Thanks all for the ideas. I'm going to give those a whirl.

Perhaps you could explain the hardened washer. Do you mean a washer between the head of the cap screw and the counterbore of the jaw?

So occasionally I get into a job where I think machining a set of aluminum jaws to hold in a Kurt vise would be ideal. But the next time I do the job, I have to fart around with indicating the jaws back in, then start cussing when I tighten down the bolt holding them in and they move like .01". Do you guys have a way where one could overcome the alignment fairly quickly and accurately? I saw Kurt makes some ones where you can put dowel pins in the jaws to achieve angles that you want, so I may look into that. I was also thinking of some backing plate to go behind the machinable jaws where I could use a dowel pin or something to align the sets together. Thanks.

In this case, there was no stock defined. It was just a bunch of drilling ops and I didn't need to setup stock for it.

This is X5MU1 by the by.

So when I go to start certain toolpaths, and head down to the linking parameters, my top of stock is always set at -.01. I've checked my operation defaults, which showed 0 in the field. I made sure that they stuck by changing them to 0 and re-saving it. Then doing it again. And again. I've saved the defaults directly from the toolpath pages. This doesn't work either. My geometry is drawn at Z0.0. I'm stumped.

Perhaps try setting your buffer to a percentage greater than 50. That seemed to work for me when I was having that problem.

It may be something to do with the size of the memory buffer. I bet that if you were to restart Mastercam, everything would be as it should. Or increase the memory buffer size in the config.

Are you using a contour ramp? The tool won't come up between cuts (a huge PITA) Are you using points for your entry and exit? I seem to recall that when I use a point for my entry and exit that the tool won't retract between cuts either.

No questions here. I just thought it was time to get into that suite of toolpaths. I used the Google spreadsheet from Chris Rizzo's siggy, and went to town on an A frame support for our rotary axis. I don't have a video, or pictures, but it was soooooooo cool to take a .400 DOC and at 300 IPM (aluminum, 7500 RPM with a 1/2" Garr EM) and hear the chips hitting the door like that. Unfortunately, our Haas' don't have the High Speed package, so I noticed that there was some staggering with the toolpath. It was quite jerky. Anyways...:oldforumjumpintheairandclickmyheelstogether:

As I was going through the MPMaster post to start customizing it for our shop, I noticed the above statement in the "Additional Notes" section. Can someone please explain? I guess I'm confused because when I set something up on the rotary, I set it up around the center of rotation, and thus, am cutting towards the centerline. But it's entirely possible that I have absolutely no idea what this is referring to.

I'm curious what you guys do if there is a job that has a number of components for an assembly. Do you program all the parts - including all future rev changes - in one MCX file, or do you do one file per unique part? I've got files that get to be quite cumbersome when I start adding gobs of levels for solids/wireframe/surfaces for all the components of the assembly, not to mention the gazillion different machine/toolpath groups for all aspects of all the parts. The files get large quickly. The alternative is like 50 smaller files in one folder, but having to File -> Open to navigate between parts. Just curious what you guys do.

Very, very cool.

Oh. V0. I assume the lathe doesn't have a Y axis? You'll need to check your machine definition and delete the Y axis if necessary. You may have to make a post tweak as well.

You'll have to give a little more info about the problem. Are you getting an error from the lathe, or at your PC, or where? You are actually posting your program, correct? Can you change the format of your NC file to a txt file and load it in the Haas? What post processor are you using? Can you attach a file for someone to look at?

Ok Keith. We do the same thing here. It will be fine IF there is NO M code on the line. Don't give it a M3 S0, or even an M5. Just delete the M3 out of the line. Here's another word of warning: We wrapped up all the air line of our 80,000 RPM air spindle around the spindle of the Vf3 because canned cycles will automatically start the spindle with the last speed entered. You have to post out all the canned cycles long hand.

This is the 2D contour. I didn't try using a dedicated point...I'll try that next time.

Got it. I had to have a point for EACH depth. Seriously?

Greetings all, Using X5MU1. I want to cut two undercuts with a small slot mill, and drop the tool in the center of the part for clearance. The geometry I have picked is the center of an arc at the top of stock, and the two arcs that I want to mill. I have incremental depth selected. I also have "use entry/exit point" selected in the lead in/out dialogue. When I confirm my settings, the top chain ignores the entry point, but the bottom one uses it. What gives?

All, I wonder if anyone has seen this before, or knows what is going on. i help the local high school out with programming for their CNC lathe and mill. He's running X4 MU3, and I have a seat of the same here on my computer. When the teacher has problems with a program, he sends me the Z2G, I edit/fix it, Z2G and send it back. Apparently, he's getting a message on the other end saying that he can't open the MCX file because it's coming from a newer version of Mastercam...which is not true. I use X5 here for my day to day stuff and am wondering if perhaps one of the registry keys got muddled or something. I'd love to hear any suggestions or ideas. Thanks.

I can get away with 0.02 thick tabs in certain situations. The flatness (if it's bowed or not) of the part is one thing that helps me determine thickness. If it's bowed alot, you're going to have a heck of a time even with thicker tabs. Perhaps try .025-.035, and see what that gets you. I don't know what your de-burr requirements are, but I find that after cutting the part out on the band saw, a pair of side cutters and a file makes quick work of tab remnants.

I'm at home now, so I can't test my theory at work, but wouldn't the lead in/out be adjusted for each pass? For example, if one sets their lead in/out at .005 for a given toolpath, doesn't that value stick for however many passes you want to make? Basically what I'm saying is adjust the lead in/out so that the first pass - where the tool has the greatest chance for crashy - clears, and you would be golden. That value would stay the same for each of those 12 passes. Again, I'm not at work so I can't test my theory, and I hope what I said makes sense.

I may be completely missing what you are trying to do here, but what about a finish toolpath with like 12 passes at .013 step over for each.

Can you change the lighting at all in the shading settings to achieve what you want?

Most of the parts come in like that. I'll give that a try. Thanks.