Good Morning, The company I work at is implementing Autodesk Inventor 2010 Pro. I am responsible for programming 6 Okuma lathes and a 4 axis machining center. The lathes have been fed with 2D drawings (sections) imported from AutoCAD with good success. I have not used the solids feature much. Is there major benefits for me to start the transition to solids? On the lathes I have been redrawing the face bolt circles, mainly due to it was always 2D and sometimes the bolt circles or rectanglar dimensions were not perfect. Can someone shed some info on this. I pretty much know that the 4 axis machining will be easier with the new 3D models, but have not done it yet. Thanks, Greg.

oK, I can view and edit the EIA based program in the control. Turned the DOS names ON in parameters (password protected). But I still can not view the code while the part is being machined. Does anyone do this? I can't believe Milltronics does not have a mode in which the operator can view the M and G code format while the part is being machined? Thanks again, Greg.

Good Afternoon, Anyone use Milltronics mills? I am have a bear of a time getting the control to view the EIA based mastercam NC code. It seems to want to convert all of the EIA to it's conversational macro lanugage. There is got to be a way to view the EIA based (M and G code) program while the part is being cut. Milltronics guy didn't sound like it was possible to view just the M and G codes just like any other Fanuc based control. My operators will be lost! Please help. Thanks in advance, Greg.

Try THIS: http://mdmetric.com/tech/thddat7.htm British Pipe Taps 6H is the class of tolerance. G or R is straight and parallel threads. Look at the website above. Greg.

Can't get it. I drew a line X-10 TO X10, Chain single line, set to ramp plunge type, set depth .1" The backplot wants to start at X-10 MOVE to X10 and return back to X-10 BEFORE advancing in Z. I would like to have a path that looks like. X-10Y10Z0 Z-.1 X10 Z-.2 X-10 Z-.3 X10 Z-.4 X-10 ??????? Thanks again for your replys.

Good Morning, Can someone tell me if this is possible. i would like to cut a straight line from left to right then advance down in Z and cut again from right to left. Continuing this until I receive a desired depth. Is this for long hand writing or will MasterCAM generate this? Thanks in advance, Greg.

Good Afternoon, The IT guy just set up my new Dell with Vista and X2 MR2. I keep getting ERROR:9 dialog box. "The SIM has become disconnected. Mastercam will be automatically shut down. You will get one chance to dace your file.(9) Anyone see this before? Thanks. Greg.

Good Afternoon, Our IT guy is getting ready to send me a new PC. Currently I have a Dell Precision 380 wiht XP. He wants to give me a Dell T3400 with GTX 9900 graphics card loaded with Vista Business 32 Bit. What should I be aware of in conflicts or issues with X2 MR2 and X3 with this setup? Thanks, Greg.

Newchsmcam, I would like to see that if you don't mind. The lap cycle works well, but some of our operators are not too familar with the Okuma Lap code. Thanks, Greg.

All, Here is the LAP cycle the operator wrote for the broaching. G13 M110 G0X30Z50 T0909 G0C0 M147 G94G0X7.05Z.2 M8 G85N1D.001U.00W.000F200. N1G81 G0X7.25Z.2 G1Z-3.41 X7.05Z-3.41 G80 M146 N10G0C90 M147 G94G0X7.05Z.2 G85N1D.001U.00W.000F200. M146 N20G0C180 M147 G94G0X7.05Z.2 G85N1D.001U.00W.000F200. M146 N30G0C270 M147 G94G0X7.05Z.2 G85N1D.001U.00W.000F200. M146 M9 G0X30Z50 M109 M2 %

Hello, Thanks for all of your replies. I have a tool made very similar to PH Horn style. My operator made up a lap Cycle to do this last night and cut a part in Aluminum. Surprisely it worked very well. I am going to try the Macro program posted too. If anyone would like see more of this let me know. Again thanks for your replies. Greg.

Good Evening, I am researching methods to program a broaching application. I would like to mount a keyseat cutter to a boring bar and stroke it in and out on the Z axis on a lathe to broach a keyway in a bore. The operator I am working in the shop siad maybe a LAP cycle could be used for this code. I would like to position in front of the bore in X and Z and then broach in and out while moving up in X at a set increment. Does anyone know any tricks I could use with MasterCAM to generate this NC code?? Greg.

Colin, Thanks that was it. Thanks for the tips on creating new B axis planes also. Greg.

Good Morning, I have seemed to manage to screw my views up with view manager. In Mill I was trying to create a plane for B220 by using geometry. Now my ISO view displays when I hit the TOP Gview green icon. Can someone tell me how to get this back. Thanks, Greg.

Good Afternoon, I thought I would post this here because most of you are using or have used these machines before. My company is in the market to buy a new lathe for machining our parts. We run very small quantities of different but very similar parts. (1 to 2 qty). All products are made to order, no stock design. We currently run Okuma's LC40, Lr35, Lu25, Lb15. We spend a lot time changing drills and tap sizes our of the upper live tool turret for the next job. I have recommended that we look at a lathe with a ATC mounted to it. My question is how are the Okuma multi tasking machines (MAC turns) vs Mazak Integrex? I am leaning towards Okuma because the guys in the shop know the controls and the IGF interface. Can someone comment on what best way is to measure each machine and which one would be the best choice? Thanks, Greg.

Thanks for the help guys. I assumed if the chain was complete and highlighted yellow is was OK. This was a Pro-E drawing saved out to Autocad DWG and then imported. Thanks again. Greg.

Leandro, I hope so. Thanks alot. You should see it tomorrow. Greg.

I need to send to somebody. Anyone want to look at it. I have tried everything. Thanks for you replies, Greg.

Good Afternoon, I am having a problem lately with lathe. I have defined my stock with the cylinder method and started my rough cycle chain from right to left. The tool path generated does not cut all the way down on the right and stops short in Z on the left?????? This is driving me crazy. I have tried re-defining stock. Saved and re-opened. Re-chained several times? Why?????? This is too simple to have this many problems? Anyone see this before?? Boss is getting pissed. Help! Thanks, Greg.

Good Evening, Our company is in the process of selecting a new machine to turn our spindle shafts. I had an opportunity to see an Integrex in action at IMTS in Chicago. I looked at a 420 Integrex. I have seen these machines before and used to work with a programmer that used Surfcam. He claimed it was a real pain to get a good post working. My big question is how are the posts from Mastercam. I have assumed we would need to purchase one. I am not looking for much customization, just a good post the handles the full capability of the machine. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, Greg.

Alien, That did not do it. It's reading 198 offset in the dia. offset, but it's greyed out in my parameters page. All of my offsets are wrong for live tooling. G.

Hello, Can someone tell me how to prevent my tool offsets from changing. When using live tooling I have a drill with the dialog boxes as follows: Tool# 1 Len offset: 1 Head# 1 When I post out I get the following: (TOOL - 1 OFFSET - 198) ( 3/4 SPOTDRILL) (C-AXIS FACE DRILL) N835G13 N840P30 N845M110 N850G0G94X50.Z50.T010298SB=1200M13M24 What did I change to make this happen?? Thanks in advance, Greg.

Hello, My rough boring op does not recognized the previous drilled through hole in lathe. The toolpath starts up by the chained geometry??? Anyone see this before?

Jgary, Very freqently, just this morning. I also have noticed my operations are out of order from last night. Anyone else see this. I love explaining to my boss that I have to redo a program, but can't really give him an answer why. Greg.

Just install on new Vista HP. I am getting this error on boot up of MCAM. Entry point Not found The procedure entry point ?GetWndPosRegName@MCDialog blah blah could not be located in the dynamic link library Mastercam.exe. Any suggestions? Thanks.