Install Design Tracker 5.3 found on the Mastercam 9.1 CD Ernie

Marc the "A" did the job, Thank You. I knew this at one time, also recalled "L"...is there documentation on these hidden tools??

That is a good question. After you save a file, you can rename it with small case and it will stay. Is this a feature or bug? [ 10-19-2002, 11:17 AM: Message edited by: Tri-Tech ]

Depending on the geometry of the part, To program a Right angle head, we usually create a normal toolpath then Backplot and save the toolpath as geometry (lines/arcs) , then we add geometry to create the lead In and Out moves that are needed to move the head in and out of the part. After you create the toolpath wireframe then you can do a 3D contour and Chain the pre-made wireframe to make a custom toolpath. If you need to do hole drilling, first see if your machine can do Canned Cycles at right angles? If not, then you will need to make Line segments' so you could Chain them In and back Out as needed. If this sound like a lot of work? Better Sub it out. Ernie Tri-Tech Precision, Inc [ 10-18-2002, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Tri-Tech ]

Hi Rick, We did use Right angle heads many times for vertical Machines. Now we use our programable 5-axis head attachment. web page For the Right angle head, You have to think and program form the top (XY plane). You Set your tool center line for your Z offset, and the tool tip/center to X and Y zero. You make your own tool paths with Mastercam. Do you know how to chain your own toolpaths? Ernie

Here We go again See the other post: Class "A" Surface machining Ernie

Not yet? It will be a faw weeks before I get to it. Regrads, Ernie

One way is to do a File New to blank all Level names, then right click in the levels dialog menu and save a blank Level Template file. Then when you want to clear out level names from any file, you can just right click and select the Get Named Levels and pick that blank CSV file you made. It will reset all the level names to blanks. Ernie

Absolutely You will need the solids option. You can just about do anything in Mastercam. Ernie [ 10-12-2002, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: Tri-Tech ]

Wow, Thanks for all this infomation, keep it coming, You guys are great! Randy, come on down. We need your expertise. Back to the point. I don't have a surface finish problem at this time, This is from past experience before V9, using all type of machines on all typs of work, doing many of the technics you guys refer too. And maybe V9 can cut it now. I will find out. I just don't see where I have control over how long the toolpath along cut line can be. By the way, In the past when I tried Filtering with arcs. It did smooth out the along cuts but the across cuts would have digs (microscopic steps) that where also hard to polish out. Does any one use controls that supports NURBS input, does it work? what is the advantage? Best Regards, Ernie

James, quote: This is for advanced users only, please. I meant users that have experienced cutting Class "A" surfaces for car body tooling. Please do not take offense, I I'm not mad and I do appreciate all your inputs I just have a hard time explaining myself. Thank you Ernie

I'm sure its not a machine or model problem. What happends to toolpaths of some large curvature surfaces, even when the cut tolerance settings are set down to .0000001" is that the along cut points are still separated by more then 1/8". That is a straight line. Those straight lines show up on the polished part. Filters remove points making the lines even longer. I'm I getting the point across? Ernie

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