Here are some proven numbers for production: Roughed at 80 s.f. with .0031” chipload using an .625” dia., 5 flute, .06 bull, .875 loc stubbed in a stub holder. Depth of cut was .450” with a .200” step over.

Keep an eye on this thread, I have someone looking in to it, if I hear anything more I will let you know.

Dang it!!! Thanks Mr. Gilchrist, how's things? When are we going for burgers?

Do you have VoluMill? If not, it may be a good time to speak with your reseller. We have been experimenting with "Highspeed" toolpaths but are still running in to cutter life issues. We have been up to 200 SFM in inconel with smaller cutters, 5/8" and lower. But if you haven't experimented with it I would advise to sticking with what you know without a rep supporting you. On the programming side, make sure your entry and exits are not banging the cutter on corners (if you've watch volumill online you can see how it removes the corners of material). This is huge for tool life you will want to draw these in most likely.

Is there a way to have a solids faces highlight a solid color the way surfaces do? This is driving me crazy when assigning tool path. If there's a link I'll gladly read it, I apologize for not searching this one first.

Thanks Josh. Do you use the fanning tolerance in the chaining parameter page?

The feed rate output is IPM on the 5 axis machine I use. I was curious if anyon used the fanning feed rate for 4/5 axis cuts? If so how? Are you dropping or lowering the feed rate? i.e. F250.0 / Fanning F125.0?

Thanks for the link.

Has anyone compared this out put to VoluMill?

2 cents: This is a great thread. Keep up the input/comments, I'm learning a lot! Thanks

Mark. This is becoming a big gripe with our programming staff. I have been trying to narrow things down but have not resolved the problem. It is related to using older, updated files, i.e. X2 to X3 etc. But we have had it happen with a brand new X3 file, the only thing related to an older version of MasterCAM was the machine definition and tool library. This leads me to believe it has something to do with the Machine Definition and when/how it was imported to X3. I was able to eliminate the error messages we were getting when openning the file. When we upgraded to X3 we did not bring over "MILL DEFAULT.MMD", "MILL.SET" and "ALL COMPONENTS.GMD". All of these files were set up as default paths in our configurations. (I hate typing this much... blah blah blah.). Anyhhow's these files are there now, we no longer get the error message but still get the "magic trick" of toolpath groups disapearing. We are saving our files if you would like to take a look at them. I am going to create new Machine Defintions and assign it our converted post to see if this solves the problem... (I hope!).

Thank you for the quick response Todd.

I've done some searching, it's amazing what comes up when you type in "Upgrading Chooks"! I'm looking for a thread that has instructions on updating some Chooks from X2 to X3. Any help would be grand. Side note, I am trying to get my moldplus and catread add on's functioning.

Are you guys using those? I'm curious how rigid they are? I know a few guys that are turning down our weldon holders to get a more "rigid" cut (so they say). Would you put these up against a good old fashioned end mill holder?

Slick's standard discaimer: Time is tight these days, I did a brief search and couldn't find anything on this. But I apologize in advance if this is old news. Also, if you can already do this, please let me know. I am lobbying for a co-worker who has made, what I think, is a great suggestion. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have a different color assigned to the "Flute Length Field" than the rest of the cutter for Backplot and Verify? In the immortal words of J. Belushi, "WHO'S WITH ME!?!?!?"

"Verisurf" is not showing up on the list to remove. Does it have a different name? OR is there a .dll that can be deleted? (Sorry about the required detailed explanation. Add on's are not one of my specialties. I am trying to help out a co-worker)

Coud someone explain how to "Uninstall"?

I agree with you on the G49 James. The shop I'm at now had a standard Safety line at the beginning of every tool call out: "G0 G17 G40 G80 G90" I am changing the post's this week to: "G0 G17 G40 G80 G90" I'm thinking this way is better just because it's more visible before the "G43" call out. I will try the G5.1 P1 on my next part. In this part I am doing some live 4th axis cuts. Would this be the case where a G5.1 P1000/10000 would be applicable?

Okay, so Ithink I have enough to start. I'll be messing with it tomorrow morning to see what works. I wish I would have had the G49 tip two days ago James! That was fifteen minutes of troubleshooting I could have done with out. The one note my manual doesn't mention! So I haven't searched this next one, but since I am doing R&D this weekend: How about the G10.3/G11.3 High Speed setting? This one looks a bit more complex...

So you output the G5P1000 one time at the top of the file? Is G5P0 the cancel feature? I have the manuals for the 15m right next to me, just not a lot of reading time at the moment. Are you running a 15m control Rick? Thanks James!

I have read up a little on the "G05.1" command for the older style Fanuc control. The newer 16i was a lot easier to comprehend. I was hoping somebody out there could give me a run down in english (control manual reference). From what I can gather, and correct me if I am wrong, the output shoud be "G5.1" followed by a "P" value. Here are some things I am confused about: Is the "P" value supposed to be a range from 1-10000? i.e "G5.1 P1000" or is it similar to the 16i where it needs to be preceded by a G990 setting and the "G5.1" is just activating it? If the value is supposed to be a value, 1-10000, what do you suggest running? I am happy with the "Semi-finish" setting of the 16i. G code placement. How should an output string look? G0 G90 X_ Y_ M3_ G5.1 _? G43 _ G1 Z F_? Any and everything you coud explain on this would be great. I have sipped the code in to my code and experimented, but would like to understand what I am actually doing.

"Zero" or "plane"? Are you saying that the Right Side C/Tplane is your B0? The vmc switch is only used to toggle between a horizontal machine type (Front plane is rotary "B" zero and you rotate about the front plane's Y axis, Right plane is B90, Back is B180, Left is B270) and a vertical machine with Top at A 0 and rotation about the X axis of the Top plane. What is it you need to accomplish Lars?

I'm assuming you are using zig-zag. Go into the gap settings, change it from a percentage of tool diameter to a physical value (change radio button setting) and set the value to a large number like 2 or 3 inches. In addition, change the method (drop down menu) to "follow surfaces". That should keep it from retracting.

So glad to read this thread. There are three user's where I am at having the same problem. Here are a couple of things I have noticed that helped keep this crash at bay: 1. Keep all windows (other programs/sessions) that you are running minimized, and better still if you can run MasterCAM and nothing else. 2. Take your time clicking your mouse. Speed kills (which is kind of a bummer!).

Sure $40 per is what you would pay a "top level" programmer, but how much would you be willing to pay a "serious" programmer?