65 meg's here

I made a copy of the file and dropped it in My Documents....and the weird thing is that now, the one in Mastercam is 0 bytes, and the one in My Documents is 10.9kb

I always use auto save. I get that message just when i want to open the file. !!! I can't.

Invalid or Corrupted file. Please contact your local Mastercam Dealer ! I have a call into them, I just finished programming a complete block and was ready to post it, when Mill9 was shut down. Now when I bring it up and try to go back to my file. I get this message. Please tell me there is a way to get my MC9 file back. Thanks, Frank

Thanks for your reply Greg. James what kind of test's or certifacation programs are there ? Classes that I've taken have never tested us, to see what we've learned, they just give us a certificate that says we've completed the course. I like the idea of testing to see how much your students have REALLY LEARNED ! Frank

Greg...you really struck a nerve with me. I am on the flip side of what you are talking about. I have been programming here for 7 years, and the boss/owner, thinks that being a programmer is only clicking a few buttons, and the software does the rest. I don't do a lot of 3d work, but it used to be when we got it, I brought it home, I read up on it, I came to this board, and I called tech support, to try and find the best way to machine it. I've also taken the advanced 3d classes that are available. Only to find the boss pissed at every time the tool cuts air, or takes a pass he doesn't like. He's went so far to have a Mastercam Mold expert come and spend a day, at the shop to analize my programs. (Chuck Beckas), and was told that my part was programmed exactly the way he would go at it. And was told that if you would like code to go to the machine with the least amount of effort put into programming it, it will have some air cuts, and some undesirable paths. But you have to sacrifice one for the other. If you have a 5 pc, job, how much time do you want your programmer to spend on it ? I can see spending time, and trying to make the fastest possible toolpaths for long running jobs. Anyway the point I'm trying to make is, maybe it's not your programmers fault, maybe it's yours ! I personally get nothing but beat up about my programs, so after a while, I get the additude of the harder I try, the more it pisses me off, when the beatings start. So I would suggest a little positive reinforcement, with what you have, and see if things don't improve. Frank

Actually, I am running a whole block, and this one surface, is the one I'm having problems with. This is just a lightning cut, and it's cutting about 6 motor mount holes that are no longer needed. I have the block on a vertical machine and am rolling it around to the different faces. That one happens to be at 45°. Thanks

Hey all: It really seems like I only post on this forum when I need help. Which is true, but I'm always reading, and learning from everyone else's post's. I don't do a lot of 3d work, and my fearless leader, thinks that with Mastercam all you have to do is click cut it and it figures the rest out (maybe in X). Anyway I put a file on the ftp site in the MC9 folder labeled motor mount wall. And if someone could take a look, and advise me on how to cut it. I am currently using a 1.00 bullnose w/.250 rad. and probably should put a finish pass on it with a .500 ball. What kind of paths should I take (it's aluminium). And what paths would put a nice finish around the post that are sticking up. Thanks Again, Frank

Good Saturday Morning ! We are currently running knuckles, and the print calls for a 6:1 reamed hole. We got a tool from our local grinders. The tool is shot and the grinders are closed today. Does anybody know if a 6:1 reamer is compatable with any morse taper, and what would it be ? Thanks, Frank

We run the SB2,s and now R99's blocks and heads for the Nascar teams. Also..... http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=...2842/t_=5978627 http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=...2842/t_=5978627

Hey wait a minute......a CHEVY won yesterday's race !!!

Dan: "We check everything per the print when I'm done though... " Does that mean your inspection department checks the part to the print. Or do you double check everything you've done to the model...to the print ? Because if I have to double check everything on the model to the print...I might as well draw the whole thing and skip even looking at the model except for some face mill paths. I feel some of the prints we recieve, were done half a...., and the designers figure, just give it to them they'll call us if there is something missing !!! So I spend my time looking for, and fixing screw up's created by the engineers, instead of writing toolpaths. And to top that I have to write a whole sheet of corrections that need to be made, submit it to the boss, he forwards it to the engineers, then wait for the corrections to continue programming. And finally when the job is complete, I am constantly asked "WHY I TOOK SO LONG TO PROGRAM THIS JOB" So thank you for all the responses and please keep them coming, because I want to be able to machine the part in the time I am expected to do so, and hopefully after printing all your processes, and submitting them to the big guy it will somehow turn on a light, and we can as James said "get on the 21st century bus" Thanks, Frank

Oh I know I have the geometry, and also know I have it right. But he doesn't want me to tell inspection the dimensions that are missing, he needs a hard copy (fax) from the engineer. I guess liability is an issue. Probably if the engineer was asked, before the quote, if the cad model is up to date, and can we use it, if we find missing dimensions on the print. That would be a move in the right direction.

Where my problem is ...is that if I only use the model, and reference the print, I miss the places that the engineer forgot to put a hole location, or it's missing a sectional view (which happens a lot). And even though I still can program, the boss hits the ceiling, when the inspection room checks the part and finds the missing print details, and I never asked the engineers, for a fax, before it got to inspection. So the boss asks how can he call the engineer and ask for the missing dimension, when we allready have the part machined ?

All castings....mostly aluminuim, Nascar blocks are compacted graphite.

Thanks for all the replies....but like I said I am doing only 2d work, but very large 2d work. For instance Chevy Blocks that I turn on a rotory, or like I said, Transmission Cases, or Heads. Does anybody here do the same line of work ? And if you use just the model do you also inspect the finish product with it ? Thanks again !

Quickmike.....How are your parts inspected without paper

Hi all : I’ve got a problem, and I was hoping for some advise on how most of you process your programs. First of all 90% of my programs are machined 2d, for instance I have a transmission case that I spin on a horizontal using 115 tools. What use to be the norm was a paper print only, and from there creating the file in Mastercam all sides and machining the part. When there are print dimensions missing you call the engineer and get them straightened out. Then the part gets a thorough inspection, and changes are made (hopefully not) and the part is ran. Now with Cad models of the part, and a paper print, I pull up the cad model and double check some critical locations to the print, translate the whole part to our machining 0’s and start cutting. I just use the print for tolerances and as a reference. The boss has been very weary of asking the customer for the model because he feels I should only use the cad model as a reference and the print as the bible. What is really upsetting him is that if there are missing locations or dimensions on the print, the inspection room comes to a stand still until the engineer is contacted to clear it up. What I feel, is that my job is a lot more productive, is a thorn in the boss’s side. So my question is should I forget about the cad file and just use paper, or is using the cad model, the way to go ? I know it makes my job a lot easier to just use the cad file. Also is anyone familiar with using a cad file on the CMM’s ? Thanks, Frank PS If the responses are how I think they will be I will print it out for the man !

Thanks, got it.

Just got back from a week at Ocean City Maryland......camping. It was a much needed vacation.

Hey all: I have a new program that is very similar to one allready on the floor. The one on the floor was programmed long ago (not by me). I have a printed tool sheet and don't have the print yet. Is there a way to create the tools, in order, into my operations manager, without using them ? I can't just import Library, because one wasn't made with the old job. How would I go about creating the tools and saving them in a library, without geometry ? Thanks, Frank

Allways hear........soaking in information !

Ooops I told them I knew of a great message board where I could ask if anybody has a drawing of it.