I get the feeling this machine might also have about 32 little pallets?

I just saw this video, and it made me think of all the MU1 complaints: (Substitute "Sony" with whatever name comes to mind). Warning- There's some foul language!

OK I see. I had actually already deleted that sm05 earlier, in order to get the spindle to M19 on the same line as the Z retract (so it's ready to change as soon as the spindle stops). We got that part of it ironed out by adding the M19 right after the G28 Z0. The problem now, is that it also stops the spindle on the retract moves for B axis positioning. So when I'm running the same drill at B90, B0, and B270, it starts and stops from 18,000rpm 3 times! Is there a way to make it call the pretract block prior to an actual tool change, and have it call a different pretract block that doesn't stop the spindle on all other retracts?

Colin and Jim, I'm a little bit unclear as to what specific items I should change in Jim's example? Should I just remove my pretract and pstop blocks, and replace them with the blocks Jim's example?

Bugs are all relative. Anybody complaining about bugs in Mastercam should spend a few days working with PC-DMIS. When you sit back down in front of X3, you'll thank your lucky starts to only see a few crashes per day!

Jimmy: I tried putting the # sign directly in front of the "pstop" only, but it still skipped the entire retract. Colin: I've pasted the pstop block below for your viewing pleasure. See anything interesting? code: pstop # Stop routine pretract toolchng = one pcom_moveb if mi10$=one, n$, *sm00, e$ sav_absinc = absinc$ if wcstype > one, absinc$ = zero comment$ pindex if lock_codes = 1 & not(index) & rot_on_x, pbld, n$, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e$ pcan1, pbld, n$, *sgcode, *sgabsinc, [if not(index), pwcs], pfxout, pfyout, pfcout, *speed, *spindle, pgear, strcantext, e$ if lock_codes = 1 & not(index) & rot_on_x & cuttype = 0, pbld, n$, *slock, "(LOCK)", e$ pbld, n$, "G43", *tlngno$, pfzout, scoolant, e$ sav_coolant = coolant$ if coolant$ = 1, sm09 = sm09_0 if coolant$ = 2, sm09 = sm09_1 if coolant$ = 3, sm09 = sm09_2 absinc$ = sav_absinc toolchng = zero Thanks!

Colin, I tried putting the # sign in front of the line, but now there's no retract at all between B moves. Any other ideas?

Hey Colin, I managed to get the G90 to come up after the retract with your instructions, and here's the requested post block: (I actually pasted a lot more than just that single block, in case you needed anything else. Hopefully it's not too cluttered.) code: ptlchg0$ #Call from NCI null tool change (tool number repeats) pcuttype pcom_moveb toolcount = toolcount + 1 prvtp = rbuf(3,toolcountp) if toolcountn <= tooltotal, nexttool = rbuf(4,toolcountn) else, nexttool = first_tool$ if (mi10$=one & (op_id$ <> last_op_id | (op_id$ = last_op_id & xform_op_id$ <> op_id$))) | (tlplnno$ <> prvtp & ret_on_indx), pstop c_mmlt$ #Multiple tool subprogram call comment$ pmisccheck pcan if plane$ < 0, plane$ = 0 pbld, n$, sgplane, e$ pspindchng if coolant$ <> 0 & coolant$ <> sav_coolant & sav_coolant, pbld, n$, sm09, e$ pbld, n$, scoolant, e$ sav_coolant = coolant$ if coolant$ = 1, sm09 = sm09_0 if coolant$ = 2, sm09 = sm09_1 if coolant$ = 3, sm09 = sm09_2 if op_id$<>last_op_id, pstock if sav_mi9 = 1, workofs$ = sav_workofs if (wcstype > one & workofs$ <> prv_workofs$) | (tlplnno$ <> prvtp), [ pindex sav_absinc = absinc$ absinc$ = zero if fmtrnd(prv_cabs) <> fmtrnd(cabs), [ if lock_codes = 1 & not(index) & rot_on_x, pbld, n$, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e$ pbld, n$, sgabsinc, [if not(index), pwcs], pfxout, pfyout, pfzout, pfcout, e$ if lock_codes = 1 & not(index) & rot_on_x & cuttype = 0, pbld, n$, *slock, "(LOCK)", e$ ] else, [ pbld, n$, sgabsinc, [if not(index), pwcs], pfxout, pfyout, pfzout, pcout, e$ ] pe_inc_calc ps_inc_calc absinc$ = sav_absinc ] if lock_codes = 1 & cuttype <> last_cuttype & cuttype > 0, pbld, n$, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e$ if cuttype = zero, ppos_cax_lin if lock_codes = 1 & cuttype <> last_cuttype & cuttype = 0 & fmtrnd(prv_cabs) = fmtrnd(cabs), pbld, n$, *slock, "(LOCK)", e$ if gcode$ = one, plinout else, prapidout pcom_movea c_msng$ #Single tool subprogram call last_op_id = op_id$ last_cuttype = cuttype ptlchg$ #Tool change pcuttype toolchng = one toolcount = toolcount + 1 if toolcountn <= tooltotal, nexttool = rbuf(4,toolcountn) else, nexttool = first_tool$ if wcstype = one, #Work coordinate system [ pfbld, n$, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", e$ pfbld, n$, "G92", *xh$, *yh$, *zh$, e$ ] pbld, n$, *sm01, e$ if mi10$=one, n$, *sm00, e$ ptlchg_com pretract #End of tool path, toolchange sav_absinc = absinc$ absinc$ = one sav_coolant = coolant$ coolant$ = zero #cc_pos is reset in the toolchange here cc_pos$ = zero gcode$ = zero pbld, n$, sccomp, psub_end_mny, e$ pbld, n$, sgabsinc, sgcode, "G28", "Z0.", "M19", scoolant, e$ pbld, n$, "G90", e$ #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x, pbld, n, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e #pbld, n, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", protretinc, e #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x & cuttype = 0, pbld, n, *slock, "(LOCK)", e if abs(fmtrnd(cabs)) > 360 & nextop$ <> 1003, [ if lock_codes = 1, pbld, n$, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e$ rotretflg = 1 pbld, n$, 'G28', protretinc, e$ rotretflg = 0 if lock_codes = 1 & cuttype = 0, pbld, n$, *slock, "(LOCK)", e$ ] absinc$ = sav_absinc coolant$ = sav_coolant protretinc #Reset the C axis revolution counter if frc_cinit & rot_on_x, [ rev = zero sav_rev = zero cabs = zero csav = zero indx_out = zero if index, e$, pindxcalc, pindex else, *cabs prvcabs = zero !csav, !cabs ] Thanks again for the help!

AWESOME! I got the next tool call directly after the tool change, got the M19 on the retract, got rid of the M05 before the retract, and got the B axis calling out 3 trailing zeros! Since that was all so easy, let me throw two more at you guys..... #4- When retracting between B axis moves, the spindle stops. I like having it re-call the work offsets, spindle speed, spindle start, and H offset after each B axis move, but I'd like to keep the spindle turning, unless it's going to tool change. #5- On the line immediately after the G91G28Z0.M19, I'd like to have a G90. This isn't terribly important, but it would be nice.

Thanks John, that's actually one part of it I was able to find on my own.....but it's still stopping the spindle before the retract. So now I get the M05, then the retract with the M19. Any easy way to remove the spindle stop that still remains before the retract?

Fantastic! I set up the fs2 24, and then I had to change the "fmt A 4 indx_out" to "fmt B 24 indx_out" Worked awesome! I never would have figured that out on my own in a million years. My post editing ambitions have been re-invigorated. Any ideas on how to handle my second and third tweaks?

Throughout the years, my brief bursts of "post editing motivation" have brought my MPMaster post very close to where I'd like it to be. The code is 95% perfect, but there are a few small items I still need to perfect...(and have no idea how to do so). I'm feeling a surge of motivation coming on, but before I waste it all with hours of post "tinkering", I figured I'd just ask the question here and avoid the frustration . I spent several hours looking through the archives, but couldn't seem to find anything regarding my three specific items. I imagine these are pretty simple for some of the post gurus here: #1- I need the B axis moves to post with no decimal place, and three trailing zeros. Instead of "B90.", I need B90000. Instead of "B270.", I need "B270000" etc. Any ideas? #2- I need to output an M19 on the same line as the "G91G28Z0." at the end of a tool. I figured out that I can do this just by adding the M19 into the Z retract before toolchange.....but then I still have a spindle stop command beforethe retract! So, that wasn't the best idea. #3-I'd like to move the next tool call to the line immediately after the tool change. Right now, It spits T105M06, then it calls the next tool on the same line with the G43. I'd like it to spit it out like this: T105M06 T59 I'm using X3, with the same mpmaster that I ported in from V9 years ago. The machine is a Mazak HCN5000 with a Matrix control an .001º indexing table. All help is greatly appreciated!