We have a DMU65 with similar issues. From one touchoff to the next, the tool offset will change up to .003 on a standard .118 drill. Are your lasers hooked to the back of the trunion, or with the duoblock, I am not sure where the laser is with that setup, but it's kind of rediciulous to have that sort of variance on a laser. On a machine with scales. We have had Z ballscrew replaced, machine moved, and isolation pad poured. Tech from Germany came in and sprechen sie deutsch to it, and no one can get it to repeat any better.

Advanced 5 ax. multisurf. Each side of the chamfer is seperate already. I am working on maybe just creating tplanes on the chamfers, and 2 axis'ing the chamfers on, but still would like to figure out what's going on with the retract/approach

I am working a part that I have setup in the 4th axis, and cutting a chamfer on the edge of the part, and when the path links between passes, the Z will dip down to Z-4. then come straight back to Z .8 I have tried every retract setting and work plane (have not had the problem with 5 axis, just this is the first time I'be seen it do this with 4 axis) I have the file that I can Email, as the FTP doesn't seem to be working. Any help is appreciated!

I like to use axis substitution in this case. As chippy says, project a 2d toolpath and should see better result.

I like to do one spring as well. Seems to help with repeatability and thead quality IMO.

Gcode... That's good to know man!

I guess I just don't like a computer that back talks me... LOL If I am about to delete a directory I guess I would rather it ask "are you sure?" but for the most part I don't like warning dialogue boxes. I un checked the don't warn me box and it didn't make any difference today. Sometimes MCx will do odd things when you pull up an old file and use the settings from that file like JMC said.

Think I may have found a new solution to the problem. In settings, go to the toolpath tab, and in the general settings area (toward bottom of page) there is a "suppress associativity warnings" check box. Seems to have done the trick for me.

If they are in solids you can always create a new solid and do a boolean remove.

I don't see the picture either. I'll take a look at it as well if you like.

Niiiiiice. Thanks guys

Also, is there any documentation that explains the stuff like pbld, peof, ltlchg?? I don't understand what a lot of the cryptic style stuff that is in the posts, and how they work together. I would love to do some more tweaks like the coolant move, but want to make sure that it's all done correctly. Seems like there is a bunch of questions about post editing on here all the time. Maybe a sticky with some basic post codes would help (a LOT!)

I want to modify the post so that it turns the coolant off before the Z ref. return. Which post string would I need to move to change code from this.. M5 G91 G28 Z0. M9 G28 Y0. M30 to this... M5 M9 G91 G28 Z0. G28 Y0. M30

Turns out it was docking all along, just as the toolpath manager stays active and remembers the last position, somone had minimized it width wise and it was just docking far to the left.

I can't get the bloody toolpath manager to dock anymore!! I don't know what happened but when I maximize it, like I have done for the whole time since I started using X, (double click on the title bar) the whole graphics screen goes white, the toolpath manager goes away, and MCX locks up. Anyone have any suggestions?