Scott, Just out of curiousity, what was your reasoning behind wanting to change formats? Thad

quote: Hi thad Can we use E1 home or G54 home in formate one? Can we use differant "D" values from the'h" values in formate one? Scott, E1 and G54 are interchangeable. (E2=G55, E3=G56,...G59 etc.) Beyond G59, you must use the E word. IIRC, you can use different H and D values, but there is a catch. I think if you call up the H and D on the same line, which is the default if you use the "Functions" to do tool calls when manually programming, it will automatically call up the H of whatever D value is given. (Or maybe it's the other way around.) So you couldn't have different H and D values. This is a "safety feature" to make sure that you don't "accidently" pick up the wrong tool height and crash. But, I believe you can pick up the H on one line, then pick up a different D on your comp move and not have any problems. I think you also have 99 tool offsets to work with, so maybe that would help you out. If you use the "Functions" to do manual programming (similar to Haas Quickcode, but much better), it will automatically pick up the H and D on the same line. If your program doesn't use comp, the control doesn't do anything with the D value, although it reads it. Just a little side note on Format 1. We run our 4 Fadals in format 1 and (although I've never used format 2) that's the way I like it. You live in Chatsworth and own Fadals??? You're in the Promised Land. I forgot to mention...we rarely use E1 or G54. We pick up the edge and type SETX or SETY (but NEVER SETZ!!!). No dicking around with fixture offsets. Thad [ 04-09-2003, 08:37 PM: Message edited by: thad ]

quote: format2 seems to be a little easier for alot of fixture offsets. In format2 you are allowed 48. Also, some of the fixed cycles may be a little different. Fixture offsets are no more difficult in format 1 than format 2. Format 1 allows the use of 48 fixture offsets as well. Thad

BerTau, Glad to see you back. I hope you like your new home. I've visited Chigago a couple times and enjoyed it each time. Thad

KSN82, I also had a problem with a transform/mirrored toolpath. I could get it to reverse the direction (still climb cut), but it wanted to start at the finish depth and work its way back up. Here is the link for my thread. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Thad [ 03-28-2003, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: thad ]

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I've sent the file to my reseller and he determined it is a bug in the software. He even tried it on the newest version that they had running there (9.1?) and it still didn't work. He has sent it to CNC Software for further evaluation. Until then, the workaround they instructed me to use was to check the option in the upper right corner of the transform page that said something like "create new geometry." I still have to check "reverse toolpath" or the path conventional cuts. This works fine. I just delete the newly created geometry when I'm done posting...just to rid the clutter. Trev, thanks for the reply. I'm not familiar with the "one way motion" option that you've mentioned. I'm just learning 3D machining so there's a lot that I haven't seen yet. I'll take a look at that on Monday. Thad [ 03-15-2003, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: thad ]

We have some left and right hand details. After programming the shown detail, I used the Transform/Mirror option. I selected to Reverse Toolpath so I would still climb cut. The problem is, it starts at the bottom and "cuts" its way back up to the start height. I'm not sure what setting I have jazzed up. I played with the "View #" box (according to the description it sounded like it might fix it) but it didn't change anything. The only way I got it to work was to go back into the Rough Pocket parameters, change to "bottom to top" in the gap settings, regen, and then Transform/Mirror. I would then delete the "dummy toolpath" (with bottom to top setting) and post the mirrored path only. I put the file on the FTP in the MC9 files folder, called MIRRORDET63.MC9. It's a surface rough pocket toolpath. Can anyone tell me the correct settings to properly mirror the toolpath? Thanks. Thad

quote: Sub is way to go...but Im almost certain that Fadal has drill cycle that allows for first peck to be different than remainder. In a G83, you can also define I (initial peck), J (reducing value), and K (minimum peck.) This is not the most efficient way to do it because you still have to "drill" through 3 inches of air for each hole, but at least you're not peck drilling for those 3 inches. This method gets you drilling material in less time and also clears the part with each peck. I believe it would take a post modification to do this. If it's a rare occasion, I'd just edit the .NC file and run it. Have you considered just using a G73? It's *only* a 1/2 inch deeper. Just a thought... Thad

quote: Now isnt this what I said being a ruled path then Thad brought up the 2d swept. Jay, Are you saying that a ruled toolpath and 2D swept are the same thing? Sorry, I wasn't familiar with your terminology. Thad

I grew up in the small town of Auburn, between Bay City and Midland. I've lived in Westland since 1994. Thad

Thanks Rick. Excellent points. I've changed my way of thinking. Thad

Marty, You've got Mill level 1 and this is possible in a few ways. I started playing with this not long before I left. Try doing a 2D swept toolpath. The Help has some good info on that although it may be a little tricky for you to draw. It may be easier to use a 2D contour with tapered walls, like Terry said. Make your lead in and out 90 degree moves with no arcs so it will cut it's way into and out of the part. If the lead in goes the entire length of the detail, then ignore the last sentence. With a 2D contour, you could use the 1.5 Dyna instead of a ballnose. Thad

Snipped: quote: you will have to regen the tool path in the operations manager. This always seemed weird to me. I would think that if you changed the geometry and the toolpath is associated to the geometry, then the toolpath would update *without* regenerating it. If the toolpath is associative, you have to regen it. If the toolpath is NOT associative, you still have to regen it. If you have to regen it anyway, what is the great value of it being associative? Just the fact that if you move geometry, you don't have to reselect the chains again? There are a few things in life that just don't seem to stand up to their definition based on my way of thinking (emphasis on MY). This just happens to be one of them. Thad

quote: Is there some way to setup drafting globals so that when I am attaching baseline dims, the dimensions have the same attributes as the first dimension (base dim)? Exactly what attributes do you wish to share? quote: Along those same lines, why can't I drag a baseline dim the same way that I can drag any other dim that I snap--It's kind of a pain in the A__ to have to go back and re-align dims in a baseline so they fit the way I want. I was just playing with that today. I also struggled getting dimensions where I wanted them. Particularly, I wanted to move a few of the dimensions to the other side of the part. I could only get one to move. I could move whichever one I wanted, but only *one* of them. Thad

I understand it's been temporarily held back due to a problem with Lathe. Thad

quote: don't knock it unless youve tried it is what mamma used to say I have tried, and failed (miserably), to tap hardened 4140 (48-50 Rc IIRC) with a 3/8 carbide tap with no special coatings. That's why your claims caught my interest. Thad

Did you tap these holes by hand, in the machine, with rigid tapping or tapping head? If in a machine, what kind of RPM? Did you peck it or go to depth in one shot? Did you drill them hard too? I'll have to admit that I'm also a bit skeptical on this. Like the saying goes..."Don't believe everything you read." Thad [ 03-08-2003, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: thad ]

Sounds like RAM to me. Thad

I'm not trying to start a $hitstorm here, but what's the big deal with machining A2? Sure...it's not 1018, but it's not *that* bad. We don't use any special cutters or inserts either. I work in a die shop and we cut A2 on a daily basis. I'm not trying to sound like Superman here, I just don't think it's as tough as the majority have made it sound. Just my opinion... Thad

What fixes were done in the 2nd edition? I didn't notice any changes. All works well except for the scroll feature is now "disabled" in other MC applications. Thad

Thanks Bullines. Thad

I'm confused. The "recommended hardware" page says to avoid video cards with poor OpenGL implementation (i.e. ATI cards), yet when people ask questions about video issues, a common reply is to disable OpenGL. This doesn't make sense to me. If OpenGL is desireable, why would we want to disable it? Thad

quote: Thanks for the great cam software, and thanks for all the tech support from the makers and users. Here here! Thad [ 02-27-2003, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: thad ]

Lucky 7, Keeping your mouse out of the grapics display window greatly speeds up many tasks. Just a suggestion... Thad