I've always been told that even light oil such as WD40 helps a tool stick. However, check your air/oiler (if the machine has one) and top that up. Also check the compressor to see the airline is dry.

We have a prototrak mill (2x axis) and a prototrak lathe. With the right work (2nd opping, prototype and tooling) they will earn you a bucket of money. Just use them for what they are - simple minimum tool change type work. As Colin said, +/- a thou is ok (it interpolates within a thou of roundness). HTH

Prototrak SMX control (2 axis with manual quill). Modified mcam post which outputs (to the control/display)any Z moves as 'SET Z*' or 'CHECK Z'. This allows us to do multi-depth pockets as the machine runs until a Z move and stops waiting for the operator to either lift the quill and continue, or plunge deeper (to the Z value) and continue. % ( XYZM-0666 .GCD ) G00G21G40G80G90 M00(CHECK Z) T1 M5 M6 M00(T1M6) (10MM CARBIDE SLOTDRILL) (POCKET Z-10) M00(S3000) G00 X44. Y6. M00(SET Z-10.) G1 X6. F500. Y12.3335 X44. Y18.6665 X6. Y25. X44. Y31.3335 X6. Y37.6665 X44. Y44. X6. X20. Y32.5 X12.5 F500. G3 X5. Y25. I0. J-7.5 G1 Y5. X45. Y45. X5. Y25. Y24. G3 X12.5 Y16.5 I7.5 J0. G1 X20. M00(CHECK Z) M5 M30 %

And we/us/you/me are also referred to as 'idiots'. If he hates mastercam so much, why does he use it? If he has to use it becasue of where he works, why doesn't he get another job......unless he can't???

Thanks for the replies-I'll contact our reseller next week. However, for me it would be good for CNC to allow home user as well, to allow a bit of working from home too as per Autodesk. Cheers

Probably been covered in one way or another via lost dongles etc but... We are running Autodesk Inventor LT 2010 series, which allows us to run both Inventor + Autocad LT. On subscription, we can also run a home licence, thus allowing a bit of self training (being the sad sort that I am..). It would be good if CNC would do this sort of thing. Mastercam is a massive thing to learn and after hours and 'playing' are usually the best ways of learning. I know I could bring the dongle home, but I really really don't want to lose it or forget it for work. If Autodesk can do, can CNC???

I suppose I could put in an enhancement request for the outline shade setting, but it would probably be waaaaayyy down the list!

FWIW, we do a lot of parts this size and thickness. We use stock thickness mtl, oversize length + width and use strip clamps on a fixture. Do the work and m/c the profile leaving a 2thou thick membrane and break them out. Obviously hand deburr the back side.

Nope, go to Toolpaths pull down menu and use the Manual Entry there. If you're using the same tool between rotations, you can put the manual entry where required (between operations), and select 'Force tool Change' in the operation. This should then stop the spindle etc, the Manual Entry should then post out the M00 etc, and then the next operation should start the spindle again and continue. Note: There are a lot of *should's* in the above...

Hi All, We have altered our PWCS section to allow 54,55 etc to be input, and the posted code outputs G54, G55 etc. Currently our planes configuration/default is -1 =54. But, can we do this:- Machine toolpath group (named G54) Operation 1 (change plane to 54) Operation 2 (leave plane -1) Operation 3 (leave plane -1) Machine toolpath group (named G55) Operation 1 (change plane to 55) Operation 2 (leave plane -1) Operation 3 (leave plane -1) Post (G1) program and get all toolpath group (named G54) set G54, and all toolpath group (named G55) set at G55??? Currently we have in the post if workofs$ = -1, workofs$ = 54 so anything that is -1 outputs G54. Thanks

You could add a Manual Entry at each orientation. M00 (ROTATE PART 90 DEGREES) M00

Jay, Thanks for doing this. Very enlightening

Thanks

gcode, thanks for the reply. The above was posted with 'use clearance at start and end of operation only' ticked. It also had 'retract' ticked (and a value in there). With it un-ticked, it posts correctly with a clearance move. So is this a mcam thing or a post issue? Thanks

Hi All, Just playing with helix bore toolpath. 3mm cutter spiral into some plastic 4.5mm deep. I don't want to use a finish pass, just spiral in and then out to the next hole. It backplots and verifies ok, but the tool wants to move to the next hole position before retracting:- G43 Z100. H2 Z25. Z2. G1 Z0. F250. G3 G41 D2 Y-1.615 R.8 Z-1. J1.6 Z-2. J1.6 Z-3. J1.6 Z-4. J1.6 Y1.585 Z-4.5 J1.6 J-1.6 G40 Y-.015 R.8 G0 X11.352 Y5.004 <<<<<<<< Z2. G1 Z0. I've never used this path before for doing this, so it maybe me. If not, where do I start looking??? Cheers

Ron, I assume there is a shop foreman/team leader/senior guy for each department or section. IE turning charge hand, milling charge hand etc. Get the boss to make it their responsibility to save proven progs. You could drive it from the ISO/AS9100 side saying this *has* to be implemented because it is dictated by the QA system or customer requirements etc. Yep, and only 1 prog in the control at a time (excluding subs of course).

Glad I had the chance to actually help someone round here. I'm usually doing all the asking...

It's the PMC side of things (keep relay). On a 31iA5 controller:- K11.7 Setting 1 = The door is unlocked with M00/M01. HTH

Justin, Our post is modified so I like to keep with it, but usually compare against the MPMASTER on occasions like this. But not knowing enough of how the posts work, I did'nt know how the 'Canned drill cycle additional points' interacted with the canned drill cyle. But big thanks Tim, this did the trick. Thanks a million. Cheers, Terry

If only I knew!!!

We got a lathey, and it don't do preselect so I can't help you there! But Time = Go into CNC ISO Menu select Start-up PLC Date & Time (adjust as necessary) Accept HTH

Hi All, Fanuc 4axis VMC post. We're using dwell in a drill cycle (csk) and it outputs an additional P value ie:- G82 G98 Z-.9 R5. P500 F250. X5.5 P1 ####################HERE X12. etc In testing, the additional P value is a rounded up (whole no's) G82 line value. Can anyone please shed some light? Many thanks, Terry

Jay, I was quoted around $900 by memory for the full version. But I didn't know there was an upgrade price. Also, I can't remember but does it handle subs correctly? If yes, then that is obviously the way to go.

NCPlot (www.ncplot.com). Works like a charm.

Anyone got any further info or thoughts/feedback on what is an acceptable small move etc for this toolpath? Just wondering. Cheers