And that is also something I need to do but forgot to mention. Is that a feature in later revisions or are we stuck making 2 ops?

I must have my settings slightly off because I have used multi in the past and just never got what I wanted. I assume I can get it to where I helix down around a profile leaving .010, then step in and run a full depth finish and still lead out as desired with the lead settings?

Typically use Contour rough/finish for simple profile operations. It would be much easier if I could program to leave say .010 stock during the roughing, keep the tool down, then step over and run the full depth finish pass while there. I am using X2MR2. Not sure if this revision can do it or if we need to upgrade to consider this. Thanks

We are having another shop do some router parts for us. Basic part is a 1x2" rectangle and stock thickness is .060". The other shop does not want to get creative with nesting but the sheet price for this plastic is high so we want a good yield from the sheet. We rarely ever use the router features of MCX. We are running X2MR2. I was specifically wanting to take a look at mirroring to butt the tabs against each other and hopefully get some cutter path overlap. I am unable to access the mirror functions and cannot find much info in the manuals about it. Where would you guys start? Basically this part on a 4x6' sheet is yielding 930 parts or so with .100" margins and path spacing. I really need to get more than 1000 parts from a sheet. Thoughts?

That got it. Thanks. Really wish that was a more accessible option.

I have an operation where there are 70 chains where the cutter retracts .050 off the part before diving into the next chain. After all the chains, there is a transform path to duplicate these chains in another position. I only need to retract the Z going from one position to another. When I add "clearance" it brings the Z out at every chain. There is a toggle to "only use at the beginning and end of op". That is checked but still proceeds to pull the Z up every time. How can I pull the Z up only at the end of the operation? This is in X2MR2 Thanks!

This will just be geom and I will create the paths once imported. How would you go about getting the placement correct and or adjusting that once imported? Will this just be dependent on aligning the world coord of the CAD system and MC?

I am messing with an old program where I want to add new geometry into the existing file to simplify life. I need the import to either land in the proper position OR discover the means to adjust the geom location relative to the rest of the programmed path origins. Probably super simple but thought I would ask before attempting to save hair loss.

ON another subject, maybe you could help me determine why I cannot change my feedrates for multiple chains in an operation. I typically would use the "change at point". I alter the feed rate for one chain, and it does not post out with it bur rather the one that is programmed in the tool settings for the op. It gets frustrating having the remember that every time I post... Drill depth changes work great. Been doing it for a while. Not sure what I am missing on the feed side of things.

You got it! Missing ops cause crashes. Just glad I caught it and knew what it was supposed to do. The ops in question were not imported and did post out fine last week. I would really like to learn what caused the issue and how else to access the NC file name for each op. I did notice it was trying to post the NCI file for some reason and I had to turn that off. Maybe unrelated though. You know, trying to learn something so that inevitable crash never happens....

you nailed it on the head! Can you explain that a little bit to me as to how that might get screwed up? I did not have an NC name so I named it and output it. That picked up the other 2 ops. Just want to see what I missed here.

In further testing, it seems there are 2 ops that just do not post out. I thought they were getting mixed up. if I select either of the ops by themselves, they will post, if they are in a group, they are ignored. Is this a settings issue or are the ops corrupt?

Also, when I try testing by selecting only 3 operations, it will only post 1 and will not ask about posting all of them. I have already rebooted everything to try and solve the issue. This is in X2MR2

Never seen this... ops are in a certain order in the mcx file. Post them out and they are all mixed up. It seems to use the tools in the right order but for instance I have 10 ops with T7. It gets T7, then just does what ever it wants. Totally mixed up from what I have organized in the tree. Post is proved out. No issues. Verify and backplot show things correctly but when posting out, it gets all screwed up. ideas?

I did some playing outside my comfort zone for new paths. It just really seems that MC needs to be able to recognize my stock dims and create paths based on that. Rapid over to the next cut when it is cutting air, etc. I have not found a path yet that I like in X2. Does X4 have better solutions for this? Am I missing a chapter in path creation? I do not do HSM machining much or surfacing. Just looking for some smarter roughing paths.

I checked the NCI file and feeds do not change. Has to be a settings issue. Just not sure what yet.

ON Q2, I checked that the filter was not on. The Infinite lookahead was and turned it off but no change in code. Still posting to same feedrate.

Colin, the reason for programming heavier DOCs is this machine is limited in rpm and feed. Anything much over 100ipm and it will overshoot for sure. If I combine light cuts with slow xxxx machining, it will take forever. I am open for suggestions. In some stuff, I am actually at 60% engagement and not able to feed much. Only .002 per tooth with a 3/4 tool. This is Al. My axial DOC is .500. I tried .600 and the machine could not do it. I am certainly open to ideas. Possibly reducing my WOC, increasing my DOC and feed might prove a better solution. Also, I have never tried the trim toolpaths, is this specifically designed for such work?

Q1, For simplicity, lets consider a round part out of a square billet. If you program multi passes around the profile of the part, you will end up cutting a lot of air. In stead, I usually end up creating extra geometry to trim the excess material off. However, the machine tool is very sensitive to radial tool engagement. I would like to, for example, maintain a 45% engagement while reducing how much air gets cut. Is there a good solution for this? I am running X2MR2. Q2, Example, I create 4 chains but one of them needs a slightly reduced feedrate so I right click the chain in the geometry tab and select "adjust at point" and adjust the feed. However, when it posts out, the feedrate has not been altered. Am I missing a page here?

Thanks again for taking time out to look at that. I feel like a complete idiot but I have been doing so much lathe stuff lately that I totally forgot. I need to slap my self now. Thanks again.

Just curious if you got my email?

In Route! Thanks so much. Still not thinking this is a post issue but someone else may have got into it...

Which email would I be sending to?

I did actually test subs and it is no longer starting with the offset I enter. Ie, if I enter 110, and set my subs output to 3, it will output paths on 110, 111, and 112. As of now, it it totally ignoring my planes settings and starting with G54 every time.

Am I on something today then? If a post is setup for subs, it will not output normally without modding the post?