With a Surface Rough Plunge toolpath, how can you control where the plunging begins? In my part, MC is making the first plunge right against the feature I'm trying to rough out instead of starting at the edge of the stock and working inwards to the feature. Also, can the zigzag plunge motion be controlled? It seems to always be parallel to the X-axis. How can you make it parallel to Y or along a specific angle?

Murlin - I'm using MC 2017. I tried creating another surface to close the top of the funnel, but this made no difference. Colin - I tried the containment boundary, but MC ignores it and continues to cut on both side so the funnel surface.

How do I change surface normal?

Sorry, I wasn't clear about what I'm working with. The surface I'm working with is a loft generated from two closed contours and it looks kind of like a funnel with the narrow end facing up. I'm trying to machine just the exterior of the funnel, but the toolpath generated by MC machines both the interior and the exterior. How do I prevent this? Thanks.

I'm just starting to use the Surface Rough Contour toolpath and can't figure out how to tell MC on which side of the surface I want to cut. Can anyone help me out?

I know how to probe the surface. It's how to change the probed value that I'm looking for help with.

I have a Haas mill and a Renishaw 40-2 wireless probe. I would like to incorporate code into a program to probe the surface of a part and then modify that value to establish the G54 Z offset. Specifically, I want the Z plane to be 0.015 below the probed surface. Can anyone show me how to do this? Here's the code I use to probe the surface: T10 M6 G00 G90 G55 X0. Y0. (GETS THE PROBE TO THE CENTER OF THE PART) G43 H10 Z0.5 (GETS THE PROBE ABOUT 0.5 ABOVE THE PART) G65 P9359 W54. Z-0.7 (PROBES AND ASSIGNS THE RESULT TO THE G54 Z REGISTER) G65 P9833 (TURNS OFF THE PROBE) G53 Z0. (RETRACTS TO THE TOOL CHANGE POSITION) Thanks!

Neurosis: Perfect! Thank you!

JParis: Is there a trick to use the Solid Selection? I can't seem to make anything happen with these buttons.

How can I add curves to just one face of a solid body? I've tried using the Curve All Edges tool, but can't figure out how to select just one face.

Thank you!

I'm trying to machine a square pocket using a Pocket toolpath with Parallel Spiral roughing and a helix as the entry motion. How can I control the position of the helix? I'd like it to be at the center of the pocket, but it always comes out near an edge. I'm running Mastercam 2017.

KInd of a long story here, but the job was originally going to run in another shop on a Haas machine and I had everything set and ready to go. Now the plan has changed and I'm hustling to keep the job on track. I can either be the champ or the chump . . . I was just hoping that this was going to be a simple fix, with someone saying "the blah blah blah post will work fine with that machine", but things aren't shaping up that way. Thanks for trying to help.

JParis - These programs are being run in someone else's shop with a bunch of bigwigs watching. I'm trying to avoid showing up with a bunch of programs that won't run and having everyone getting pissed off at me.

I've got to generate some programs that will be run on a Bridgeport Torq Cut 30. No fancy toolpaths - just some contours and drilling. Someone told me that Mastercam's generic Fanuc 3X post should work for this machine. Does anyone know if this is true? Please note that I'm not requesting a post; I'm just looking for an answer to this question. Thanks.

Post request removed

Thanks! Boolean Add was just what I was looking for! The bodies were in contact with one another, so I did have to add any connectors.

What's the best method for defining Stock using multiple solid bodies?

Thanks for the help!! Toolpath Editor is brilliant.

I have a Circle Mill Toolpath in which eight points are chained. Between two of the points I need to jump over a clamp. How can I accomplish this? The 'Change at Point' option isn't available when I right click the point in the Drill Point Manager.

Aha! I forgot all about merging! Thanks very much.

Please explain how to bring in the "as cast" model. I'm using Mastercam 2017. Thanks!

I have a SolidWorks model with two configurations: "as cast" and "as machined". I brought the "as machined" model into Mastercam 2017 and programmed all of my toolpaths. How can I use the "as cast" model for my stock? I tried saving it as an stl file, but I can't find a way to align this to the "as machined" model in Mastercam.

jlw - Perfect. Thank you!

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful suggestions. It was the entry parameters that were causing the problem - the helix was too big. Another question: How can I control the point at which the entry helix is located?