Yes, I am looking for a premier HSM vendor, not a machine recommendation. The features I am talking about machining are basically rectangular posts with corner radii. Sounds easy, but they are very tightly spaced and tall so they would need to be machined with a .022ish diameter bullnose endmill (Jabro/Seco comes to mind) that has just over .200 reach. They have a double angle cross section with constant vertical corner radii so they need to be 3D machined. This appears to be easy, but is difficult in practice. Precision is critical, as is surface finish. All the posts need to be the same size and there can be no steps where corner radii meet flat walls, etc. This insert just needs to be pristine. I know that is subjective, but I am very familiar with the CNC machining trade and this requires the best of the best to be done to our satisfaction. Problem is, I don't know who this company is. I am expecting that Sodick or Makino equipment would be used. I am attaching a PDF file of this insert so you can see the detail. the post detail I am referring to is only shown in one corner of the block, but the pattern covers the entire face. There are nearly 1000 of these posts in the pattern. This print is old and will be revised with proper tolerancing and surface finish requirements. I know this insert is going to be super expensive, and I expect that. I know that this can be EDM'd, but I am not convinced that is the best way. The electrodes would need high speed 3D milling anyway because of the constant radius up the walls of the posts. Thanks for all of the responses. I see one post directing me to the machine manufactures for a recommendation. I might do that, but I am still hoping for recommendations from the forum. I've taken advice from here many times in the past and had good luck. Somebody out there must be up for the challenge. Paul Edited X00415.pdf

I am looking for anybody's recommendation on a superior HSM house. I am looking to have some 420SS injection mold inserts high speed machined and there are hundreds of features standing about .300in tall with only about .030in between features. Precision and surface finish requirements demand the best of the best, modern, precision equipment. Geometry is busy but simple, 3 axis friendly. I have prints and details to share, but I can't put too much on the forum in regards to specifics. Anybody have recommendations to get me started? I hate to just search Google and hope for the best... Thanks, Paul McGarr

I just realized that we have a switch for T, S, and M Function Lock. That will lock out T, S, and M codes all together. This is what I was after. The only thing that can go wrong is that the spindle will unlock, but it can't turn on, or make a tool change. I wouldn't be able to program coolant, but I am using manual air, so that's not a problem. I guess I answered my own question. I feel better knowing that I can't accidently do a tool change, etc. Paul

I tried a quick search and didn't find anything so I figured I ask this... We just purchased an air spindle for our machine. The spindle mounts in the tool holder, but can not rotate. I want to ensure that the spindle stays locked and refuses to turn on. Is there a way to do that? I am aware of the fact that I can use M19 to orient the spindle, and I plan to do that but I am trying to find a way to force the spindle to stay locked and off. I also want to stop the machine from making a tool change even if the program tries to do so. Is this possible. I am simply trying to eliminate the possibility of damaging this $5,000 spindle. I have a Mitsubishi Meldas 520AM control. I am hoping I am missing some standard functionality. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Paul McGarr

Tried that...no luck.

What is desktop composition? Also, this is a Vista Home Premium install. I can change that if I need to, but obviously, I'd rather not. EDIT: Somehow posted twice. I'll give that a try.

What is desktop composition?

Been a while since I posted... We run Mastercam 9 as well as Mastercam X3. I upgraded a computer to Vista 32bit and Mastercam 9 installed fine, but crashes on "file-get" and "file-save". Crashes right to desktop. Anybody seen this? I've tried compatibility mode and with/without UAC enabled. I had Mastercam 9 installed on a Vista computer before with no problems.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm learning. My gut...SolidWorks is kind of clunky in this area. Not complaining because I am really liking everything else about SolidWorks. I am by trade a Mastercam guy. I've got 15 years with it. Now that I got my hands on Solidworks, I CAN'T WAIT until Mastercam for SolidWorks comes out. Best of both worlds with that partnership! Thanks again everybody. Paul

I dual boot Vista x86 and x64. I have 8GB ram in my system and use both OS's with no problem. Though x86 won't use it all, it's still in my system. Therfore, if I were running Mastercam on my system under x86, I would post my system specs as the poster above did...8GB RAM.

For example, I am trying to satisfy the need to answer questions about a model that I am working on when the boss comes over and asks questions about it. In Mastercam, I can get information about any feature by simply clicking on the feature and dragging the cursor around. It's very fast, and I am used to it for checking radii, draft, depths, etc. Just click on a face and you get everything you need to know. In Solidworks, I need to use the measure function and it's time consuming and embarassing. When I get asked for information, I like to be able to supply it in a second or two, not 20 or 30. I asked this at the SolidWorks forum, and people agree that the measure function is kind of clumsy. My question here should have been more direct. Is there a SolidWorks equivelent to Mastercam's Analyze-Dynamic? Paul

Raid 0 for performance, but no redundany. This is your best bet, but you still need to back up your data. Raid 1 or 5 offers redundancy, but you don't get the performance of raid 1. In all honesty, though raid 1 and 5 will allow you to replace a failing drive, it's still wise to back up. Raid is not a backup solution. I run raid 0 and raid 5 on my system. My system runs off the raid 0 array, and my data is stored on the raid 5 array. This way, I get the redundancy on the important files, but I get the performance of running the system on raid 0. At the end of the day, all of my data files are backed up as a precaution. Paul

I know about the measure tool. It's nothing like analyze-dynamic unless I am missing something. Paul

I know a lot of you use Solidworks as well as Mastercam. I have a question for you guys... In Mastercam, getting information about a solid face is easy using [analyze-dynamic]. Is there a fast way to get information about a face in Solidworks? I've been using Mastercam forever, and the dynamic analyze function is great. I hope there is a feature like that in Solidworks because the [measure] function is time consuming to use. Anybody have any ideas? Paul

See, I knew it was rare that things were this easy...I just realized something. I need the coolant off for my linear Z moves too. I should explain... I am using the M08 and M09 in my NC file to turn on and off a dispensing head that is dispensing glue. I need to position XYZ, lower to dispensing plane at feedrate, start dispensing while moving in XY plane, turn off dispensing, retract, re position, etc. I am basically drawing with glue. I think I have a project on my hands. I agree about using a statement to eliminate redundant codes. I will use that. Maybe I can do that to get through my Z problem. My dispensing will take place at a particular Z value...probably Z0.000. Need to think a bit on this one.

Sometimes (rarely) things are easier than you'd expect. Thanks guys. I'll consider both options because they'd both work. Paul

I tried searching, and I'm sure this has been covered, but I can't find anything. Is there a way to have coolant come on during linear moves only? I want coolant on when cutting, and off when positioning. I am using an unmodified MPMaster for version 9. Kind of like on and off codes for a laser, or waterjet. Any Ideas? Paul

Guys, Thanks a lot for the advice. I am all set now, and already posting good programs. If I thought it was that easy I'd have done it long ago. Ron, Thanks for the code sample. That showed me right where to go. Took about ten minutes. Paul

Post is MPMaster for version 9 Code needs to be like this (very simple) G0 X0. Y0. G0 Z0.05 G1 Z-1. F20. M91 OUT1 ;THIS IS CUSTOM LINE ONE M90 OUT1 ;THIS IS CUSTOM LINE TWO G0 Z0.05 This example would be without pecking just for clarity, and is obviously one hole only. I'll take a look at doing a custom cycle tomorrow if everybody thinks that's the way to go. Ron, is your example from a MPMaster post? Something pretty close anyway? I'm not a post wizard, but I can usually get most stuff done with a little time. I'll take a look. Thanks, Paul

Hi, I don't know if I need a custom drill cycle or what, but here's what I need... I need to basically drill 24 holes in a part. At the bottom of the hole I need to have two (custom) lines of code in my program before the drill retracts from the hole. The two lines of code are predetermined and always the same so I can cram those into the post somewhere without much trouble. Right now I program the holes with a peck cycle and post the program with canned cycles off in the post so I get long hand code. I then edit the program and paste the two lines of code in 24 places. This is no big deal, but everytime (several times a day) the hole pattern changes, it's another edit. What would you guys do to make this easier? I'm running Mastercam 9 with MPMaster for 9. Thanks, Paul McGarr

I am going to assume that you mean +.015/-.030 tolerence on a .500 diameter pipe. With that tolerance, nothing is ever going to fit "right" so you have an issue that can't be easily solved. There is no fancy math for figuring out the mean though. For example, take ten pickets, measure the diameter of each one, add them all up, and divide that number by 10. The more parts you include in this measurement, the more accurate you result. Good luck. Sounds like you need to find a higher quality picket manufacturer...whatever that is. Paul

Terry, I don't think the wide screen is the issue there. Your boss needs to change the resolution that he is driving that thing at. 16:9 ratio screens don't use the common 1024 x 768 or 1280 x 1024 resolutions. Paul

Keep response time as low as possible. <10ms in my opinion. Less motion blur is the result. Pay attention to the interface. Analog, digital, or both. Don't forget that these babys are measured by viewable size. A 17" LCD is similar to a 19" CRT, and so on. LCD's look best at their native resolution. Chances are you'll get a monitor with a native resolution of 1280 x 1024. Make sure you plan to work at that resolution for best results. Some monitors have a built in power supply while others have a wall wart, or more often, the box that sits on the floor. No big deal, but the ones that have built in power supplys are better looking and a bit heavier and more stable on their base. I guess that's it off the top of my head. I bought a Samsung SyncMaster 930b 19" LCD and I like it so much that I had the company get them for everybody. They are cheap, but have good specs. They, believe it or not, are very good quality too. Circuit City ususlly has a good deal, and there are usually rebates on 'em. Paul

Slow your feedrate WAY down at the machine and everything will be just right.

This might sound strange, but I've seen this kind of thing (windows installer errors) when the My Documents folder is mapped to a network drive. Even with install files on the desktop. Make sure the file is in the root of c: or a another folder that is NOT managed by windows. Try it...you might be surprised. Paul