I thought the "HLE" was a demo version of Mastercam? Which you can ask your Matercam dealer for a copy.

We have a Two Hermle 5 axis machines (C20 and C600) and we can't find anything to complain about. They are very accurate and stable. The Heidenhain controls makes them even better. We also have a Kitamura Mytrunnion-5 (Ø 25" table) with a Fanuc control. Also the machine is very accurate but the Fanuc control on a 5 axis is not a complement to the machine. It's fine for 3+2 work but REALLY suffers in full 5 axis work. The control can't process code fast enough. We do have a shop full of Okuma mills and can't say enough good about them. Very robust and reliable. However, I can't say either way on there 5 axis. I believe they are built on the MB platform. Which we do have the MB46 and MB56 and both are very rigid. So which every path you take, I would stay away from any 5 axis machine with a Fanuc control. The Heidenhain control is far superior and makes setups fast and easy with the datum structure.

We have a TL1 and have no complaints. Great machine for the money. If your looking for a production machine, go in a different direction. If your looking a prototype machine and an occasional run. Go for it! Remember- it is what it is! We are a very "precision" based machine shop and we don't sell our company as a Turning shop, But we have had some jobs come thru that we have ran Very tight tolerances on and we were Shocked at the repeat-ability of the spindle.

we do a bunch of complex 5 axis pgm's here and that methods works great! Good luck!

The best luck I have Verifying using .STL files is like this. Save the .STL while your WCS is set to top. It does not matter what WCS your toolpath was created in. I use that feature all the time, and works works everytime as long as the .stl file was created when the WCS was set to the top. I can email you a sample if you like.

I have my defaults set as follows: check "start at center" un-check "perpendicular entry check "helical entry/exit at top of thread" check Helical entry/exit at bottom of thread" un-check "linearize helixes" I also have my compensation type set to "wear" some other things that can effect that is the Entry / exit arc clearance.

In Advanced Setting option, Select Only between surfaces. This sometimes fixes that.

Here is an example using " Convert to 5 Axis" Works quite well. 5X_POCKETS_JB.MCX-6

We have Lang, Bock and various sizes of the Raptor tooling. In my own opinion, Raptor is tough to beat. If you're looking for blank load type of work holding in your 5 Axis, no other vise compares to the rigidity than clamping on a dovetail (RAPTOR). Plus you don't have the jaws as obstacles to work around. This means shorter holders and tools = Rigidity! If you will still need a vise for secondary ops, I would stick Lang! They are much cheaper than Bock and perform better! Hope this helps...

ebay_update.pdf

Hi All, I have around 43 Top Quality Big Kaiser tool Holders and some Techniks for sale! All are in Like New condition. We purchased a new machine with a BT30 spindle. We only had the machine on our floor for 60 days. We ended up exchanging it for a much larger 40 taper 5 axis machine. Now I'm stuck with 43 holders! HELP! Over half of them are New never used! I have Shrink Fit holder various sizes (mostly metric), Er 16 various lenghts (Techniks), Assorted end mill Holders and some Big Kaiser Megs 6S holders in various lenghts. Please see attached list. [email protected] emcam.pdf

We cut lots of titanium! I have gone to high speed machining. We run a Kennametal Harvi 2 12mm x 32mm flutes. We are taking a full axial depth of 32mm sfm 500 (5093 rpm) chip load of .009 per tooth (183.3 IMP). The radial engagement is a max of .006 with an average tool life of 290 min of cut. The Metal Removal Rate equals 1.4 cubic inches per min. We were only getting .5 Cubic inches per min with a 1/2" Vari Mill and the tool life is nowhere near what the High Speed Machining can do. As far as thread milling we use Carmex 3flt Mini mill thread mil. We have used their thread mills all the way down to 1-72.

I've use trocoidal milling in titanium quite a bit. One of the tricks to successfully milling titanium don't let the heat go into the work piece. So I when milling closed pockets. I will select the "Full Material" option. Works pretty well.

Anyone know of a way to have X5 default to the last tool used in programming? All previous versions of Mastercam, would automatically default to the last tool used. Seems like I do more and more mouse clicking with X5 then ever! Example: The last program I was into was 170 operations long (complex 5 axis) I did not program any chamfers till I was done with all the major programming. So my last tasks were to add chamfers to any features than can be chamfered. Here is my sequence I use. Chain Pick geometry Pick my tool in this case tool 27 Make proper changes to the operation (lead ins and outs, describe chamfer size blah blah…..) Apply Done. Next chamfer tool path should be as simple as Picking chain Don’t need to make any other changes to the operation cuz it defaults to the last values I used Hit apply Then Mastercam comes up! INVALID TOOL TYPE FOR CHAMFER! Do you what to keep? Open the operation and the dang thing defaults to a totally different tool! WTF! When it should have (LIKE IT USED TO) default to the last tool used. Help!

You are not alone. I am more than frustrated with mastercam x5. We are having all kinds of gremlins. Since users like the company I work for, it makes total sense to have all the Machine def, Control def, post, tool lib etc on the network. This way we are all working with the same tools. Mastercam does a Very poor job making this possible. So my request is when installing mastercam have it prompt the installer with the option to install as a local user or as a network user. If you select network. It should then prompt you for the proper data paths the installer desires. then it's a done deal. just my two cents

What would it take to get ride of the apply button? It might not be to bad if it worked properly ALL THE TIME! Example: If I change a value in my stock to leave section, The apply button is grayed out "sometimes" not allowing me to click the APPLY button until I click in another field. Then the Blue Apply button is active. Way to many extra mouse clicks.

I feel you diggityds! X4 and X4 MU1 has more bugs in it than the roach motel! I don't understand why CNC even put it out? I've been programming with Mastercam for over 10 years and this version is the worst I’ve seen. When I started with this company we were using Gibbs! I hope you’re not serious about that. Even with the bugs in Mastercam it’s better than that software. Do like me and send your issues to your dealer.

WOW! Not what I was expecting to hear. Even when you bring in a new model, save it and start copying features to a different level it works? Cuz it does not for me.

Since X4 I've noticed the about of time I need to restart Mastercam has increased. Seems like Mastercam is getting more unstable? Anyone else feel the same?

This is an issue that has been covered before but still no fix! But here goes again anyways. When importing a new model into MC, try moving/copying entities to another level, notice that ALL features move to the selected level! Does this happen to all users or just some? To fix this you have to do the following: When importing your model, you have to save it, close it and re-open it. WHY? Then I've noticed, if I have been working with a program for a while and have not saved it and closed it and re-opened it. I get them same issues. It messes up all my levels. VERY FRUSTRATING!! MC does not let you UNDO to get my levels back in order.

Since swithing to X4, it seems like there is a significant dwell when opening up the Parameters page. Anyone else notice this?

Bug? When calculating speed and feed it doesn't input the value until you select another window. This never happend in other versions? It works but seems like a step back?

THANKS! I knew about the icon. But I did not even think to use the analyze function to figure out what level things were on!

It there anyway when looking at the ops manager to see what level the geometry is on?