Contact Horn USA. http://www.hornusa.com/fileadmin/user_upload/usa/PDF/catalog_milling2013/Milling_-_Chapter_D.pdf Check out page D3 for the shank.

I stayed in the same file and tried changing tolerances, which tool paths to create the model from, initial stock shape and size. Nothing seemed to work. I closed Mastercam and reopened it and blam everything works just fine now... Never got any error messages or anything. The stock model would just never create initially or regenerate. weird.

I am trying to generate a stock model of a 3D surfaced part. Roughly 1.5 x 6 x 7. Nothing fancy or super intricate. I have 13 tool paths I'm working with. Mostly 2D high speed, contour and one 3D highspeed core. I try to generate a stock model and it won't generate or ever become un-dirty. Are there any ways to check why this is? Any other thoughts? Oh and MC X6 MU3.

Yes, X6 MU3.

Helps if I read the message correctly, eh. It does say were NOT brought in. The geometry is a .stp file I am opening and having to use the create trimmed surfaces option in the config to get any kind of useful geometry. I tried the save as option and things are still running slow.

When I open a file I receive a message saying "12 corrupt entities were brought in". Mastercam is really slow while working with this file. How can I remove the corrupt entities? What can I do to make Mastercam run normal again while working with this file? It's nothing large nor fancy. Thanks.

Take a look at Quaser. I've read about a few end users of them that are very happy with their experience. www.quaser.com

I have two Feeler VMP-1100 machines. Both are just over a year old. I am very happy with them. I machine anything from aluminum to titanium 6al4V on them with great success. I'm running a bunch of 17-4SS on them now. I am using a 2" Coro 880 drill drilling 6" deep and doing so with good success. They certainly have some xxxx. From sounds of it the OSP may have the edge in terms of processing speed for high speed surfacing but it's a matter of your needs. Sounds like local support is and should be a major determining factor.

I've seen mixed reviews of the powergrip system. From what I gather you must pay close attention to how much of the tool shank is swallowed in the holder. Too little shank inside the collet and you'll have pull out issues. Another thing to consider is what tolerance the shank of the tool is and whether it is a ground finish with a light texture or polished. If the shank is polished there is not quite as much friction to retain the tool. I have similar a style holder with a similar collet. One thing I always run into is having to cut off the shank of a long tool. If the tool shank is very long and you don't cut the shank it will bottom out in the collet and you'll have excessive length hanging out. I saw an article from Rego about a new secure grip holder. You may want to contact Rego about this as it may offer a bit more process security which I would certainly think you would want. Bottom line with Rego- they are a good system for the right fit. You need to get some in your hands and see if that fit is you. I have a few Haimer holders and they are simply top notch. Harmonics are a little different than running other holders but nothing crazy. I would contact NT Tool and see if they make HSK 125 stuff. I know they do a ton of custom holders and might make specifically what you need. Also for the heavy roughing stuff- Big Kaiser mill chucks. http://www.bigkaiser.com/news/release-2012-march-hsk-a125.php TK

Could try HAM Precision if you are having no luck elsewhere. http://www.hamprecision.com/

I gotta say thanks for the samples. The sample files prove to be perfect resources to truly understand how different people approach this.

If your TSC comes through the flange then you're going to be looking for DIN B. One thing you will certainly want is a holder where the DIN B holes can be plugged with a set screw. This is how all Big Kaiser Holders are setup. If say a couple years down the road you add a machine with coolant through the pullstud instead of flange you will need to plug the flange holes in the holder with the set screw. If you can't plug the holes you'll be SOL and buying more holders. Kaiser makes a nice holder, however I do not like having to stock a bunch of o-rings to "seal" the holder. PITA in my opinion. For solid carbide drills I would take a serious look at heat shrink, Haimer preferably. The runout is unbeatable. You can also use the heat shrink with coolant grooves for solid carbide endmills. This way you can flush high pressure coolant right down the shank of the tool. For ferrous applications you could also setup a thru tool air/oil mist type deal for cutting "dry". If you're looking for more of a collet type setup I would take a good hard look at NT tool. They have a system called FDC I believe. It's similar to ER but a bit slimmer in most apps and nicer. In this series of holders they have regular collets, sealed collets for you TSC tools, and cooalnt groove collets for flushing around the tool shank. They will custom make holders for your specific application with set screws in your DIN B holes if you ask. Another option would be to use Lyndex sealed ER collets in you existing ER holders.

Seems to have worked for now. Thanks. I'm glad I'm not the only one...

I am using MCX6 MU2. When transferring tools from my library to the area used for the active file I am loosing the cycle type on my drills. For instance- I have a tap defined in the library as using a rigid tap cycle. When I transfer the tool to the active area for that file the cycle type changes back to drill/cbore and a few of the fields turn to $$$$$$. It does not happen with every drilling tool and isn't consistent from file to file. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the info. Will the mcam add-on handle gd&t and its calculations? I'm not a wiz at gd&t so that would be helpful.

What are your thoughts on using a machining center and spindle probe as a "not quite as accurate CMM"? I currently do not have a CMM and have some parts I need to inspect. They are turned components and will be made on a lathe. I was thinking of using a machining center and spindle probe (which I currently have) as a method of inspecting things like profile tolerances, runout, diameters, true position, chamfers, inside radii, flatness, etc. Is this doable? Have you done this before? What software is out there to help with writing the inspection routine?

Try Internal Tool. http://www.internaltool.com/ They may have something that will work.

It is a Fanuc parameter. Look in your Fanuc parameter manual table of contents under parameters of canned cycles. It should tell you which parameter number to go hunt for. It is around the 5100's on a 0i control. Don't know if it the same for yours.

What types of materials would you consider to be the limit for this machine? Superalloys? Do the machines struggle with larger components and machining far from the table surface?

Count me in on this one.

Yeah big piece. Finished part weighed about 1/10 of its starting weight. About a fifteen hour part by the time I got done. A bunch of surfacing work. Just start your programming furthest from the RWP holder and work your way back towards it. That definitely helps a ton.

Shh, don't tell anyone but I've got a -002 aluminum one on a fourth on my VMC and have fixtured an aluminum block 6x8x10 on it with no tail stock or end support. The dovetail was cut on the 6x10 face. No problem.

That's a good idea. Thanks.

I don't want Mastercam to shut down. Computer goes to sleep, Mastercam/HASP does its thang, wiggle mouse, computer wakes up, Mastercam says you have one chance to save, save file, Mastercam closes, reopen Mastercam, wait the half minute or so for mastercam to open, reopen file. All this = PITA. I've never seen it work likes this in eight years so I figure there's gotta be a way to change it. I'll look into the USB/power management side of things.