Hi, I don't know which Mcam version you are using but in X3, you can alter theses parameters in Control definition manager, default operation tab (this is stored in .OPERATIONS file i think)

Quadro 4000 is nice. It can handle complex 5axis verify.

I'm a Mastercam programmer since 2003. I 'now' have solid knowledges in machining and programming. I'm mainly cutting aeronautic/space parts 3 to 5axis (impellers, cams). These last 2 years i mainly programmed and learnt how to remove chips from Inconel718 (=pain in the a**). Only for 17$/hr... (in France)

I had great results in 15-5 PH with Horn cutters 3 teeth (from CPT) and Widia cutters too (4 teeth if i remember). Better is to machine from top to bottom but you can choose left hand cutter for climb milling.

You can read this training file, it can help! http://anorec.perso.sfr.fr/Buffers.pdf

I tried a lot of high feed cutters (with inserts). One of the best to me is Stellram 7792 and X500 carbide grade. I mainly use it with Inconel718, TA6V,15-5PH,Z6NCT1810. Here is my ranking (best first) ATI Stellram 7792 Mitsubishi AJX Ceratizit HFC Sumitomo MSX Sandvik 210 With smaller diameter cutters i also had great tool life with seco feed2 machining TA6V

Thank you:) this is a good way to start. Still need to work on it though..as i'd like to avoid machining with zero-point of bull. I thought i would be able to make it with one toolpath only but i don't think now...

Hi all, I have a pretty easy multi-axis job to do... but not for me ^^ This is a pocket and i can't get a great floor finishing toolpath... I'm using a conical cutter with bull nose. I'd just would like to copy the floor and avoid all walls around. And I always have gouging... Here is the .MCX file (Mcam X3) to download : http://anorec.perso....LOOR POCKET.MCX If anyone can help...

Hi Serge:) That looks pretty good. I still didn't tried to tweak setup sheet but i'd need to...would you share this 'setup sheet model'? BTW (if you don't know it), you can try X+ Chooks to make captures with white backcolor (thus avoid screen printing). Nice to see another french man;)

I don't want to be harsh... just want to understand 'howto' cause i'd like to make it work too... You say: "The radius is being read off" So the tool diameter too? Cause i'm OK that radius corner field is an 'option' with custom tool but diameter is not... With X3, 'diameter field' indicates driven point for calculations. It can be seen in tool parameters window picture (dash yellow line).

>All tool parameters are identical, everything Did you check custom tool's "corner radius tip" option button and entered same value of your bull mill? if not mcam assume a square mill... Anyway i tried 3D contour and Highspeed restmill toolpath and got exact nc output. (with X3).

> Its a different profile on the tool, which in turn will lead to a different "toolpath". It will change the toolpath to accomodate the different profile tool. If defining >the custom tool, it will know that the material will be left there and it will change the toolpath to clean it up. So no it won't be identical. It would be great but definitely no... at least with X3. Just tried to check it. Mastercam makes its calculations based on a bull mill by using textbox fields values "tool diameter" and "corner radius" to model a virtual bull mill. Custom profile is only used to display/verify.

I said 'toolpath' processed will be the same... not profile.

I'm using Nvidia which is newer. I have zero problem except with new highspeed toolpathes GUI. Sometimes windows are disappearing but I suppose it's Nview related (2 screens)... and this is with X3MU1 (which isn't officially supported with Win7-64bits)... stuck with that (and i'd so like new optitoolpathes =

Bullnose or custom tool will make an identical toolpath (if corner values are the same) but I draw a custom profile to verify properly.

Wow... it's pretty deceiving. Well I know now... why did CNC stopped so near from the end? who knows...

Oops, sorry 5-axis isn't supported with NC2DXF and won't be able to implement for now. Anyway you should try it and see what you get... You can also send me an extract of your NC code and i ll look into if it can be easily tweaked to give something useful.

But... do machine sim toolbar means Machsim chooks from ModuleWorks? I hoped we could do all into mastercam natively as all information needed is available.

If your NC program is ISO you can try this tool, just updated URL(first post) http://www.emastercam.com/board/index.php?showtopic=26071&hl=nc2dxf

Hi, Today i had some free time so I wondered if i could backplot spindle nose attached to tool/holder into mastercam. So i looked into Mcam help files and i read how to add cad model to spindle component in machine definition. But my question is : How to display this cad model with mastercam backplot function? Nothing happens... I read into help files that it was needed to manually load tools on spindle by clicking on this icon (see below) but on my seat Mastercam doesn't show this icon... I'm using Mcam X3MU1 (perhaps this feature wasn't still available with X3?) Any help?

I noticed this bug with X3MU1 (and don't know for newer releases). It looks like it happens with specific formats (.STL/.MCX) and with copy/paste entities from another file.

I'm using a Quadro4000 and it does the job If you need to improve verify, it can be useful to decrease tool tolerance cause it has a major impact. Anyway, as far as i know (from V9 to X3MU1) Mastercam verify is pretty slow with 5axis/ramping/helical toolpathes (perhaps it's been improved). Vericut handles these a lot faster...

I think NC verify is an entirely job and will still be left to other software companies. Vericut or NCsimul are great softwares and would need a lot of work and money to be compete. NC-backplotting is a different and cheaper stuff. Cimco is fast, smooth and has a great support for Heidenhain language. NC-Plot isn't that fast and smooth but is greater for ISO with its macro support.

Here's how we are dealing with multiple parts (and multi angle parts) on a horizontal machining center with pallet rotating around Y axis. - We set one and only G54 (or G55,...) at the beginning of program. This origin is attached to pallet rotating axis (X0. Z0.). - Each part uses a set of variables to describe its own origin relative to G54 origin - A macro is called to calc every origin offset (especially for whatever machining angle #640) % O00040131 (TOOL TABLE) N10 #506=04 ( DRILL 8.5 ) N20 #507=05 ( CUTTER 5 ) (WEAR COMPENSATION) N30 G0 G40 G80 G17 G49 N40 M912 N50 G30 G91 X0. Y0. Z0. (ORIGIN PART 1) N60 #621=89.02 (X OFFSET - PART/ROTATING AXIS) N70 #622=193.44 (Z OFFSET - PART/ROTATING AXIS) N80 #625=0. (Y OFFSET) N90 #626=0. (B OFFSET) (ORIGIN PART 2) N100 #623=-88.45 (X OFFSET - PART/ROTATING AXIS) N110 #624=193.44 (Z OFFSET - PART/ROTATING AXIS) N120 #627=0. (Y OFFSET) N130 #628=0. (B OFFSET) N140 G54 (SET UP TO ROTATING PALLET AXIS) ( OUTIL T506 / DRILLING 8.5 / H506 / D506 ) N150 T#506 T#507 M6 N160 G0 G90 S1498 M3 N170 #640=0. (B POSITION) (PART1) N180 M98 H580 N190 M98 H220 N200 G0 Z100. N210 GOTO 270 (MACHINING) N220 G0 X40. Y-65. N230 G43 Z20. M51 H#506 D#506 N240 G98 G73 Z-30. R-5.5 Q8.5 F150 N250 G80 Z50. N260 M99 (END MACHINING) (PART2) N270 G90 /N280 M98 H640 /N290 M98 H220 N300 G30 G91 Z0. M9 N310 G30 G91 X0. Y0. M5 N320 M1 ( OUTIL T507 / CONTOURING / H507 / D507 ) N330 T#507 T#506 M6 N340 G0 G90 S2122 M3 N350 #640=0. (B POSITION) (PART1) N360 M98 H580 N370 M98 H400 N380 G0 Z100. N390 GOTO 500 (MACHINING) N400 G0 X16.514 Y-123.144 N410 G43 Z20. M8 H#507 D#507 N420 Z-37.5 N430 G1 G41 X17.953 Y-123.567 F212 N440 G3 X17.978 Y-122.532 I-1.919 J0.563 N450 X-17.978 I-17.978 J-4.363 N460 X-17.954 Y-123.567 I1.944 J-0.472 N470 G1 G40 X-16.515 Y-123.144 N480 G0 Z50. N490 M99 (END MACHINING) (MACRO) N500 G90 /N510 M98 H640 /N520 M98 H400 N530 G30 G91 Z0. M9 N540 G30 G91 X0. Y0. M5 N550 M911 N560 M99 N570 GOTO 840 (PART1 ORIGIN TRANSFER TO VARIABLES) N580 #610=#621 ( X ) N590 #611=#622 ( Z ) N600 #618=#625 ( Y ) N610 #619=#626 ( B ) N620 M98 H700 (CALC MACRO CALL) N630 M99 (PART2 ORIGIN TRANSFER TO VARIABLES) N640 #610=#623 ( X ) N650 #611=#624 ( Z ) N660 #618=#627 ( Y ) N670 #619=#628 ( B ) N680 M98 H700 (CALC MACRO CALL) N690 M99 ( OFFSETS CALC MACRO ) N700 #641=#640 N710 #615=SQRT[#610*#610+#611*#611] ( RADIUS ) N720 IF[#615EQ0.]GOTO 790 N730 #616=ACOS[#611/#615] N740 IF[[[#610GT0.]AND[#611GT0.]]OR[[#610GT0.]AND[#611LT0.]]]GOTO 770 N750 #617=-#616 N760 GOTO 780 N770 #617=#616 N780 #642=#617+[-#641] N790 #612=#615*SIN[#642] N800 #613=#615*COS[#642] N810 G90 G52 X#612 Y#618 Z#613 B#619 (OFFSETTING ) N820 G0 B#640 N830 M99 N840 M30 %

Didn't know this check holder chook. Does it exist in X3? For verify/backplot old style operations, anyone can still use my tool