Keep in mind, these are the same IT guys that are maintaining our networks where the NetHasp lives. That is why I have kept us using dongles, we have 8 seats, and yes NetHasp would make a lot more sense but I don't have the confidence in our network.

Oh, so that's how they've been quoting. It all makes sense now

I was curious to see someone elses input on this. Anyone else got input?

Took me awhile to convince them that the "Minimum System Requirements" on the Mastercam site did not apply to us. Rarely do we have part files less than 50MB. Our STEP files from our customers are often over 10MB per part. I don't know about anyone else out there, but our management often thinks there is a majic "Program This" button and it magically programs itself. Sorry, just ranting. Time for me to get back to work.

I agree, but at least in this instance I can say I made a recommendation and it was overridden by IT and budget. Sometimes the bean counters will spend a hundred dollars or more to save a dollar!

We are upgrading from dual cores to i7's and from 4GB ram to 8GB. I requested Quadro FX 3800 graphics, but IT found a "good deal" on Quadro FX 4500's, I hope this doesn't turn out to be a mistake, that is cutting my graphics memory in half.

Believe me, getting 8 new computers was not an easy task but now I'm in the hotseat if there aren't any performance improvements. Okay CNC Software, i'm counting on you

Question for beta testers, am Ii correct in my assumption that performance should improve with X6?

I am hoping for some performance improvements at least in X6. I pushed our programming department to start utilizing the High Speed and dynamic toolpaths because the efficiency improvements out on the machines was very good but it really bogged our programming performance down quite a bit. I am hoping that with 64-bit processing that these toolpaths will regenerate a lot faster. Upper management has purchased 8 new PCs for my department to help with these performance issues, but I know it is not just the PCs, these toolpaths are crunching a lot of data and I am hoping this improves with X6. Also, I don't want to have to install X5 on these new computers and then have to go through and do it again in less than a month.

You can try increasing your toolpath radius or decrease your Gap size and set Motion > Gap size, retract drop down to use gap when avoiding a boundary OR exceeding a distance. This will cause a lot of vertical retracts but it is better than violating the part in back moves. I would like to see a setting to adjust the distance the tool stays off the material in back moves but I don't know of anything other than what I mentioned. Hope this helps, if anyone else know of anything else, I would like to know also.

What's up Jeremy? Hope everyone at Adex is doing well.

Wow, now that would truly be awesome!! I have very few part files with less than a hundred ops. Is this a possibility coming with X6?

Shutting down??? Whats that??? I'm sure Santa will need parts for his sleigh at 11:59 Christmas eve and we'll all have to work through the holidays. Typical.

More than likely we would use it in more of a 3+2 application for the most part. I guess what I am asking is, once positioned is the head rigid enough to handle 120 IPM in linear and arc movements not necessarily 5-axis simultaneous. Thanks for your reply, do you have one of these heads?

I have been interested in this Tri-Tech head for awhile now. We have several large Haas machines (VF-7's and VF-9's) that we already run 5-axis trunnions on. I assume the drives that are already there for the trunnions would work fine for this head. What is the rigidity like, how aggressive can you really get? Is a 1/2" 3-flute endmill in aluminum at say 8000 RPM and around .005 IPT (120 IPM) feasable?

Welcome class. Glad to see Elad not only teaching Mastercam but also showing you how valuable of a resource this board can be. You don't have to know everything, you just need to know where to find the information you need. I've only been using Mastercam since V9, I came from using Catia before that and theseguys are great in sharing the ins and outs when you need a nudge to figure something out. Welcome, I wish you all the best.

Mazak Variaxis 500-5XII 5-axis. 12k spindle. I am running high speed toolpaths all over the shop using chip thinning with great results, guess I never thought to apply to thread milling - just took the mfg's suggestions and went with it. We typically do not machine materials above 50Rc, We cut a lot of Titanium, 15-7, 17-4, 13-8MO and carbon steels that usually are under 43Rc and quite a bit of aluminum too. We cater mostly to aerospace and defense and are branching out into oil industry (getting nervous about having so much of our customer base in the defense industry). Sorry, wandered off-topic. Back to threadmilling at 1000sfm, do you take that in multiple passes or one pass?

120 SFM (Ø.236 = 1950 RPM) and .0012 IPT (3FL = 7 IPM)lasting approx. 60 holes after that we start having to chase the P.D. with cutter comp so we just change the tool at that point. Is this inline with your results Hardmill?

Thanks for all the input, the parts are checking to be 56Rc which is at the top of the blueprint callout. Didn't try Lakeshore yet, Carmex is working extremely well, I decided to let well enough alone, we have threaded 60 holes so far without even adding any cutter comp for wear yet.

Milling (2) Mazak VARIAXIS 730-5X II (4) Mazak VARIAXIS 630-5X II (2) Mazak VARIAXIS 500-5X II (5) Mazak VMC Nexus 510C-HS (2) Mazak VMC Nexus 510C (1) Mazak HCN 4000-II Horizontal (1) Mazak VTC-300C (1) Mazak VTC-41M (1) Daewoo VMC Diamond Series DM 50/25 (1) Daewoo VMC Diamond Series DM 40/20 (1) HAAS VMC - VR11 5-Axis Tilt/Tilt (1) HAAS VMC - VR8 5-Axis Tilt/Tilt (2) HAAS VMC - VF9 + TR-310 Trunnion = 5-Axis (1) HAAS VMC - VF7 + TR-210 Trunnion = 5-Axis (1) HAAS VMC - VF5-50 Taper + TR-210 Trunnion = 5-Axis (2) HAAS VMX - VF4 + TR-160 Trunion = 5-Axis (1) HAAS VMC - VF3 + HRT-210 Rotary Inidexer = 4-Axis (2) HAAS Super Mini-Mill (1) HAAS EC-400 HMC = 4-Axis (1) HAAS EC-500 HMC = 4-Axis (1) Bridgeport VMC1000XP2 (1) Bridgeport VMC 1000, DX-32 (1) Cincinnati Milacron Arrow 2 (1) Kitamura MyCenter 2x (2) Fanuc Robodrill T10 (1) Bullard CNC 4 Axis Horizontal Boring + Rotab (1) HAAS GR510 Gantry Router (1) HAAS GR512 Gantry Router (1) Comal CMS MC6000 - 3D CAD/CAM Int. Extrusion Milling Center TURNING (1) Mazak Slant Turn - ST-50N (1) Mazak Nexus QTN-250 - IIM (1) Daewoo Puma 250 MS (1) Daewoo Lynx 210 (2) Doosan Puma 240M (1) Daewoo P240A (1) Milltronics ML22-80 (1) Hitachi Seiki -Hitec 20SII (1) Schiess Aktirngesellschaft VTL 1400MM Swing EDM (1) Fanuc EDM Model aOiA (1) Fanuc EDM Model a0iC w/180iS-WB (1) Fanuc EDM Model a-1iC w/180iS-WB Controller (1) Fanuc HM400T HoleMaster Waterjet (1) Omax 2652 Integrated CAD/CAM (2) Omax 80160 Integrated CAD/CAM

Also, for the back boring, PhHorne offers a large variety of tooling for this.

You may want to look at Iscar Multi-Master. These are solid carbide cutter heads that are threaded into a Multi-Master shank. The heads are available in many different types of configurationa and the shanks are also (straight, tapered, steel, solid carbide, etc.) Hopefully this helps.

Thanks McLaren, I will give them a try.

Does anyone have any success stories for thread milling 5/16-18 unc-3B in 4140 heat treated to 50+ HRc? Traditional threadmills are not holding up and we have 60 holes to thread. If anyone could suggest tools for this. I have found some in Metric but to get the tools in Inch would be a special and the lead time is 6-8 weeks. Need something that is hopefully available off the shelf. Thanks.

Me too! Anxiously awaitng.