Thanks for the help, J. Yes, I'm always aware of my internal tools. Maybe I'll just get one of the QTE guys to throw the mods on? I've just been editing my code for years to incorporate this behavior. Same way, I always have to strip out A0. calls in my mill programs when the 4th isn't hooked up. One of these days I'll have it running edit free... Catch you later, Barry

5th Axis, Yes, I absolutely love QTE. I have worked with Mark Clark many times over the years. I have not had the privilege to meet Reese. You know who is a cool guy over there, Jake. Maybe he's lurking around, and can post a picture of his awesome MasterCam car. I am usually working on improving my flow, after hours. During the day, it's all about the next program. Thus the posting here. Jaydenn, I just tried that MPLMaster set-up. It doesn't fix my problem, and adds a G28 for V. So, I appreciate the try, but am still in the same boat. Anyone got the secret for G50 at tool change, and home X before Z? Other than these two things, the generic post is cool for me. Thanks guys, Barry in St Louis

I use the generic Fanuc 2-axis post that ships with MCX9. I always just throw in the G50, but it would be cool if someone could help me modify for that output? Also, I always edit my code to G28 the X-axis first, then on the next line I G28 the Z-axis. That's so I don't hit the tailstock on accident. I have no post experience. I have located the file, and can open it in notepad, but there's a lot there... Thank you, Barry in St Louis

DParks, That's a great approach. I hadn't thought far enough ahead to be worried about that thin web... Let me try that. Care to share a helix parameter recommendation? Barry in St Louis

Thanks a bunch to both of you. I am well on my way now. Kinda long way around the block... David, how were you able to pull off that measurement snip. You must be using the classic backplot / verify? I can never really get the new one to measure well. Ron, I'll try that .006 / flute, but sounds a little aggressive. You knew it was 15-5 at H1025, right? Thank again guys, Barry

Material is 15-5PH Heat Treated to H1025 I am questioning that chunk of stock that the path removes at the completion of each boss. Looks like the cutter might "hate" it, takes that in two cuts. It would be ideal if both sides were more balanced as a continuous flow. I'd appreciate a second set of eyes on this. Barry in St Louis For the Forum.mcx-9

I have yet to find the setting that controls the number of decimal places displayed in the move list during Backplot or Verify. Thought I would "bump" this, and see if anyone had found it? Thanks, Barry in St Louis

I want to increase the precision of the read-out in the move list to reflect four decimal places, not three. I've looked at the options page, but haven't found it. Thanks, Barry in St Louis

When zoomed in very tightly with the new Verify, I select Analyze and then the distance option. I do not get a cross hair, but only the arrow/ pointer. I have paused in the middle of running a simulation. I am unable to measure with any degree of accuracy? I am not talking about .0001 or two. I am looking for the difference between .01 or .02. I am unable to predict where it will place the points to measure. Sometimes it is to the lower left of the arrow, other times it is near the arrow. Additionally, it never takes the first click. Here is my file. I am zoomed in very tightly on that grove operation, and stopping before the finish pass. To describe my idea of tightly zoomed, on the screen my stock appears about 3/8" from the geometry. Barry in St Louis Barry_7_Exercise.mcx-9

Thanks guys. I apologize for my lack of clarity. I was referring to the rough pass. Richard, you had the solution, thank you.

When running verify, note the small piece of excess stock in the lower left quadrant of that OD radius. I added a piece of line in the "Groove Shape Parameters" tab to get it that good. Which is not very good. I have tried adding a point to my chain to force a more uniform roughing pass at the floor of that radius. That doesn't work either. Try turning off those contour extensions in the "Groove Shape Parameters" tab. That's what I originally got. The part would "hate" that radius anyway. That's a chatter problem that doesn't exist yet. This question is hypothetical, as I am not making that part, but I am perplexed by this behavior. Thank in advance, Barry in St Louis Barry_7_Exercise.mcx-9

That mathematical formula is exactly what I needed. Thanks alot. Barry BAker

I threw a file in the MCX folder on the FTP page. The name is Helix Question 001. Take a look at this drawing and see if there is enough information to generate this helix? I have the Helix angle and a point on the angle, but the MasterCam dialog box insists on a pitch or height. Barry Baker Baker Engineering

Thanks Tony

I use the generic MILL 3-AXIS VMC post. It is fine for my machine. At the end of all my programs it creates the following moves: G0G28Z0. G28X0.Y0. I usually just edit the X and Y moves to not force my machine to home. The home position on this mill is in the front left corner. So the home move puts my vises all the way in the machine. Typically I will change the second line of code to G0G90Y4. That brings the vises out to me. What do you guys think? Should be a simple modification. Someone just needs to get me going in the right direction. Thanks, Barry