Program setup Partners Partner setup Mastercam Uncheck the check box

Thanks Rekd. I guess I was blind. I never saw that. Works great.

Rekd quote: Once you get 9.1, you can set it to post the File Descriptor, found in File/Next Menu/Properties This sounds great. How?

Gismo, I've been looking for somthing like this for a long time. Absolutly Great Thanks for sharing this with us.

They can save it as a 2002 file and it works fine. Its just going to be a hassle. I'm hoping we have a patch sometime soon.

One of my customers just upgraded to AutoCad 2004. Does anyone have an idea when we will get a file converter for the new AutoCad format.

Started machining in 1967 NC's in 1971 Cad Cam in 1980 And Mastercam ver 3.1 in 1990 Used every ver since then.

Slick, Check here http://www.camaix.com/English/indexeng.htm

When you create toolpaths in Mastercam, an intermediate cutter path file, the NCI file, is created to represent toolpaths in a generic or intermediate format. The post processor reads and interprets the NCI file to create the NC output. By using custom post processors, you can output the data in a single NCI file to multiple NC files that can run different machine/control combinations.

Larry I too am a Vietnam vet. A lot of S**T happen over there that shouldn't have. I chose not to talk about it much. (my way of dealing with it all) But one thing I will always say to all vets. !BE PROUD! We were dumped on by or government and a few of our fellow (idiot) citizens, but I find most people are like the ones responding her. We ARE appreciated and we did or jobs and we did them well. Stand tall and hold your head high! Carl

Again High speed steel tools From Machining Data Handbook End milling Peripheral 300 to 400 fpm .005 to .010 Inch / tooth Drilling 200 fpm .003 to .010 ipr Jim Whipple has a good point about delicate sections and step down passes.

Joel You are right. If you have a post that is almost what you want spend a little time and tweak it in. Why reinvent the wheel. The mpmaster post is a great post but it has alot of bells and whistles that you may not need.

I put a file called Harley Davidson.mc9 on the FTP site. It has all the logos for Harley Davidson including some of the old logos.