OK, I'll spec it out and see if anyone else buys into it. I think i have come up with a simple way to accomdate those in favor of A and B with a Named View variant. This proposed change will have no negative effect on Posting. It is only for setting the defaults for Clearance, Retract, and Feed planes on new opertations that use a named view with customized plane settings. Now my head hurts again. Ken

OK, now my head hurts... Since this topic came about as a discussion of defaults i want to drag it back there with an idea. You guys tell me if it works for you. Add a switch in the View Manager (WCS dialog) to set or use "alternate defaults" for specific Views. This switch would activate a new tab on the view manager so you could easily set the clearance, retract, etc. (It would only work on Named Views.) If this switch is active, and the named view is used, not just as a WCS, then the defaults for the planes would come from the View Manager instead of the Default Operations. But they would just be defaults for the initial start of an operation, the user could override them at any time. This would require a switch in the defaults dialog as well, so users would know by looking in either location that alternate planes are being used, and where they are coming from. Is this what you are asking for? Would this help? Ken

Yes, loud unexpected noises, followed by air cutting is why we decided to go with the current method of A. Of course you can still mess that up if you need values higher than the defaults, i guess you still have to be careful no mater what options we give you. We constantly stuggle with giving users more flexibility at the risk of allowing them to do inadvertant harm. Flexibility can be both a blessing and a curse. I think i have some ideas to work with that will either make everyone happy or equally mad. I am still trying to get my head around the idea of allowing separate settings based on a named view. It sounds like you want a "Heights and Planes" option in the view definition that would allow you to create a named view and then set specific values to be used when that named view is used instead of the defaults or modal values from previous operations. Did i get that right? Ken

OK everyone, one more question... As i scan through the bugs and requests logs for Default Operations related issues i see conflicting requests and complaints that i'd like to square away for X. If in V-9 you edit the clearance height on a contour operation the next contour operation will remember that height. But, if you create a pocket operation after the contour the clearance height is still set to the default height for pockets and not what the user entered for the contour. What should happen? a. - Should the system always go back to the defaults for each operation type the first time it is used and then use the new values the user edited? (that's how it works now) b. - Should the system take the last clearance height edited and create all subsequent toolpaths using that height? (It used to work this way, but many people complained) (This affects all kinds of things, Retract and feed planes, stock height, depth, stock to leave, tolerances, etc.) If your answer is A then we don't need to change a thing for X. If your answer is B, then tell me what should and shouldn't be included in this approach. Your feedback on the other questions has been very useful, not everything suggested or requested will be implemented, but your comments are having a positive influence on what is being written into the specifications (and hopefully the software as well) Thanks, Ken

OK, my requests for feedback have been very fruitfull recently. So as long as you guys are willing i'll ask for your feedback / requests for the Chain Manager. What would make your life easier? What do you hate? What do you love? Ken

Thanks for providing the Catia 4 files everyone! They are helpful. Ken

OK, last week when i asked about the Operations Manager more sorting operations was a common thread. So what additional sort options would you like to see? Please be as specific as possible. Thanks, Ken

Pip, There isn't a better way to switch languages than the way you are doing it now (atleast as far as i know). And no, from what you say you are not in violation of your license agreement. Say hello to Juergen when you see him. Ken

We are working on a direct Catia 4 and 5 translator for version 9.1. We have lots of 5 files but not enough 4 files for testing. Does anyone out here have some sample Catia 4 files they can send us for test purposes? If so contact [email protected] and let them know. Thanks in advance, Ken BTW - The info you gave me on the Operations Manager was very useful. I can't share the results yet, cus i'd have to kill you, well maybe just scare you a little.

Steve, On my 2000 system the first File, Get of the session is always slower than the rest by a large amount. I think it is resolving all of the MRU files in the list and checking all of the network drives as well. If you have bitmaps on with the file name it could extend the time as well. A PII 266 is about 7 years old, that is between 7 and 14 generations of hardware behind. For less than 2K you can speed him up and be his hero.

Murlin, It was hoped to get it in the 9 series, but other obstacles intervened. I still have it on my list for X. PMGuy

Thinwall settings, including spring passes is a 9.1 feature. Is the thinwall option usefull for your part? An iquiring PM wants to know... Thanks, Ken

Wow,i am overwhelmed! I will bring each item mentioned here along with the other 300 we've been collecting and discuss the direction this will take in a meeting later today. Thanks for the input, PMGuy

Wow, you guys are fast! Thanks. FYI - Autosave has an option to save after every toolpath operation. It works for initial creation and regeneration. It may be overkill but it works.

All, What 5 things would you most like to change about the Operations Manager? I have culled through almost 300 entries in the QC log, both requests and bugs and have come up with a body of things to consider for X. At the same time you may be sitting there waiting for me to ask if you have any good ideas. So here is your chance... Reply here and give me 5 things that you think the Operations Manager most needs. ( We are already planning to let the Operations and Solids Manager be up on the screen all of the time if the user wishes. That should save a lot of people one of their wishes) Do it by Wednesday, or just do it now so you don't forget. I am hoping to see if there are any ideas we have not already heard, be revolutionary! Thanks, Ken Erman - PM Guy CNC Software.

It would be best to send each of these issues to [email protected] along with parts to show the problem. They need to be investigated to determine what the problems may be. Before we can consider having a programmer look at them we must be able to reproduce them.

OK, Ok, we screwed up. Not because we are trying to force people to buy something else from us, but because there are some useful things in the MetaCut utilities and we thought people would like it. The problem with it was the defaults, (which everyone accepted) were set to take over the system. If we keep it in the SP1 release we will not set any of them, so then the user can choose it as any other editor. PMGuy

I don't think this is a Mastercam setting causing this. My guess is it's an International language setting. I don't have a clue about where to go to check this or to change it. Maybe someone else does. PMGuy

Helix Bore is found under Toolpath, Circ Tlpths. PMGuy

Version 9 has a new feature that will automatically create drilling operations for a tool to plunge into, instead of having to use Helical or Ramp entry. Once you have created the toolpaths that require a plunge hole you use the Start Hole option. It detects the plunge location and drills holes, it also places the operations in front of the selected operations. Disclaimer: If you change the operation in any way that causes the start point to change in X, Y, or Z you have to delete the drill ops and re-run the Start Hole function, but it is easy to use. PMGuy

Mike, As Glenn noted the output from the Demo version is truncated both in Decimal precision and length making it useless. An accurate NC file only comes from a Sim. For security reasons you should consider moving to the Nethasp. It's one Sim in a safe controlled environment that can control all of your systems. Available in version 8 and 9. We have installed several hundred in the last year, many to schools, with little trouble. PMGuy

All, I'm new to the Forum and may not follow all of the rules of conduct, so i'll apologise in advance. Anyhow, we are aware of some problems in Version 9 and are planning a Service Patch release for late April. We are waiting that length of time to make sure we have identified all of the critical issues so they can be addressed. In the meantime i would encourage anyone having problems to promptly report them to [email protected] with a clear explanation and a sample file. Please do not assume we already know about the issues you may have. i cannot guarantee we will find and fix everything, but i can guarantee we won't fix it if we don't know about it. Follow Greg Mckay's advice and go through the What's New file, there may be some things that you haven't found that will make your life easier. PMguy BTW - The Service Patch will be available free as a download as soon as it is ready.

All those attending Westec, please make sure you stop by the booth. We love seeing customers. PMGuy