We are talking about engineers right. Sounds like a great oppertunity to learn Solidworks. The tutorials are very good !

The best engineer I know is a machinist.

Im with Rob. Bigger End Mill, maybe 5/32. Also the ramp contour IMO is very inefficient for time. I also use incremental to machine multiple depths in the same cut. I've never tried John's suggestion but It sounds worth a try.

Same Here

Fadal Haas

If I understand your set-up correctly you should be able to create a WCS named view using geometry of the hole created normal to the spindle (perp).

From there use transform rotate toolpath to get the rest of the holes. If you are prompted for Axis of rotation pickX normal to the machine. The fact that your part is at an angle shouldnt matter. Again Im assuming this is fairly straight forward ring of holes around the OD at 38 deg. Good Luck!

So is this a round part with holes around the OD or rectangular with holes on different faces?

Center of Tool was a common method used back in the early 80's. The downside was the operator either forgot to enter the radius of the tool or left the value from the previous job in the register resulting in a scrapped first part. This happened a lot and eventually the format was done away with. I for one would have a hard time accepting this method of programming.

Would that mean that the operator has to input the radius of the tool in the offset register, If so thats quite a step backwards IMO

Thats the card we use and no major problems. It must be something in the settings. Welcome to the forum.

Unfotunatly there is no forgivness in what we do. 99 things right and 1 thing wrong is often scrap. Mastercam is not perfect. That is why it still takes VERY highly skilled individuals to make everything come out right the first time.

I side with Justin we have a protocol that we use that involves certain program checks on critical programs. We do searches in Mcam Editor to verify workoffsets, tool offsets. Also If a workoffset is not being used it is set to zero at the machine. Another safety protocol we use is no hand editing is allowed.

You can do this with a 2d contour cut with a bull nose or Ball end mill if you have enough clearance. Select the geometry at the bottom of the angle and in the depth cuts enter the angle in the tapered wall box and your step over in the depth cuts. You can use a square ended tool also but that requires a smaller step down to get a good finish. I like to use a Bull Nose with a small radius then I dont have to go to deep to get the tool tangent. You may have to move the geometry out and down a little (X 5 Deg) so the radius of the tool clears the bottom of the part.

Im in the habit of selecting Entities - Only - Arcs and have never had this problem. Its a few more clicks but we are talking about Mastercam Right!

Thats the good stuff program it, make it

Sometimes I get a similar conflict and 1 thing I do is go to the parameters page under planes and uncheck the work offset selection. I make sure on the Wcs I have the desired work offset entered for each peticular View.

Here at Bowtech, being a production shop, we use tramsfom toolpath a lot. We generaly only program 1 part, then transform it to the different locations to cut several parts. Normaly its done by tramsforming by coordinate from the origin to a specified spacing in X and Y. Sometimes if you have an irregular spacing you can transform the previous transform. You can do a lot with it.

We also ude it on our horizontals to do like toolpaths on multiple faces. I hope this Helps

Yes, all of the above. When you select contour and the chaining window appears select 3d and window the lettering. you should then be promted to select a start point which can be any entity and thats where your tool will start. I dont understand the closed chain statement made previously.

On our VF2's Its behind the table, under the way cover on the left side of the leadscrew. Good Luck

Point your guys in the direction of the nearest JC in your area that offers Mcam. If there interested and dedicated enough to take a semester class at night after work and complete it you might have a good prospect for training. Then at least you will have someone that can draw a little and navigate the software a little. Dont waste your time sorting out the Tigers from the Drones. Everyone in the shop thinks they could program. Only 1 out of 10 can eventually do it.

We use OSG and SGS Burr Tools to cut Fiberglass. 3/8 Dia 12000 RPM 40 IPM. Tool Life seems to be the challenge

We run a 2" Mil-Tech Face Mill on a 4" Extended holder .125 DOC 350 IPM. The material disappears in a hurry.

Could your chained geometry be splines? I use this feature a lot but have not ran into this problem

I get this too. The only thing Ive been able to associate this with is importing geometry and it comes in blanked. We also have problems if we leave merged files in the Groups Box. Its a real pain.

Here at Bowtech operators make note of any changes made and document them on the set-up sheet mostly speed and feed or peck amount.

That info is forwarded to programming where the Mcam file is updated and can be reposted.

The other method is to upload the program from the machine and note at the top that this is a proven program. The one drawback to this method is the program becomes machine specific.

The advantage of the first method is with the updated Mcam file can be reposted for any machine.

The winding up of your 4th axis may be overcome thru the post although you might try sending it back to zero between tools. As far as your finish problem set your step over around .005 or less.