Guys, The mtb file is just a text file with some binary at the end of it. It may or may not be directly editable, but worth a shot. code: TOOLBAR START EDIT "File" FUNCTION Mastercam OnFileNew FUNCTION Mastercam OnFileOpen FUNCTION Mastercam OnFileSave FUNCTION Mastercam OnFileSaveAs FUNCTION Mastercam SaveSome FUNCTION Mastercam OnFilePrint FUNCTION Mastercam OnFilePrintPreview FUNCTION Mastercam Communications TOOLBAR END TOOLBAR START EDIT "View Manipulation" FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenFit FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenRepaint SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenZoomTarget FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenZoom FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenZoomSelected SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenUnzoomPrevious FUNCTION Mastercam OnScreenUnzoom SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam OnViewDynamicRotation FUNCTION Mastercam OnViewPreviousView FUNCTION Mastercam OnViewsDialog TOOLBAR END TOOLBAR START EDIT "Machine Definition" FUNCTION Mastercam RunMachineDefinitionManager FUNCTION Mastercam RunControlDefinitionManager SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam RunMillToolManager FUNCTION Mastercam RunLatheToolManager FUNCTION Mastercam RunMaterialManager TOOLBAR END TOOLBAR START EDIT "2D Toolpaths" FUNCTION Mastercam fbm_drill_toolpath_dialog FUNCTION Mastercam fbm_pocket_toolpath_dialog SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam ctour_assoc FUNCTION Mastercam drill_assoc FUNCTION Mastercam pock_assoc FUNCTION Mastercam face_assoc FUNCTION Mastercam hmm_2d FUNCTION MWENGRAVE m_main SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam circmill FUNCTION Mastercam thread_mill FUNCTION Mastercam slotmill FUNCTION Mastercam helix_bore SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam pro_drill FUNCTION Mastercam start_hole_dialog SEPARATOR FUNCTION Mastercam point_toolpath_dialog FUNCTION Mastercam trim_toolpath_dialog FUNCTION Mastercam xform_toolpath_dialog FUNCTION Mastercam manual_entry_toolpath_dialog TOOLBAR END If it is directly editable, that approach would be the easiest way to alphabetize it. Just back it up first.

quote: I like how you compare something that is illegal to something that is easily searched for on the internet. I'm comparing something illegal with, something illegal. To be specific, I was referring to sharing or distributing what was accidentally made public. I don't see any problem with reading it now that it's out there, I just don't think it's OK to distribute it freely. As a forum members, we need to show some respect. That's all. The site that put Beta info up broke the same Beta guidelines that I'm bound to, no more or no less, it is illegal to do so. Even if it was a mistake or accident, reseller or end user. . An illegal cracked version is easily searched on the internet as well, so I don't see your point. JM2C . quote: at the end of the day all that matters is that I signed an NDA to be a beta site and I take my signature seriously.. Ditto. .

gcode - There's no real damage done here. The release is still in development. The Pdf doesn't tell all. :big grin:

quote: The entire world is allowed to view it, but we can't share it with fellow Mastercam users? Just because there is a cracked version of Mcam doesn't mean that it's OK to use it. The same goes for keeping the Beta guidelines in check. Someone effed up. That doesn't make it OK to make little of, bash, or share what was in that Pdf. That is proprietary property of Cnc Inc. It's out there because someone broke the Beta agreement. BTW - I'm sure that Pdf wasn't done yet anyway, as it's a Beta version, and neither is the release, as it's a Beta version too.

Guys, I'm cutting chips with X5 without issue, and very happy to be given the chance to do so. All I can say is that the wait will be worthwhile, and X5 will not be a replay of the X4 release. I know many of you maintenance customers think you're losing out, but IMHO, you are not. Hang in there, and let the Gods(AE's) do their thing.

No sweat Ron. You got the guts to call a spade a spade. I hope you got things all worked out.

I have to agree with Andre. Your comp issue is coming from your postprocessor. IMHO, a call to In-House Solutions for a custom post will be a wortwhile investment. quote: How do I become a BETA tester as I feel I have alot to say. As far as Beta testing, your reseller can help you with the process of getting in. I'm sure Cnc and it's users would benefit from some more input regarding MTM development.

quote: Our little Quadros are supercomputing capable! Yuppers, they sure are. It seems such a waste to have something and not use it.

SAIPEM - As a Mc user since V6, I share your pain. As a mill programmer, I can say that Mc has come a long way. On the other hand, as a lathe programmer, I have to agree, CNC should have been on top of this. Hand coding is getting really old. IMHO Mc lathe needs a re-write. But what is done is done. Obviously they are working on this, and if you want to help, become a Beta tester, and help the X6 lathe release be everything we're all asking for. If you get involed now, your enhancements/suggestions may be in the X6 release, IDK. I'm sure CNC would like your input JM2C

On the ribbon bar: All-> wireframe/splines ->right click levels-> set your new level and name it. Select move. Click the green check. Done.

quote: When a dell rep tells you something, disregard Thanks Evil. X25-E or X25-M? Is the SLC drive worth it?

If you're running a Dell with the ICH8 onboard raid controller (Matrix), you might want to look at an SSD with its own garbage collection like OCZ. A rep from Dell has informed me that the ICH7/8/9 series SATA controllers can't pass the trim command to the drive no matter what OS you're running. I'm looking at a Z-drive for X-mas, but I really don't think they are worth the dough. Maybe just a 256Gig OCZ ssd will be enough to make my boss jealous enough to go get a real computer. LOL Any comments? Evil?

Yes please. LOL My boss is jealous enough of my current workstation. He still uses V7. If I ordered one of those, I think he'd have a meltdown.

Ron you're too quick for me, but I'll post it anyways. I seriously doubt this will help you. The toolpath is trying to swap 342 Terabytes of space. Maybe you inadvertantly selected multiple surfaces, or your WCS/Tplane is off axis from the system top. My best guess without seeing the file: Double check your drive surfaces and your planes. Like I suggested earlier, if you can put the file on the ftp site, it would be easier for someone to help you out. [ 07-05-2010, 01:02 AM: Message edited by: Rob @ R & D Engineering ]

Using the standard conversion: 358909200 Mb * 9.5367431640625E-07 = 342.28248596191406 Tb Wow, that's alot of memory. Are you sure your parameters are correct? Is your part oriented in the top wcs? If you can put that file on the ftp, I'm sure someone can help you out.

I put my 70 hrs in last week. Side work is on hold for a bit while I change company names. Got some 3+2 work on the grill though. 3 sausages + 2 burgers.

quote: Or you can own your own seat and pay maint like me. Me too. Going backward a version isn't a problem since the only other programmer in the shop is still using V7. If I were to have a problem with a Beta issue, I'm sure I could find a workaround to get the job done.

Looks like rubbish IMHO. I can reach all the buttons on my SpacePilotPro without repositioning. It looks like ergonomics wasn't considered in their design.

Save the solid with 2 different names, like solid_original, and solid_working copy. I don't think it's possible to bring back the history as you are deleting it with the nohist chook.

Are you using delta start to center?

Thanks for the response Steve. I've done a little more digging and find that the disparity is that platters can blow the doors off ssd's in large sequential read/writes, but that only happens in the real world manipulating very large files. In the real world, or Windows, the data is usually accesed as random reads and sequential read/writes. It is the ability to blow the doors of platters with random reads that makes the ssd's fast. The benchmark tests aren't on even ground, so they are misleading. The numbers lie. I'll be looking at an Ocz Vertex 2 ssd for my next hd, but I'm really holding out for a whole new box. Dual hex core cpus, a Z drive, and a Quadro FX 3800 will be my next endeavour.

Steve - I looked at the read/write speeds of the ssd's and only see 260 to 285 mbps. I was getting 250 mbps with only 2 10k drives. Now I have 4 in raid 0, so at 480 mbps it seems that my array is faster than a single ssd. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've been warned that Dell backplanes use the ICH10r sata controller which is not capable of passing the trim command to the drive even if it is marked as a non-raid drive. This is why Dell doesn't offer ssd's with the Precision Workstations as far as I know. That ssd would be dead in a year without the trim command so I am told. I could use Ocz, which doesn't rely on the trim command, but I don't hear much good news about Ocz's firmware garbage collection unless you go with at least 512 Gb drive space to offset the performance degradation over time. That's why I'm looking at the Z drive. You can hot plug the nand cards like swapping memory sticks if/when needed and they get up to 1.4 gbps read/write speeds. . . [ 07-01-2010, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: Rob @ R & D Engineering ]

Thanks Steve, I'll check that out. My plan was to use the 4 x Velociraptors in Raid 0 for now and get a Z drive around Christmas. Here's the one I'm looking at. Z drive

Thanks Leigh. I'll give JP a ring in the AM.

quote: CNC Software is taking their time with this release to make sure they get it right. Personally I would much rather wait another year and get a usable piece of software. +1000 Colin No need to rush things. Edit: Colin, I'm interested in Beta testing, but I was under the impression that I'd need a full blown seat to participate. Although I have experience with 3 axis, 3+2, and 5 axis work, I am currently at Mill Level 1 with Solids. Am I mistaken about needing the full seat, or am I eligible at my current level? TIA, Rob . . [ 06-30-2010, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Rob @ R & D Engineering ]