thanks but I dont think you are seeing what I mean. Take a look at this .dxf http://gslcms.com/pics/examp.dxf

BTW it's a 5/32 Ball end mill in a mazak VTC using MCX.

I'm having problems making this ramp cut. Right now I'm using 3D Contour with tip comp. But it's doing as it should, making the tip of the ball end mill follow the line I made NOT the edge of the end mill as I want it to do. Do I need to use a different type of tool path to do this? Thanks

I need to know how to do side slots with woodruffs correctly. Say you have a 2.0mm think slot and a 1.58mm think woodruff. Can this slot be cut with one "unit"? I've been use two Contour paths at different depths to get the job done up until now. Bruce

little OT but what if I wanted to use the edge of the end mill in 3D with a contour, can that be done?

We have a real simple part that I programmed using master cam (MCX) and now the engineers decided to make it 1mm longer. So is there a way to update the part where I don’t have to re-do the whole thing? Thanks

Dont see it there. When I first open MC it just says Mastercam Design and has a little X graphic to the left.

okay now how do I know if I have SP1 or SP2 or "MR" somthing? If I click on help and hit about, it says we are using version 10.0.12.2.

We use Solid Edge so I tend to like it best. But I took a inventor class and wow it was nice. Very easy to use.

wow thanks Colin! So much info. Sorry I should have stated we use Version X. I still need to re-read this a few times. lol

Here's the deal, we have a post made for a mazak VMC that works pretty good. Only problem is that it turns coolant off for some reason. We also have a lot of Mazak horizontal mills that are using the same post. What the guy before me did was just modify the VMC post to work on the horizontal. So that’s what I've been doing too. It's a real pain, I have to change all the M143s to m6s, all the A axis to B with the right number, and a bunch of other crap too (I have a check list). Anyhow could someone guide me to a real easy step-by-step guide for setting up a post or maybe a book? Thanks in advance.

okay, here’s what went wrong... First I was trying to move the WPC to match the numbers I was given by the operator. After learning this was not the right way to do things I eventually learned to use the Xform translate. Still the 40-degree cut was off... After doing the math and running back in fourth trying different stuff about 30 times. (Which was really good practice anyway.) I found that the operator was off by about 1.5mm in the Z location he gave me! After we corrected this it's cutting perfect! Anyhow thanks to everyone here helping out and listening to my newb gibberish. See I only received about an hour of instruction on MC before the other guy left, and no one else has a clue. soo yeah I'll be the newb for a little while.

Update! we got it. Details later it's time to go home.

Also I got Xform to move my part correctly now too. And when I re-pick the top of stock and depth, and then re-run it; everything looks right.

Thanks CadCam, I sent the file on Friday, did you get it. Anyhow, I'm still stuck but It's getting closer now. Now we are about 1.8mm too deep in Z and 1mm too far off in X. I found that when I was picking the wrong 0,0 point before. Now that I have that right it's much closer but still a little off. Wow this is getting real frustrating.