If you are dealing with a ton of "patched" surfaces you should really consider trying to make larger, possibly even one surface. Loft is a good one, or coons. I know on version X there is a new create surface finction like Coons, but not Coons. What could be happenning is the high quantity of surfaces aren't "trimmed" perfectly, so the cutter wants to roll in the gaps/imperfections. But it also sounds like Murlin's got things figured out, good call on the tolerance

Are the surfaces/faces a converted entity? i.e. Brought in from IGES or Catia? If so, I have notice that MasterCAM tends to react better to surfaces generated in MasterCAM, you may need to re-create these surfaces in MasterCAM. Also, believe it or not, I have seen the Check Surface function actually work against you. If you have it on, and you can, try turning it off and see if you don't get the gouges.

Thanks joh, thanks Dave. I think I'm going to have to look in to th spaceball for sure!

It's so funny how most people refer to Fadals! And trust me, I know, I learned on them. "the 4020 fadal has been here 14 years and still runing.(barely)" It seems like everyone has had, or has seen an old Fadal that is still running "barely"! There like an old Ford pick up, straight six of course. It doesn't matter if it sounds like it's out of oil, going to throw a rod or smoking like a son of a' ___, they still figure out a way to run. I sure miss my old pick up!

I've considered getting one of those. Do recomend a brand? Is it pretty simple to format it? On a different note, Since I've been learning the new McamX format, I've been wondering. My Mc9 config is totally unique, anyone else at our shop that gets on my system is completely lost trying to use it. I've never worried about it since I have the config file saved on disk. I know that I can save the McX config to disk, but I've pondered on how to learn the new format. I've alredy found a bunch of shortcuts/windows and hotkeys I want to tweak that could make things go a lot faster. But, I also figured if I learn it the "stock" way, I would eventually get just as efficient, and this way be able to hop on anyone else's system without being lost (I have that problem now in Mc9). Anyhow's, anybody else have a thought on that?

Thanks jm! Go figure, they always come up with it, I never figure it out!

It's kind of a "What you like" situation in a way. My only suggestion, how's the service for the sales rep in your area. The little guys get left out a lot if you're service department isn't in the area, or is understaffed. If you know anyone who's bought from certain dealers you should ask them wha tthey think of the service. I've heard a lot of good thongs about the Mini Mill, a lot of bang for the buck!

So here's an idea, and I'm curious to see what anyone/everyone else thinks. ('course I may just find out that it already does it!): Wouldn't it be great to set the Toolpath/Solids window up like a "Drop Menu", like the Start menu in windows, or on a hotkey? I like having my geometry take up as much of my screen as possible. I'm already losing on my 21" monitor with the new toolbars, and now with the toolpath/solids window on top of that, it's like having a 15" monitor again. If theres a "fancy" way to minimize this, please let me know. And if not, what do you think of some sort of idea like the above?

I'm just starting to learn McX, agree with the "I like the system" comments, and have no intentions of bashing it. BUT, I really think the mouse click count should have been a little bit more elaborate an equation. Sure it might take less mouse clicks, but what about "travel time"? Dragging a window, or highlighting a function, that's time wasted. And like Matt said, using hot keys, saves tme when it comes to looking for icons. It sure will be fun to look back on all of these threads when we are efficient in McX. I wonder how relevant all of our gripes will be?

That's huge Marc! Thanks.

So how dumb does that make me? I had to do a search on the forum for this one!

Two weeks later... Thanks for the tip! They should put this link as a note when you download the SP1 file!

I'm researching options for loading files to our machines. We have a number of different controls, and I was trying to find a software that alowed you to load files thru Windows, bypassing the "Load File" (Ready, input, execute) process. For example, is there a way to create directory's in Windows that are the CNC machines "program directoy's", whether the control is Windows based or not? I hope this makes sense, I have spoke to one sale rep who has told me no, which pretty much leaves me with referring to the pro's (that's all you guy!).

I know exactly what you're talking about! One of my biggest angst against the face toolpath. A couple of things you can do to try and cheat this are, "Transform" toolpath and rotate it 180 degrees, or try rotating the geometry after the toolpath has been assigned, this last one isn't a for sure. Like the others said, the pocket toolpath gives you way more control, and you can put a minus XY value to avoid creating new geometry. But all in all, there should be a start point/direction feature eh!??!

When creating Solids from Surfaces, after you select your surfaces and the Edge Tolerance comes up, does this just apply to filling the gaps in the surfaces, or will it start to alter all the surfaces if you set it too high? i.e. A 6 x 6 cube with 0.250 fillets (gaps in the fillets), and you set the edge tolerance to 1.00", will this possibly change the cube to anywhere form 5 x 5, or 7 x 7? Is there a way to tell what stayed the same? and what was altered?

After you "create curves", try "change colors" all lines, then do it for all arcs, and then all splines. This isn't going to solve your problem, but sometimes if you hide things you can see where the duplicates are. I normally delete all splines, take a look at what might be missing and then re-create just those edges if needed. But all in all, there's no real trick if delete duplicate doesn't work.

The only time it reallly works efficiently is when the "surface grain" (I know, I know, that's probably not the correct term!) is going the same direction. If it is, MC can drive both surfaces together. If it is not, MC will break the toolpath up as if it were two seperate operations. A good trick is either trying to recreate the surfaces so the "grain" is goin the same direction. Or trying to join the surfaces. But it's one of my favorite surfacing toolpths in regards finish and "accuracy".

Hi Metal Flake! No gaurantees, but if you shoot me an e-mail I could maybe tip you off on a few places.

Hello Quck form, and welcome to the forum! I have run in to this problem a number of times doing 5-axis toolpath. I have a few tips, no gauruntees, but it's worth a shot. 1. If you can, avoid using 5-axis surfacing. What I've learned is, there is no sense constantly rotating your 4th and 5th axis if you don't have to. Just create a new "Toolplane" (rotate your construction plane) for the surface that makes it the easiest to machine in a 3-axis toolpath. The bonus of this is, you get more than two surface toolpath options, and your feed isn't restricted by how slow your 5th axis is. 2. Re-create the surfaces in MasterCAM. A lot of times, you will convert a model and get parametric, or NURB surfaces. MasterCAM doesn't usually like these. 3. Have the habit of doing what you've found out on your own... Don't select check surfaces if you don't have to. Most of the time, this "short cut" ends up working. Anyhow's good luck, ROY_23 is right though, the 5-axis book is an excellent tool, I must say I learned quite a bit faster having that at my disposal.

I used to machine this all of the time. If you are doing small parts, 0.100" thick to say 0.500" material I wouldn't recommend using anything larger than 0.375" in diameter. We would prefer to use cheaper end mills, carbide, 2 flute, or 4 flute (I liked 2 flute, the boss liked 4 flute!). The reason we went with cheap cutters was the fact that they will get smoked, and the price ratio didn't add up if we went with expensive cutters. I'd say 7500-10,000 RPM at 20.000-45.000 IPM. We never used "Diamond" cutters, but we did use ceramic insert cutters, these were great for mass material removal, but I don't remember what we ended up running them at. Oh, and unfortunately for me, we never ran wet, it was always dry cutting, with a shop vac rigged up to the spindle head. Good luck!

Welcome to the Forum Ro! My guestimate would be: As soon as you... It all revolves around how much you put in to it. But you have come to the right place, everyone her eis great at lending advice.

Just for the record Gus, I wouldn't say it was a stupid error. Afterall, you learned something!

Thanks Dave! That's so awesome, definately a good tool for breaking the programming mood!

Scratch the first question... I wised up and read the answer in the Posts directory!

Dave, when you refer to the "reseller channel", do you mean get in touch with my MC dealer? Or do you mean you sell it? Also, what are the odds of you e-mailing me that Mr. Thompson" sound bite, that's great!