I get this every now and again on my space pilot pro, but it's when I have X6 open and fire up my Catia Dmu. Sometimes they don't play well together. I have to re-click on 3d mouse home button then usually restart mastercam to get things back to normal. No biggie, I wouldn't sweat the error to much, might be a conflict of multiple programs is all.

this may help http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57395595-285/migrating-to-ssd-get-yourself-a-new-computer-without-getting-one/

I have been running latest version for X6 for a while now and zero issues. For testing I setup my X7 setup today and it also works. You have the latest version of validate installed? should be Validate64.11.3. To make sure you get a screen shot for your report need to make sure you have these folders in this location Documents\my mcamx7\data\reports\screenshots - do the same for X6 and that will get your snap shot. Running windows 7 64bit here. Really been no issues with the validate here and the support has been great when I do have a question.

Running Verisurf 6.1 here with model validate version Validate64.11.3.1.39727. Verisurf is running their validate using the kubotek kernel. Pretty cool and easy to use. Gives you a graphical overlay of the points created between the mastercam and catia file. I can adjust the tolerance and distance for how often I want a point made. We had to get something per one of our customers since we use mastercam 100% for everything instead of catia. It makes a nice report simple to read. Were very happy here with the Verisurf product.

glad I asked before going for it. Thankyou

Pretty slick video Since I'm running verisurf X6 11-12-12 SP1 for my model Validate this won't hurt me installing the beta free tools will it? thankyou

easiest way is just go to settting, config, then down below select english.config file. It should prompt you if you want to convert everything to english then say yes. You can always use the scale function also.

That is a slick approach jbreth - i like that. - thankyou -- I'm going to see if I can get same result in aircraft cordinates. I seen every thing in sample was brought into local cordinates.

Tyler , thankyou - That is some good parameter and rules info to go by for sure. I will be saving those to my one of my tech docs for future reference for sure. They just sent me a new revision of the part and a pocket did change and some other areas, so maybe I can try those settings out soon as they say this is the new released data. I am guilty of taking those most over looked settings not serious - think I just left them at default values. I did take some of the mastercam samples and export them then try to use the same settings to drive in my file with no luck when I was doing my early tests. They did get the brain going to finally get someting to drive after changing multiple setting and geomtry. I would have to say these are some picky toolpaths when it comes to settings for sure. Is a .001 chaining tolerance out of the question on this or should I make it tighter? I have always just used .001 in the past.

I totally agree and did actually take the time to model in new surfaces, new corner radius surfaces that are .005-.010 bigger, projected nice clean chains that sync with no problems, even created my own vector lines and tried those methods. I sunk way more time in then I was planning on actually when starting this operation on the part. That made me go for the advance paths hoping for some kind of standard or easy way to approach twisted surfaces like I had. The parallel to multiple curves is probally the best and easiest bet for most situations like this from what I have gathered. Now one pocket it just wouldn't work and I went for morph between curves. Now Jrygus posted a file that used parallel to surfaces " thankyou for that file by the way Jrygus", that has some real potential of working also. I used morph between two surfaces too kinda get same thing, but used it more to sew floors to walls. I think me wanting a standard approach every time in 5x was a dream that I need to forget lol. Just need to open up more to the huge selection of setting, especially controling the tool axis in the advanced toolpaths and work on the collision control settings. I really never gave these paths a good chance to now, and honestly kinda kicking myself in the rear for not experimenting sooner. Never any fun when you on a project and have to start the experimenting process.

No biggie, I figured the attached auto diff pic and the fact I was I just said I was curious to see what could be produced out of the forum pretty much setup the situation. I wasn't looking for someone to do my job for me. Sorry if my post didn't come out clear. From what i'm gathering not many have replied because there is no easy solution that can be done quick. We all are busy and got things going on, I understand and respect that. Some have said it will be a good file to save and test future softwares and or releases on. Nobody else has said it was straight forward 5x pockets and I figure if they were we would see some cam files like I have seen on some recent rotary topics pop up pretty quick. Wish you lived closer, I would definately hire ya for some lessons. I posted a pic of all the operations I used to get things done earlier. Take care

Good to hear from you big daddy - I haven't tried any of the toolpaths with controling the tool axis with a point yet, I will have to give that a try. I got one more pocket to get the floor and wall to sew together then hopefully can move past this nitemare. I had to treat each pocket differently with different styles of path. Hopefully the port style side will not give me as much trouble. hope all is going well, have to tell Tim and Charles I say hello also.

forgot to hit attach button - ops should show now

thankyou guys for the replies. I have actually looked at the samples you have suggested last week and used some of the paths to get my results. Nothing is very pretty so far. Lots of settings on the advanced paths but i'm digging all the options. Some of them settings remind me of when I was programming 5 axis in catia. I like them both. I attached a pic of some of the operations I used to tackle this thing. I did also resort back to all the samples that came with x2 and the x2 multiaxis .pdf that comes in the documentation folder. I literally have tapped into every resource I know and can think of. I will get thru this for sure, being pretty is pretty much out of the question now --- I just toolpath away and vericut heavy to make sure I don't do anyhting to crazy. I wish I could show more of the part, there is another end I will have to use some of the porting toolpaths more then likely. I'm going to have to get better at the advanced paths for sure and know what all the settings can do, there is just so many choices and if you have one wrong or change it i'm seeing it bomb out my whole path. Even the collision settings I have to try multiple choices to get things to go. Quite a part to get my hands dirty in X6 for the fist time. Only true crashing of the software I been getting is when I tried to re create one of the wall surfaces, other then that things have been solid. thanks again JD

Well I would like to think that if these pockets are so straight forward my dealer and mastercam themselves would of sent me good solution so far. Were many days into this - I have been doing other projects waiting on an easy solution and no luck. Now it's just time to get the job done. I can actually drive a .500 tool and do these, just not very easy. The pretty screen shot I attached wiht the posted topic is all done with .500 dia tools. Should actually try driving one of these before saying it's so easy - Even with a .250 dia tool mastercam has issues driving this by the way. By old school I mean basic swarf and curve using chains. Syncing and not. By new, any of the advanced toolpath modules. I am a long time user "V5-to now" and been doing 5 axis a very long time and this is the 1st time I have ever reached out for help on this matter. I sure appreciate the reply from such a 5 axis guru such as your self and sorry if it cost you any money.

Hi all, Been a while since I have posted on here, hope everyone is doing well. My latest project is giving me some issues --- I attached a .MCX-6 file with a couple 5x pockets I'm dealing with. The older style toolpaths I usually use aren't getting me good results so I have had to stray into the advanced toolpaths. I'm still not really getting gouge free work out of them. I was wondering if some of the 5x gurus could throw down some example toolpaths on how they would approach this pocket situation. Really trying to use a .50 bullmill .125 cr to finish walls most of the way down - .50 ball is cool for finishing floors and sewing floor to wall together in one pocket. Other pocker has a .125 fillet so little different animal. I used a .75 bullmill .125 cr to rough pockets and parts. I can't post more geomtry, because ITAR and all the rules don't allow. Zero mismatch allowance and +/-.005 on wall thickness to add to fun. I will be cutting this part on a HEAD/HEAD 5x config - +/-25 deg - st A/B setup ifthat matters. If your wanitng to check and see if toolpath is not gouging just write .stl of pocket and do compare. That should give pretty good result. I attached a pic of one of my pocket results. I have reached out to my dealer and they have reached out to mastercam on this. So far no one has a really easy or consistant solution to getting good pockets on this. I'm real curious to see what can be created out of the forum on this. This part made me swtich to X6 because some of the Advanced toolpaths were messed with between releases. So far I haven't got X5 to give me one good toolpath yet, X6 has been the best. With this being said I have converted over to X6 completely and not looking back. Dealing with posts issues as the pop up. thankyou JD 5X_POCKETS.MCX-6

I had trouble with the new release of driver for this card. I've had best luck with driver date: 4/22/09 - version 6.14.11.8265 - OEM Ver : 169.96 ISV XP64 - Running X4, X5, vericut, and catia no problems.

I really like the new look =) - great job to everyone that worked on it.

+1 to that too. Sometimes I like using xform stl to get a good over lay also.

I have always brought my model into local space before working them in mastercam, especially the more complex ones. For 5x stuff I was told by our reseller in 02 to always bring the model out of aircraft cordinates. I've seen it both ways, and both ways work. I just had alot less troubles with my stuff then the guys that did leave there stuff in aircraft cordinates.

I really enjoyed the classes there bogusmill, that's where i took all 5 of mine at.

Gotcha, perfectly understandable. I took 5 classes outside of work in 08 and 09 before taking the jump seriously. Once you take the plunge, it's really not bad. I have programmed for 5 different machines now and done a pretty trick 5x part in catia with no problems at all. Honestly quite impressed with several things in V5, especially the the computation time on 5x toolpaths and roughing. Sure there are a few things easier in mastercam, but i'm able to use some of my work arounds I used in mastercam in catia and seems to workout just fine. We have to provide full blue prints with a complete BOM for every piece of tooling we design for our parts so the drafting is also another perk.

Just curious to how your transition went Maestro? I too started using V5 at the same time at my new place of work.

TOP/TOP here since 2002, never had a lick of trouble on the multi ax stuff since converting from TOP/FRONT. The horizontal I was programming at the time had a C - axis mounted on top of B and we were doing alot of 5x cuts with it. Thoe post builder at the time I was working with told me programming from the front view kills the multi axes stuff and will not work right. I didn't question and changed my ways.

yes it will - very cool part alanu23