quote: Took a few semesters at te local Comunity College CNC Apps guy... what community colege did you go to that taught 5 axis? I live in So. Cal and would be interested in checking that out.

The retract value seems to be missing? or are your tool length ofsets set corectly at the machine? could be a bunch of things as I am trying to understand your question.

Did you click on the check mark?

What kind of toolpath are you using? I personally use a 2D contour toolpath and set a depth of about .010 instead of using the engrave toolpath.

I ordered the same material I ordered the first time, and that did cross my mind. I was wondering if the "precision gringing" process caused the hardness to be inconsistent between each piece of material. I would think not, but I cant seem to find any rhyme or reason for that peticular scenario!

I was having a similar problem with stainless steel recently. I was using .125 "precision ground" blanks saw cut into 8"x8" squares. I was making oval shaped thru-pockets with a 6 flute AL-TiN coated 1/4in endmill. My first run of 10 parts went O.k. with a spindle speed of 6061rpm's, and a feed rate of like 23 ipm. Like I said 10 parts went o.k., minor issue with tool life.... About a month later I was asked to change the configuration of the holes, and went right back to work with the same speeds and feeds on the same kind of material, and was breaking endmills after the first plunge started into into its toolpath! I got it to where it would do 1 or two pockets perfectly and then randomly break the e.m. again!--- ??? So tried al kinds of configurations of feed and speed with nothing working AT ALL! And after breaking 27 endmills at 32.00 each I was done wasting money.I eventually had to crank my spindle down to like 735rpm with a 1.7ipm feed rate and the same tool has cut 10 parts front and back.....but it takes all day to finish 1part I have no idea what happened where, and I am just grateful that I am in a prototype/individual part making position and not on a time is money time table!

Welcome Benji, I am new as well, and in my short experience here I have discovered that there are some Very talented, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful people here! this place is better than ANY Tech support I have come into contact with! Enjoy this blessing of a forum, and all of its benefits.

I know this is off topic...but I would like to know how many of you will be attending Westec and what will you be looking forward to seeing? I am going to try to get there Monday. I would like to try to attend some of the learning seminars on Lean manufacturing, and check out some of the new technologies. Not to mention stop by the Mastercam booth.....And I definately want to see that huge transformer that some job shop built!

very well put sir!

quote: If your not happy $$ or learning then move on to a different shop to get more experience. I am definately working on that one! Thanks. Ron

Thanks emastercam.com for making this my new favorite place on the web! I look forward to loging in everyday and learning something new!

Yes, I do ask a lot of questions, sometimes I feel as if I am asking too many(Iknow I am not)but the things I am not getting out of the class are the little things I see asked about on this forum, like tool libraries, and such. I definately do learn a lot,its just the small stuff you know?

Thanks!

I must say, I do have an awesome job situation. I have very loose deadlines, I have no one really to report to, the owner of the company loves me, and everything I do, I get almost anything I ask for, I have complete freedom, and yet, none of things is of any value to me, because I have no one to mentor me. I have to learn everything on my own,which makes for not always learning the right things. I dont know the right questions to ask half the time, I am loving mastercam, but I want to take it so much further. I want to learn how to do the 4th and 5th axis stuff, I want to design and program 3 dimensional parts. I am taking these mastercam classes, and when I browse through the forum here, I see things being talked about and I have no Idea what they mean! I realize that if I want to get the kind of knowledge I want I need to move on, but I cant seem to find a way to get my foot in the "programmers door" anywhere else but where I am now. I know I just need to give it time, but I am anxious, I have a very strong drive. I just cant seem to find a company that wants to hire an entry level programmer with more drive than experience. I keep thinking about the catch 22 how can I get experience if no one will give me the experience? Anywho.. I really thank all of you for your responses, they are motivating and inspiring, and I really apreciate them.

its hard to believe a shop that makes as much as they do from one custom motorcycle cant pony up the cash to pay for something that is essentialy providing the reason thier product is making them so much money. the american way......greed.

oh oh I know! pick me pick me..

can I have a hint?

get em boys YAAAA!

Thanks again guys, I am glad to be part of this community.

I see Jim Fall every Saturday when I go, He is a pretty funny guy to watch. And I know when I was attending full time a little over a year ago Carlos was still there. He's a pretty smart guy, he wasnt my instructor, but I learned a lot from him when he helped me out. Ron The crazy Millman... I emailed you, I am interested in your homepage link you have in your profile.

quote: produca2, what NTMA are you going to? I taught at the Ontario NTMA for 3 years a few years back. That is the campus I attend. I took the complete course and am into my advanced training phase, where I plan on inhaling both Mastercam courses (Iam at the end of my first) and then maybe taking metallurgy, and Q.C. Inspection. Thanks again all of you contributing to this thread, I am loving it and in no way did I expect this kind of response.

Awesome! I apreciate all the feedback you guys are giving me. I have considered most of the things you guys have sounded off on and I am working on them like mad! I love this profession, I am so glad it found me and I only wish I would have gotten in to it at an earlier age! Your comments are motivating so please keep em coming!

Nice thanks!Keep em coming! [ 03-13-2008, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: produca2 ]

Thanks Ron thats exactly the kind of advice I was looking for! And as for the job, I will email you!

Thanks......for that....