One thing that you may need to help eliminate some headache would be Mastercam Art. It can take images into Mastercam and convert them into part geometry. It is an additional cost to buy the art package. But, if you use it a lot it may pay for itself fairly quickly.

That's what I was thinking to find that out. I just find it weird that they only give a field to fill in for the angle and not for any kind of pitch. In helix rough they give pitch, and in threadmilling they give pitch, but, I guess I'm just complaining. Thanks for the help guys.

I've been using Mastercam for just under 3 years now. I started out with X2 at my community college. As far as X4 is concerned, I like the tree layout. I like how they added the visuals to change when you click on a new field. It just makes my life a little easier. I can see how people that have used the program since V9 or before might not like change, it takes relearning. But, All the programs that I have used so far have a tree to them from Mastercam, to Surfcam, and even Solidworks they all seem to have a tree in one form or another. So it just seems natural to have a tree. I like it. That's just what I think.

Ok, I found Sandvik's milling guide. Now I just have one question. The max pitch is called out obviously in inch/rev. But, Mastercam only has on plunge angle under the circle milling toolpath. I would like to be able to put into the field the pitch but forced to use the plunge angle. How can I figure what a 1.889inch hole diameter with a .235inch pitch would be in angular form.

I'm still fairly new to programming and was wondering what should I take into consideration when trying to helix down on a part like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLC25KbCTxs Do I use the same feed rates on my plunge as I would my normal feeds. How would I figure out a good helix angle so as not to drag the back side of my holders. Any thoughts would be great.

Hey Tony, thanks for your help anyways.

Nope, that didn't do it. I'm going to call up my reseller to have them modify my post.

I think its a post problem I have only the generic Haas post and have not had it debugged in any way.

I only have been working from the top view its a simple 2d part. So there isn't anything special about how I'm going about all of this.

No just simply a point and using thread mill for my toolpath.

The lineralize helix box was not checked. Also in my helix support it is currently set to all axis supported. Any other suggestions.

Right now I am doing some threadmilling. The program keeps on putting out x, y, and z moves with no sign of a circular cut. How can I change my post so that I can do a true helix with mastercam.

I realized what I did. I made the tool but, didn't finish it off by connecting the bottom line back to the origin. As soon as I did that it works just fine.

I am doing some thread milling and would like to verify the path. I designed the custom tool holder and I can see the tool in back plot but when it comes to the verify it does nothing. Am i missing something important about designing custom tools. Thanks in advance.

I am trying to engrave a part. I want to use the stick feature because I do not want to have a font to what I am writing. But, I have to engrave on an arc which drafting stick will not let you do. Is there a way in either Mastercam or Solidworks that I can put down simple line geometry on an arc that I can run a contour program on. Thanks

I recently started using wear cutter comp. All my diameter offsets are set to zero in my Haas machine. But, there seems to be a second coloum of the controller that says Actual Diameter. If I were to put into that field .500 would that effect the cutter comp at all. Because, It would be nice to have the tool come up and say .500 endmill but not using those values in the comp. Thanks in advance.

I'm using the WIPS.

It's a Haas factory installed wireless Renishaw tool setter.

I have a quick question about cutter comp wear. I have a Haas machine with a tool setter. When I set my tool length offset I usually program my tool diameter also. If I am using cutter comp wear will the g41 g42 be messed up because the values put into the diameter geometry. So basically I mean if I want to use cutter comp wear should I have a diameter of 0.000 to start and then start bumping up the offsets or will it not matter?