Check out the Master ISO G-Code Post under the posts tab here. It has a sample of the rpar function in it. ------------------ Val

CRowland In ver 7 go to nc utilities and use filter. It's the same thing except it rewrites the NCI file. Also most machines need a feed move to cancel cutter comp on so some times this is not good to use.

Filter your toolpath. This will remove the unwanted lines from the finished NC file ------------------ Val

You allready have one. Go to files, converters, Parasolid, Read file, Use the pull down for file type and select Solidworks Files ( *.sldPRT). I use it all the time and it works great.

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! ------------------ Val

I tried what Rekd said and it worked fine on three different pockets. It's really a neat trick.I will use this alot. ------------------ Val

Thats been covered. See http://www.eMastercam.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000162.html Use CycleTimeCharles's solution. It worked with my ATI card. [This message has been edited by Carl Vallance (edited 03-05-2001).]

Look here http://www.eMastercam.com/resources/

Glad I was a help to you. Ain't this forum great. Thanks to all who have made this place a quality learning center. ------------------ Val

First set your library as the default. Go to Screen, Configure. Files tab, File usage, Tool library. Set your tool library as default. To delete tool from that library once it is set as the default go to NC utils. Def tools, Library This will open your tool library, right click the mouse on the tool you don't want and choose Delete tool.

Toby: Open the Toolpath Editor by right-clicking on the NCI icon for a toolpath or by choosing Options, Toolpath Editor from the right-click menu in the Operations Manager. ------------------ Val

It would also be nice if there was an easy way to chamfer two surfaces

This info is straight from the help screen, it works every time for me. 1. Choose Main Menu. 2. From the Mastercam toolbar, choose the macro record button. The Specify File Name to Write dialog box opens. 3. Type a name for the macro and choose OK. The system displays a message that the macro recording is active and the record button turns green. 4. Choose OK to close this message. 5. Choose the functions, options and buttons you want to include in the macro. Choose them in the order you want them to execute when the macro is played back. 6. If you want the macro user to enter information, choose the macro pause button to insert a pause at each point where information is required. If you don’t insert a pause, the information you enter becomes permanent part of the macro. 7. When complete, choose the macro record button again to stop recording. The system confirms that the recording process is off and the record button turns red. 8. Choose OK to close this message and end macro recording.

Kathy, I've had similar problems with our Fadal when using cutter comp in the control. It seems to be a bug in the Fadal. My work around is to turn cutter comp off in the control and on in the computer. I'm not sure you are having the same problem but it sounds like it. E-mail me your files and I'll see if its the same on my mill. [email protected].

Thanks Dave. This covers my question. From this info I can create the special font I need. ------------------ Val

I have a customer that wants me to engrave with a special font. I have created the geometry for the font but I don't know what the letters.dat file is about. Any help would be appreciated. Mill ver 8. ------------------ Val

Yes I get to keep it. The cost will be spread out over 4 jobs so it doesn't look so high to my customer. He just wants his molds made. He really dosn't care how I do them, or what I have to buy to get them done. It works out real nice for me.

Thanks a lot for all the help. You've given me some good choices. Also some good ideas for topics to use for internet searchs. I have now found over a dozen programs that can do the job. I thank I can find a ggod one within the price range that my customer is willing to fork over for this project. Thanks again for all the help. ------------------ Val

Great help so far. I've found an evaluation copy of Rhino, havn't had a chance to realy look at it yet. I found Artcam, Talked to a dealer and they are sending more info. It looks realy good, but I was quoted $7500. A little to much to pass on to my customer. Can anyone help me find Tru Space or Realcam. Can't seem to find a web site for these. Anyone else know of a program?

I guess I wasn't real clear as to what I need.Raster to Vector conversion is great but I need someway to take a grayscale image and automatically assign a Z depth to it, based on the shade of gray,so that I end up with a 3 dimensional profile that looks like the picture with a total Z depth of about 1/8 inch. As an example pure black would be at 0.0 depth and pure white at -.125 depth with all depths in between to change as the shade of gray changes. It has to output as surfaces or as a solid so that I can generate a tool path with an engraving tool. I've seen this done but I don't know how they did it. DogFartz does Tru Space do this. If so where can I find out about it. ------------------ Val

I need to make a 3D profile from a scanned grayscale image. Is there anyway to do this with Mastercam ( Chook or add on program)? If theirs not a way with Mastercam does anyone know of a program that can do this? I have Mastercam v8. ------------------ Val

Denver Colorado The average pay scale in this area is from $18 to $25 depending on your skills. It sounds like you would be on the high end. Its a great state to live in. Mountains are just minites away. Cost of living is just a little above average for the nation. Jobs are easy to find right now. ------------------ Val [This message has been edited by Carl Vallance (edited 10-25-2000).]

Thanks Charles. It work for me also. ------------------ Val

If your talking about Ver 7 goto: Screen Configure NC Settings Operation Defaults Job Setup If your talking about ver 8 You have a very good question. I can't seem to find any way to set these defaults either. Was this possibly overlooked in ver 8? Can somebody out there help? ------------------ Val

I like the idea. But they are very small and hard to see. And without some sort of reminder of what they are I won't remember what they represent other then the obvious ones like mill, lathe and wire.