For those of you strugling with this issue; I have contacted CNC Software and recieved the following responce from them: This is a known issue with the lathe tool manager in X7. The part file does not retain the MCX file of the tool. The developers have fixed this in the next release. The work-around is to bring the tool profile into the part file and place it on a level within the part file. We have come across this many times with our lathe users and this is the fix we have managed for now. When bringing in the tool file, save the profile to a level.

I've been messing around with this issue since x7 came out hoping a fix would come. But now it's MU2 and still doesn't work. The problem is no matter how you try to use custom lathe tools is that the relationship between the .mcx7 geometry file and the tool in the x7 tool library is not being retained. Mastercam apears to save the tool after you have used the tool in a "completed" toolpath, but if you start a new toolpath you have to go and reselect the .mcx7 tool geometry file and set it up. Please fix this? We pay thousands of dollars in maitanence fees!

Thanks Steve: I am actually using a modified mplfan since it is a lathe I am fixing this post for.. Thank you....

Yes I'm still fooling with this..I have been busy and out of the office.... Thanks guys.... I am using a modified mpfan, not mplmaster. I've had the mplfan post modified a lot so I can't switch now, it would be a huge hassle. i didn't know about mplmaster. I do see that there are some other things in it. I has strings variables and other variables that calculate pitch of a thread to be used as a feed for tapping which my post doesn't have. I dont see any where in my post where it calls the pitch and I don't see the math any where. I do tapping on the caxis. I have ER-20 Tapping collets for rigid tapping. So I'd like to create a variable to call the pitch of a tap. Then create a variable for calculating pitch and insert this as feedrate into the mtap$ section in my post in place of pffr so that it will post out a pitch for feedrate in my caxis tapping ops. I am learning post editing. I'd love to do this on my own. I am begining to understand...

pffr is the post block for my feed rate how can I add the 1/#of threads thing thats in the mplmaster?? This part: pitch = 1/n_tap_thds$ # Tap pitch (inches per thread) I dont have any of the strings variables that are in the mplmaster like thd$ and pitch.

I took out sgfeed and it removed the g98. Earlier in post there is this: #Canned drill cycle reference height sg198 : "" #G198 #Reference at initht sg199 : "" #G199 #Reference at refht sgdrlref : "" #Target string fstrsel sg198 drillref sgdrlref 2 -1 Looks like reference height or Return to Initial height. I am trying to learn so bear with me..

Thank you for replying to me.... On our fanuc G98 is per minute feed, usually put in at all caxis milling lines where the feed rate is commanded.I don't need it in tapping lines....I wish we had a HAAS I like the control on the HAAS much better than fanuc...... I ran the post debug and see that the taping stuff is coming from: mtap$ #Canned tap cycle, mill pdrlcommonb pcan1, pbld, n$, sgfeed, *sgdrlref, pgdrlout, pxout, pyout, pzout, pcout, prdrlout, pffr, strcantext, e$ pcom_movea I am using c-axis to tap on the face even if it's at the center. We don't have tap chucks to fit in the carousel we do have the er-20 tap collets for our live tools. I don't see any where a 1/# of threads thing in the post to add the pitch in the feed rate for tapping, any tapping.

Hey Guys. Hope you don't mind my budding in..... Granted, I have fanuc Oi not haas lathe. I tried pasting mplmaster tap section into my post and fooled around a little.. I cant get my tapping right...it's close I use a copy of mplfan that's been edited a lot already for my caxis. I cannot get my feed to be the thread pitch. I also need to get rid of my m73 (caxis spindle on) Gcode: (TOOL - 12 OFFSET - 12) ( NO. 4-40 TAPRH) (C-AXIS FACE DRILL) G28U0.W0. G0T1200 G0T1212 M23 M49 M19 G28H0. G0X0.Z.1 C0. G97S1320M73 *******no G97, no M73 ************ G98G184Z-.682R0.F33. *******no g98, Feed to Pitch (.025 for 4-40)********* G80 T1200 G28U0.W0.H0.M75 **********M75 is spindle off redundant doesn't matter********* M18 M30 My tap post block looks like this: ltap$ #Canned tap cycle, lathe gcode$ = zero prv_dwell$ = zero @dwell$ comment$ pcan pe_inc_calc xabs = vequ(refht_x) ps_inc_calc pcan1, pbld, n$, sgcode, pzout, strcantext, e$ pe_inc_calc xabs = vequ(depth_x) ps_inc_calc opcode$ = 104 #thread address from feedrate pbld, n$, *sthdg32, pfzout, pffr, pnullstop, e$ if dwell$, pdwell1 pe_inc_calc xabs = vequ(refht_x) ps_inc_calc pswtchspin pbld, n$, *sthdg32, pfzout, *spindle_l, e$ if dwell$, pdwell1 prv_gcode$ = -1 pbld, n$, pnullstop, e$ pswtchspin if refht$ <> initht$, [ gcode$ = zero pe_inc_calc xabs = vequ(initht_x) ps_inc_calc pbld, n$, sgcode, pfzout, *spindle_l, e$ ] pbld, n$, spindle_l, e$ opcode$ = 81 #Restore opcode pcom_movea Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.....Thank you in advance..

OK.....thanks

I know this is off topic..... Went to mastercam web site can't find X6 Mu-1, am I completely blind.....Yes I have maintenance.

A little off topic hop you dont' mind: What are you gys using for machine simulation. I know Predator has one. Any thing else?? Edit: never mind I see the machine simulation poll.......

I am sorry I haven't checked this forum in a while If you didn't already get it: HAAS Inspection Plus

Thanks Guys.... The parts were connected using the beak off tabs and a larger stock was used to increase the surface area. He also held the stock down as well as the parts. He used the peel off sheet gasket material from one of the links. Thank you again guys for help..I ended up well..

What kind of live tools are you using?? I've had this problem. Our machine; spindle on left tools on right in the back. when milling or drilling, ect live tools on the front face facing the spindle we need to command an M74 (live tools spindle CCW), When milling or drilling live tools on the side we need to command M73 (live tools spindle CW). This will make the tools climb as the should. My post posts an M73 for all live tools. I note the Tool Number that need changing and change manually in the program. It's a little bit of a pain... I would love to have the post do this automatically...

I've had this problem. Our machine; spindle on left tools on right in the back. when milling or drilling, ect live tools on the front face facing the spindle we need to command an M74 (live tools spindle CCW), When milling or drilling live tools on the side we need to command M73 (live tools spindle CW). This will make the tools climb as the should. My post posts an M73 for all live tools. I note the Tool Number that need changing and change manually in the program. It's a little bit of a pain... I like you, would love to have the post do this automatically...

Nwebeeee: Thank you for replying to me. He (the other designer here) tried Acrylic and it was a total a disaster, lol, We are making aluminum now.

Thank you Matt very much....

Thanks guys for relying to me.... One thing we didn't do was provide vacum for the cut off part... should I connecting the parts with the cut off tabs maybe? make the whole thing a little more stable?

Hello Every One: We are trying to design a vacuum chuck to hold small parts so it can be pocket milled and contoured to cut off. We want to machine several at once. We tried several things and cannot get the part to hold strong enough to mill. It holds down but slides around. We were using sticky, 2 sided tape, but the quantities required make sticky method too time consuming. Our latest attempt was to use a small o-ring type material, buna-n maybe to seal around the perimeter of the part and used a 3/4 HP vacuum pump. I did search the forums and found some great tips regarding gasket material. The part is so small that we figured we should just use the thin o-ring we had lying around here stick it in a groove and be done with it....didn't work. Thank you very much in advance. Here is a layout. Doc2.doc

What I've done for a rotary is to number all work offset to 0 in the view manager. I also arrange ops in order of rotation if possible to minimize tool change. Forgive me I do not know how to put up a thumbnail so here is a sceen shot in a word doc. How do you put up a screen shot via thumbnail.....or some thing rotary.doc

Please excuse me but, how do you attach a thumbnail?

I've never been able to get it right. It comes out jumbled usually, like this, that's why I don't use it. lazy..so i always went back. I like the snap shots of the part and the tool you get in the tool list... BTW is there another way to run it other than running a user application..just curious. HEATSINK DESIGN PROD FEB 2012 ROTATED.htm HEATSINK DESIGN PROD FEB 2012 ROTATED 2.htm

I did see that. I downloaded it and I quickly tried it. I could not get it work properly. I think its because I use cimco edit for my editor not the mastercam editor, not sure. I confess I didn't spend too much time on it. We've been using the no frills stuff since around v8 or so. I did try active editor. Spent about a day an half on it when we were slow and I could not get it right like you and went back to the "old" way.

John: If he has a HAAS, I have a copy of inspection plus book in .pdf i'll share...

AJohnson: I recieved this tech tip in my email and thought I might share it with you.. If you can't read it, it says to right click in your operations manager and go down ti import/export tools and there is a detailed and simple report available. I tried it it works.... Doc1.pdf