Do you want to make a solid from a STL? This can be done(tried at least) with tools like FreeCAD. 250000 facets will need a lot of processing and memory power and it will take time. Better would be to simplify your file (reduce facets) before with another tool like Meshlab.

I probably had a glitch with my existing X9 release. "JTubb" user found how to reproduce this bug and posted that on official forum:

I already posted on official forum and it's logged as a bug. Anyone noticed this with beta 2 (i didn't tried with beta1)?

You probably have profile definition and spiral pitch on your drawing. You will need a custom tool and can use a standard thread cycle to program. If needed (it depends of profile definition), maybe you ll be able to rough with a standard D or V insert and the same thead cycle.

This can be a little tricky with this toolpath... simpler would be to translate X-axis your surface or trim it. Here is an example with collision control (but i needed to build a wall surface). MORPH 2 CURVES test-mod.mcx-9

You're welcome ^^

Good morning This is a 'Morph between 2 curves' toolpath so it will try to machine all surface between the 2 curves... legitimate actually you can machine along edges of the surface but toolpath will run both. Curve5axis would be suitable in that case.

I made a multisurface toolpath instead and that looks better. You still have tool radius of course so you'll need remachining corners (or tweak your roughing toolpathes if you want to only leave .25 endmill radius)

That is weird... need investigation but if you choose to drive cutter radius center, toolpath is correct.

I don't really know why but if you play with setting 'run tool' or if you uncheck 'Point tool to rotary axis' toolpath is OK

Morph between 2 curves is nice too. A lot of tools to get the job done! To answer about roughing, you just need to check 'by depth' and tool motion should be ok.

Perhaps it needs to tweak for multi depth... I am off and have not Mastercam at home. I ll try tomorrow morning !

To use Curve 5axis i needed to be a little tricky with your application... I had to create a new "simpler" surface to control tool axis. 5 AXIS CURVE TEST-mod.mcx-9

I would do it with 'Flow 5 axis' instead. Here is an example. For curve 5axis, pay attention to this setting. 5 AXIS CURVE TEST-mod.mcx-9

Sometimes we just need a full control of tool motion and that 'mouse facing' would be a nice improvement to Mastercam point toolpath.

I'm ok with that... this is a facing operation so it's pretty easy to filter (with a large tolerance value if needed) and get arcs...

guitar If you really want to use face toolpath... did you know that?

This is pretty simple to create planes. You can create easily from geometry (solid faces, 2 lines, an arc, normal to a line) or relative to standard Mastercam planes (top, front), copying and rotate them. There is dynamic planes creation function which is pretty intuitive too. You probably just need training and practice.

mike_f Here is an example how you can program an indexer with toolplanes and offset where you want it to be for every plane. You will need a rotary axis in your machine definition and post customisation to post M-code instead of an A address. Here is my post out % O0001 N10 G17 G40 G90 G80 G49 N20 T01 ( TOOL T01 ) N30 M6 N40 G0 G90 G54 X12. Y0. S2546 M3 N50 G43 H1 Z50. N60 M12 ( INDEXER A0. ) N70 Z-9. N80 G1 Z-10. F509 N90 X10.586 Y1.414 N100 G3 X10. Y0. I1.414 J-1.414 N110 G2 I-10. J0. N120 G3 X10.586 Y-1.414 I2. J0. N130 G1 X12. Y0. N140 G0 Z50. N150 M12 ( INDEXER A300. ) N160 Z-9. N170 G1 Z-10. N180 X10.586 Y1.414 N190 G3 X10. Y0. I1.414 J-1.414 N200 G2 I-10. J0. N210 G3 X10.586 Y-1.414 I2. J0. N220 G1 X12. Y0. N230 G0 Z50. N240 M12 ( INDEXER A240. ) [ ............ ] INDEXER TOOLPANE.mcx-9

I can remember this select feature was standard in Autocad 20 years ago.And I liked it! Is it really possible to set Mastercam that way?

Quick access toolbar is the way to go to look like X9 but these icons are a little too small to me... in the same idea, i undocked MRU window, minimized it to see icons only then it looks like a toolbar which can be located near the edge of screen. I also expanded properties window (above RMB menu), minimized it, and stuck it on bottom right of screen. I really dislike input data window migrated in toolpath area. X9 ribbon bar was nice and got focus faster. Shortcuts key for backplot or verify should be great but I still didn't find regeneration dirty/selected/all operations commands...

I will need practice to get used to this new interface for sure... but i already noticed a great improvement: to be able to make shortcuts keys for any command ! I will finally be able to launch Verify without needing to click on this tiny icon above toolpath manager... wonderful. MRU is now a window, i would have prefer it integrated like mask selection but still need to get used to!

It s greyed on your pic so you can t really put in a value in textbox. All these textbox's labels may be customised and activated/deactivated in control definition to be used in pp as you need

I don't know but seller told me they were 50 to develop softwares. I don't know if it's true... Anyway, software should have changed a lot in 3 years. Perhaps you should watch it again.

I just met (yesterday) Zoller for its tms software (looks like pilot3.0 for presetting). I only watched a video of mastercam interface (I think it should do the job to filter/select tools). I watched a live demo of vericut interface that looked pretty smooth and fast (Ok for milling tools but they re still working on lathe tools import) . Software looked as powerful as others and of course there should nt be any problem to read/write zoller database... Any users here? Pros/cons?