Try this.... Renshape or even on page 3412 of McMaster Carr catalog #112. HTH Later, Mark

MIKE, This thread may give you some help? Maybe???? Alum. cutting discussion HTH Later, Mark

400..!?! Man I would just die... Ohhh, I feel so lowly.... About 70 - 75 was the most I ever done in one setup on one part. (VMC) Oh, James....JAMES MEYETTE!!! Never around when you looking for him! But he does some of those type of projects. Later, Mark

My brain has now officially left home – Working on post for ancient machine and need to change the “Format Statement” to get the code to look as below- Current: N105X.25Y3.5 N110X1.Y.25 Needs to be: N105X0.2500Y3.5000 N110X1.0000Y0.2500 What would the format statement be to get the preceding “0” and the 4 decimal place output? V9 post! Thanks, Mark

Bruce: quote: I don't quite agree with the software not being ready for release.... Yea, that was a little over the top - SORRY - I can get simple straight forward code in MR1 to some degree. Most of the time! Also: quote: I know Randle rubs a few people up the wrong way, but FFS he always has a point, and continual browbeating and bellitling of people with these problems really gets under my skin What was it... Oh yea, + another gazzilion Poor ol' Randle - But if I was having that much problem - I would not have to ask but once - One of the guys from my dealer would be at the shop everyday 'till it was fixed - I know these guys - they would not allow this to continue. Good night - 1:30am here! Mark

THAD asks the million dollar question: quote: Why are any of these fixes necessary? I think that's the main point in this thread. Has anyone had to jump through these kind of hoops to keep other software (of any kind) running? I think the above list is ridiculous. Bruce: quote: + a gazzilion + ONE MORE GAZZILION DEAR READERS: You may want to skip to next message! This is not really worth mine or your time! I have said to myself I would not do this: Oh, well - Rant START: I have tried to have patience with X, but just too many problems. Plus the new interface is - well - sort of clumsy at best, yea, I can get around and make it work, but it could and should have been better. I don't even have X installed on my work machine, I do at home, and do try to use it on actual work on occasion. My problems may be of my making or NOT, that’s not the point. “MY” point is I have tried other software of late (last 8-10 months) – Pro/E, SolidCam, FeatureCam and have a demo and trial scheduled for Esprit (Wire for a Charmille). Of the one’s I have tried so far – NONE, repeat NONE - have had to have the list of CRAP listed above or elsewhere on the forum done to my computer to make the software run on it. Also I never managed to crash any of them - Now this was just trials and maybe I didn't push them hard enough? I don't know! But they were fully functional and 30 to 60 day trials. I did even run some of the code. I have two, DELL workstation 670's, Dual Xeon 2.8, 2gig, 160 raid, nVidia Quadro 3450, both on networks, one at home, one at work. I refuse to "downgrade", turn off features, or "dumb-down" my computer's performance for anyone’s software. I do use it for other things also! MC is not the "End All" of software I use! Have I called my dealer and pitched any “Hissy Fits” about X - NO! – Why, because I read on the forum and can tell from problems listed here, Ver. X is still not as MATUER a piece of software as it needs to be before I am willing to trust it to run my machines. In “MY” opinion, it is still not ready for release. Maybe in 2-3 years? Plus, my dealer is just that the “DEALER”, they don’t write the code. Thank GOD! That would really be a mess! (Hi, Steve) Why would I want to xxxx and moan and make them mad, (and I would - just my personality), they are the greatest bunch of guys around – help me when ever I need it, no questions ask. Hell, we are on maintenance for a piece of software we DON’T even USE! Just paid it a month or so ago! (probably last time if we don't start using X soon) Point to all this rambling is – I have used other fully functional CAM and CAD/CAM software on the same computer as I run MC-X on and none of them had the problems I have with X. (didn’t like any of them either! ) None of "MY" problems are any different than what is listed here or in the Beta Forum everyday, so why would I want to use a piece of software that looses files, locks up in verify, or any of the other "Laundry List" of items you see every day. For now – V9 does what I need done - (makes me money) – although X does have some things that would be useful. And don’t give me this crap that X is a total RE-WRITE - problems are going to happen, a lot of the code behind X is a carryover from V9 with a new “Front End” slapped on it, or the same problems in V9 would not have been carried over to X. Hmmm, lets see – X still don’t play nice with very many graphics cards, or you have to turn this off and slow this down or ….?, or…? - yet ATI, nVIDIA, MATROX and others all have Pro/E, Catia, DelCam, Solidworks, Etc. Certified drivers and cards! And the ones I have tried all played nice on my machine with no changes! Can you say - CODING! If X is/was, truly a TOTAL re-write - then CNC Software needs some new CODERS and a new QC Dept. as the same old problems – and the same old problems, seem to just carry on and on and on….. from version to version. Take this for what you paid for it! Rant END! Later, Mark

quote: Will there be a test ?? Is it multiple choice?

Check out this thread - Solidworks + Mastercam Search - is your best-freind! Later, Mark

quote: I spend ALOT of time in front of my computer, can you tell. Always playing, learning or tinkering with something. Yea, me too! Reading on here or my new hobby - hacking my cell phone! Wife bought me a Razr V3c - you just got to play! Later, Mark

John, Thanks! will see what I can find. Found a "Empty" box of Seco CNGP's in the cabinet! Didn't know what they were for? Question - do you Freaking live on this forum? Again, Thanks! Mark

Need a little specific advice - like brand and style and even a part no. if you have it. I'm turning some aluminum bar stock that has a TON of stock to remove on the OD. Currently for roughing OD I am using a MCLNR-16-4D holder, and a CNMG-431 insert - but with wrong chip breaker evidently. Not getting any chips, just long stringers and the insert is breaking down rather quickly. Material is 6061-T6. Parts has Dia.'s that go from 3.228 to .485 by almost 5 inches long. Lathe is limited to 4000 rpm. I don't turn that much aluminum so don't realy have any specific inserts on hand for this job, so I need some advice on a roughing insert so I can order some. Rather stick to a carbide type insert. Finishing is not a problem, I'm using a different tool and it is working fine at the moment. Any help is appreciated! Thanks, Mark

Welcome to the fun side of town! Check out the "OFF TOPIC" area also - good for a lot of things, Venting and Political are the two main topics! Later, Mark

Randy, Before you go and run - slowdown and walk. DNC systems have made great strides of late (last few years). And I really think "Cimco" makes one H3LL of a system, others also use "Predator"? or something like that. There are others also. It seems you have about 6 CNC's to DNC? What DNC options do you need? File transfer, Bi-directional or one way (can the machines send as well as receive)? Remote request - or are you going to load the programs in the machines? DNC systems have a lot of options - some are dependant on the control's abilities. Is there only one seat of MC that will be used to send programs to the machines? Is the office you are to be in, or the computer you will use, connected to a network? If so you have a great many options using the network, ie.. wireless, serial servers, network serial adaptors, etc... Are any of the machines network capable? If your not on a network, that may mean a dedicated PC or a multiport serial card for your pc or even a simple switch box. Either way you will need some type of distribution network - ie... a hardwired type of distribution to each machine. I have a small shop in TN, when I started looking at my options for geting programs out to the (4 CNC's) machines easier than what we were currently doing, I too came here and started asking how others were doing their machines. To make a long story short (..ER), My MC dealer had the best option for me. I use a Moxa Serial Server (located out in the shop), to conect to the SOHO network and distribute from it to the CNC's. That way - one network cable is run from the router out to the "Moxa Box", then it is distributed in the shop to each machine's serial port. This is all done with "Cimco's" version that came with MC-9, and it works like a charm! Cost wise for my setup - well under $1K, but I am cheap!, and I did the install myself. I do have plans to update Cimco to what you are looking at - the true "DNC" package - but currently other things are taking priority. Ask many, many, questions and get just as many answers and solutions. No one solution is the best! Your best bet is to do as you have done - ASK here and do some searching through old posts. This will give you some feel of what others are doing, as well as some ideas (maybe?). Also contact your MC dealer - they are bound to have some options or will point you to someone who can help. HTH Later, Mark

quote: There's no such thing as a perfect 10..... so I somtimes settle for a very nice 9.1

Try contacting "Toolfab" they make some nice ones. And one of our members here works there! ( PAULY ?) LINKY HTH? Later, Mark

I "CAN NOT" print either. Not that I want too - 410 pgs!! Adobe V6.0.3

If someone from CNC would explain WHY this was changed to the way it now works, might clear up some things?!? This is not a minnor item for some shops, it is creating major work, (multiple machine groups and changes to them), just for them to post code! A little reasoning for the change may be helpful? Later, Mark

Bruce, I do use HSS tools sometimes! Plastics - UHMW, derlin, rubber, etc.. and also on some SS parts I will use a M42 Colbalt cutter. Seldom, but sometimes will use a HSS or Cobalt roughing EM. But that's about it! Indexable carbide or solid carbide (finishing) for most everything. HTH Mark

Zak, Multiple login's - Well! You need to go find "ISKY" (Iskander teh Owl), talk to him about "MPD Factor"! He's the EXPERT! (Do a search on MPD it should give you a laugh or two he's been rode on this for a few years) You may want to keep a look out on this site - from what I understand Charles Davis's new books for X will be on this site when avaliable (or so I read somewhere). Charles's books are highly rated! HTH OH! - Welcome to the forum! Later, Mark

You may try here - LINK May not be for "X", but may work with Windblows! HTH

Stork, He gets louder the more he drinks! Typing also - CAPS LOCK! You and Jimmy Joe need too meet! See who could out drink who! He kind of looks like John Lennon with those glasses he wears!

Betts, I have had similar problems - had to go into regedit and remove a key. Don't remember exactly what but there was a SE key in there some where? Sorry not much help! Later, Mark

Dave, Do the same for this error as Gary told you for the other - copy the format statement for "p_wcs" into your post. Look at the Format section of MPmaster and copy the line into your post. I will almost bet you will get one (1) more error! Maybe not? I don't have the post you are modifing. Care to guess which one? Hint - look at what you pasted - before something can = a variable, the variable has to be defined. HTH Later, Mark

quote: I say..if print calls for revolutions / count revolutions. If calls for depth / measure depth+1 Have done both ways - but for a depth call out - screw in gage and mic to face. IMHO

3.82, I was refering to what Gunther had posted. Way over my head - I don't understand how that would give you a password protect on the post. Or even what you do with that code! Oh, I like your avitar - you dive much? Later, Mark