I've just read through all this - very interesting. But what is the difference between having 2x mach defs, or having to answer a question on whether you want A output or not? I mean you still have to remember to change your machine def to be the correct one before posting surely? We have our post setup to prompt for rotary, and have never had a problem (famous last words now ) We have 4x vertical machines and 3x types of rotaries (2 with axis brakes, 1x without), which can go on any machine. The post asks Rotary Output 0=No / 1=Index Only / 2=Index+LockCodes / 3=Simultaneous 0 is the default, so for 3x axis work we just hit enter and it posts. This gives us the best flexibility but we are a small shop.

and if that doesn't work, do what the wifey does. Pull the plug out of the socket and blow on it to clean it, then put it back in and reboot. Works most times she says

Thanks Roger

This is a very good feature. Being a newbeee I renamed all of ours to Drill/Cbore G81/G82 Peck - G83 - Return to Retract Plane each Peck Chip Break - G73 - Stay in hole Tap - G84 G85 - Feed in + Out G86 - Feed in + Rapid Out

If you look in the operators manual it is page 837

We have the logic in our post - I added it a while ago from one of Colins (CNC) posts. 54 = G54, 55 = G55 etc and if you enter 53 or less and enter 60 or more (DOH!) it outputs an error message and stops the code. It's very neat and works well. But, you're quite right. It would be very nice to be able to change the default. I put an enhacement request into CNC a while ago for another thing in the view manager, and Ryan (CNC) said there was a couple of things he would like implemented. So hopefully it's near the top of the list

Thanks Mr Wizzard - that's a very good read. I didn't realise -1 was automatic increment - I thought it was start at G54.... To me, automatic work offsets seem a train wreck waiting to happen. I would sooner enter the value I want to see output... Perhaps that's because I'm a Newbeeee BTW- I fully understand the reasoning to allow 0, 1, 2 etc to be able to post G54 G55 for fanucs or E1 E2 etc. We're a fanuc only shop so hence me only needing to see 54 = G54.

I've just been playing and added the ops to our standard operations default file. Except I added them 1st to 2D toolpaths (not realising DOH! MUST pay more attention) and then correctly to the 3D High speed toolpath group. So how do I delete the duplicates I loaded to the 2D group? Highlighting and click delete doesn't work and there is no right click? Also, can the ops be re-ordered so the ones we would use would be at the top? Dragging them up like standard operations doesn't work? Thanks as always.

MCM, once again thanks for your explanation. What might have happened is when we went from X2 to X4, I may have copied this file rather than converted? Can't be sure. Data paths are all correct now - we had a few which weren't a couple of weeks ago, but they're all better now I didn't realise you could export toolpaths (yeh, I know it's one below import ) but just read what you wrote three or four times until it finally went kerplonk. So I also created my own operation folder as well, and didn't realise that you could do this either. Every day is a school day Very powerfull feature this is, and I've only just discovered/started using it. We have all 'standard' (Contour/Pocket/Drill etc) toolpaths defaults set just as we want them, and doing this is a big time saver. I haven't ruled out the MCX 'master toolpath' file - one file for ally HS toolpaths and one for steel HS toolpaths, with tools/speeds/feeds/doc's all set-up. It does still work well this, and is way quicker than trying to start from scratch (as in the standard defaults). cheers

Nope - definately not there??? I wonder if it was something to do with updating from X2 which didn't have the toolpaths back then??? Anyway, we got over it by sticking a template mcx file on the network with the toolpaths that we want and can import whichever ones we like through righ clicking in the ops manager. cheers

Swiss would be the way to go (citizen probably) but check that it can feed the plastic ok. That stuff can vary wildly on dia and ovality, and it may not be able to be fed through the collet ok.

errr, but that's where I looked? I clicked save parameters and double checked that it had by looking at the time and date of the actual file. I then looked as per Mic6's way, and surface high speed toolpaths are not there - hence the question of where can they be! I'll have another look tomorrow when I'm back in work. Cheers

Keith - yep it was me that was asking for changing a default which couldn't be done. But I read the help and thought it said the value was grabbed from the control def - which I couldn't see how to change. I probably miss-read it and you're probably correct that it can't be changed. -1 does give G54 in the code but we're outputting (G10) work offset datum calls dependent upon the value set, and to me it makes more sense that 54 = G54, 55 = G55 etc rather than -1 = G54

Hi All, We have a couple of operations which run sweet on the machines (mainly Surface High Speed Core roughing and waterline). For a new part, we import this operation we want from a previous file. This is timeconsuming as we have to select netwok drive, customer, part number, hunt through the operations for the one we want etc. So today I selected the operation, and clicked 'save parameters to default file'. I looked at our default file and it had been updated with todays date and the correct time. However, if I select operations (and our default file Mill_MM.OPERATIONS), I cannot see the Surface High Speed toolpath there to select? So where's it gone? Getting this to work would save us a bucket of time. Cheers (hopeing the above makes sense...)

Hi All, In the view manager, our default Work Offsett is #-1. Is there anywhere to change this to #54? Thanks

Thanks JP

Sorry to gate crash... With control, our lead ins/outs are set to 55% of tool dia as a default to always work. With wear, can this run at say 10% as a std default (or even less)?

I *think* in time (and probably not too much time) active reports will be good. It will be able to output whatever you need. At the moment it's lacking a bit, and in my opinin not user friendly. That said, Ruth (CNC) wrote our report that I posted here a few months ago, and it would work well if we could save in MSWord format. Enhancement request was submitted so hopefully not too long a wait... My opinion is AR tries to do way too much out of the box (screen shots etc) - a simple tool list with sizes/descriptions/hang out etc) is more effective, and then running the part through verify with the operator on your shoulder. Saves a bucket of time as he knows what's going to happen - 10x sheets of paper and his eyes are going to glaze over...

Thanks for the idea Tim

Leigh - yes subs for depth cuts. That's excellent news and thanks for the reply

Hi All, How does everyone work with the big programs generated from the High Speed toolpaths? Obviously progs can be run from pcmcia cards but it is a pita. We're still not running X5 yet, but can this handle sub progs for these paths? Can subs be implemented on this type of path (cnc question really)? It would be good if they could. Cheers

Yehlow from sunny england

Oh well - thanks for the explanation Rocket. Hardmill - where's that piccy of the crying baby

Hi all, Been playing with windowze 7 a little with the new PC. Spec is Intel i7 4x core 950 3Ghz with 10GB memory running 64bit windows 7. On an average (for us) file, surface high speed core takes 45 seconds to regen a path. I noticed that the processor is only running at 13% max load when doing this. So in windows task manager I right clicked mcam and set priority to realtime (from normal). This then took longer and only used 8% while I did nowt else but stared at the monitor. I then changed it to High, which made the processor spike at 17% momentarily, but it still took the same sort of time to regen. So the million dollar question is how can I get the processor to earn its corn better? Are there any settings to make it use at least 50% of its capability? Cheers

Glad to be of service