Hi Maestro, I did the same way as you 3 years ago, was working with MC since V7. Try to forget your way of thinking (Mastercam philosophy) and the transition will be smooth. You have to be open minded because things are so different. Right now we're 10 programmers here 5 on MC and 5 on Catia. I did had the training on X4 but did'nt really get the chance to work with it to appreciate it to it's real value but I can tell you I still think some jobs can be done much faster in MC but I really appreciate Catia for many reasons. Good luck and be patient. JS

We also use Data Flute ALDH-C 1" neck down 6" OAL 4.25 stick out and we run at 8500 at a feed of 180 without any chatter. We're in a shrink fit on a taper 50 tough.

Just saw your thread, we had a sales rep this week and was just wondering. Looks like a great machine but always nice to hear some comments from end users. JS

Anyone have any pros and cons about that machine. grobgroup.com Thanks in advance! Jean-Simon

Just found the link...sorry. JS

Is the executable mastercamx4-web.exe is good for 32 and 64? Can't install it but coworkers on 32 can? Thanks in advance! JS

Have'nt looked at the file but have you tried project blend (spiral)? Simon

Agree with all of the above, ther's also Guhring 3 flutes (serie 3113) that are'nt too bad either. JS

Thanks a lot, I did'nt expect that much. I'll go on the machine and keep you informed. Sorry for the delay, we're pretty busy at the moment. Hope it lasts. Thanks again! Simon

Thanks James, I can't find the book anymore (will continue searching) do you mean 'are possible' by 'are'nt limited'. Anyway, I'll give it a try direct on the machine. Thanks again! Simon

Does anyone know if it's possible with this control, I looked in the books but can't seem to find anything. I would like to use drilling and boring cycles even if the machine don't have the RTCP option. Thanks in advance! Simon

I don't need to reduce my feeds in corners since I am always (except in very specific cases) taking a tool at least 10-15% smaller then my corner rad. When the roughing has the same amount of stock everywhere (even in corners) and the tool really interpolates, no need to reduce feed in corners. Except if the machine isn't accurate enough or does not have any look ahead option. Simon

Still using V9.1 here because we switched to Catia 2 years ago and (managers) tought we were to swap overnight and invested a lot of money in Catia, Icam and Vericut but lately, I figured out that we were still supporting so many jobs that were done in MC that we would have to use MC for at least 2 more years and onvinced them that it would be great to take advantage of enhancements. We're waiting for updates of 2 current licences + 2 more. This is the only reason we're still using V9. Can't wait to play with X. Simon

We run a lot of 6-4 and also 6-6-2 which is 2% more Vanadium in it and the best cost effective solution we've found so far are the Hanita wave cut (HSS) and or Niagara VFP (Variable Face Profile) HSS too. We run for 4 hours in roughing and change it because it's paid but the tool still looks very good. To remachine smaller corners we use any 4 flutes carbide like Niagara stabilizer, Destiny Raptors (double variable helix), Guhring serie 3114 or Data Flute. We're not regrinding anymore. Hope to help! Jean-Simon

Thanks, I'll give it a try. JS

Could anyone tell me if it's possible to output the overall length from the tool definition in the tool comment. This is for an old 5 axis that we program from the pivots. The post is a modified gen5x fanuc. Thanks in advance! JS

Feed mill is the way to go, other then inserts, there is 'variable helix' end mills (guhring serie 3114, destiny raptor DVH) that are pretty surprising, 1XD depth of cuts 'high speed pocketing method' with trochoidal off. For speed, I'd need to know what kind of steel it is.HTH! Simon

20 machines: -profilers -5 and 6 axis milling machines (with interchangeable heads). -lathes -9 programmers. All programmers have a side line as Vericut support, ICAM or probing. Machines are pretty complex and we're on Catia. Lots of PPInstructions, and also Vericut takes quite long to run big parts. They keep all 9 of us pretty busy.

Is your post set to ''R's'' or 'I,J,K' or radiuses? I personnaly uses I,J,K, because I've been screwed lately with wrong path with 'R's'. I had some cases where It just would'nt do the chamfer I wanted with comp in control, in this case I had no choice of using wear and advise guys on the floor.HTH! JS

I used to program Okuma's (3 and 4 axis) and yes I had 2 posts. We were set-up with a steel plate and a tail stock with a vise/fixture on it. Could'nt you have a misc/integer that would deactivate your 'A' axis? HTH! Jean-Simon

The eaiest way would be to hard code it (if you use it all the time. I had done that. Don't have the post here but could be back tonight with a sample.HTH! Simon

I'm in the trade for 12 years now and I always tought it was just a question of choice. I heard some people said i,j,k was more precise bla,bla,bla but no concrete arguments. A month ago or so I made a program for a friend of mine and the post I used was set to R's and it messed everything up (Haas machine few years old). From then I'll never use the R's again. A good exemple is when you ''create-arc-endpoints'' in MC and it prompts you to select an arc (many arc possible) with R's the control can interpret the wrong one and make a different path. HTH! Jean-Simon

Hi Martin, I'm working on Catia right now for Messier-Dowty (I've met a few of you fellows lately) and I worked with Mastercam for 7 years. It all depends on how you see it and how much effort the company will want to put on it. The place I worked before, we switched to Catia but when it was'nt fast enough we were doing it on MC so we were'nt getting better. Catia isn't a standalone CAM software like MC because you have the .aptsource that is different and also posts will be funny to tune unless you have a post guru on site. I had the ICAM training but it has nothing to do with MC posts. With all that said, it's a package with strenghts and weaknesses (like all packages) where somedays you remember those MC days and some others where it does the job and very well. Feel free to contact me. Jean-Simon

I don't know about X but in V9 if you had a tangential line in the gap settings (links) it would go outside the containment even if it was set to inside.HTH! Jean-Simon

I could'nt tell why you get it like that but when I write letters on a cylinder like this I use a 2d contour and use "axis substituttion" in the "rotary axis" button. Very simple and good result.HTH! Jean-Simon