Welcome to eMastercam

March 27, 2003

Here is the v9.1 Whats New List:

Design and General Features

Visual Basic® Support

Now all Mastercam products (except Entry) can support scripts written in Microsoft Visual Basic. Press [Alt+C] and select MCAMVB.DLL.

Support for Specific Line Widths in Printing and Plotting

You now have the ability to control the width of lines created during printing and plotting. A simple interface lets you set the desired width by color to allow for different widths on your plots and prints.

Mastercam’s file translators undergo constant change and improvement. With the release of 9.1, the translators have been updated to support the latest software releases. Here is a list of the updated translators and the current version supported.

Parasolids - Version 14.1

ACIS - Version 10 SP2

STEP - Newest engine release

Autodesk Inventor - Version 6 (Windows 98 and higher OS)

Solid Edge - Version 12

SolidWorks - 2003

ProE - Granite 2

Solids

Numerous requests from users have brought about a new option on the Solid, Boolean menu. This option enables the creation of non-associative solids. When the Associative option is set to N, additional options to keep the Target and the Tool bodies are available. In the above example, the yellow tool solid is subtracted from the green target to form a mold cavity and not deleted. This allows it to be used multiple times.

Verify

The transition from the Sirius engine to the MachineWorks® engine for toolpath verification has been completed. Now only LightWorks code is being used and we can focus on addressing more requests and fixing more bugs. In this release, you will find that the speed and quality of TrueSolid verification are significantly improved.

View Information Retained

Now when entering Verify, the current view information from the Mastercam graphics window will be seen in Verify.

Mill Level 1 and higher

Contour – Lead In/Out Controls

Significant additions have been made to the lead in/out capabilities based on customer requests. Each enhancement addresses needs that used to require significant workarounds to achieve.

Plunge After First and Before Last Move

This option is useful when working in tight spaces where there is not enough room to turn cutter compensation on when the tool is at the cut depth. When enabled, cutter compensation occurs at the highest defined plane, and then the tool plunges to the desired depth and performs the second lead-in move. When used before the last move, the tool moves off the part, and then retracts to the highest defined plane and turns compensation off. The following picture shows the tool motion when cutting a slot that is too narrow to allow compensation to be turned on at the cut depth

Override Feed Rate

You now have greater control over the feed rate on the lead-in and lead-out moves, which lets you dial in the best speed for the finish you need.

Adjust Start/End of Contour

This new idea came from a couple of European dealers who needed greater control of toolpaths with solids. This option allows you to extend or shorten the chain before making the entry and exit moves. This is especially helpful when working with compensation in control. Enter a percentage of the tool diameter to control the distance.

The following example shows the toolpath being extended by 50% of the tool diameter with a tangent entry motion, so that compensation is turned on completely before the cutter gets close to the part. The exit extends the contour by 50% so that the tool is clear of the material before compensation is turned off.

Pocketing – Finish Pass Controls

Several enhancements have been added to give greater control and flexibility

Spring Passes

This feature forces additional passes to be made around the part, identical to the last finish pass, to pick up any additional material that may have been deflected by the tool during the last finish pass.

Override Feed/Speed

This allows you to set a different feed and speed for the tool during the finish pass to better control the part finish.

Pocket Lead In/Out

New lead in/out options (developed for Contour toolpaths) to control the plane where compensation is turned on and the ability to override the feed rate of the finish passes have been added to Pocket finish passes.

Thin Wall Pockets

This new option gives greater control for finishing thin wall pockets. It allows you to control the depth of each finish pass relative to the depth cut. To enable these options, you must be using Depth Cuts so there is more than one roughing pass in the pocket toolpath. You must also deselect the “Machine finish passes after roughing all pockets” check box. Then select on the Thinwall check box and open the dialog box. The following dialog box screen shots shows the system taking two finish passes in Z for every roughing pass, which automatically displays the maximum calculated finish depth.

Mill Level 3

Rough Pocket Finish Parameters

The new finish options created for 2D pocketing have been added to 3D pocketing as well. This includes spring passes, overriding feeds and speeds for the finish pass and the lead in/out moves, and thin wall pocketing. Another new option is using Wear or Reverse Wear compensation for the finish passes. See “cutter compensation, Mill” in the online Help Index for more information.

New Gap Setting for High Speed Contour and Restmill Toolpaths

In High speed machining, the stepdown in Z is often much smaller than that used in traditional machining. This means the gap size will be smaller, and subsequently the tool will retract more often. By adding an option to set gap size by a percentage of the tool diameter, you will have greater control over the frequency of rapid moves.

New Project Blend Controls

There are three new features in Project Blend that make it an even better toolpath. These new controls will give greater control to rival the quality of a Flowline toolpath without the concerns of aligning surfaces.

Along Cut Resolution

This option lets you set a distance that controls how far apart the across scans are created along the blend curves. For parts with significant change in curvature, a smaller value yields better results.

Quick vs. Thorough Projection Methods

This switch allows parts with no vertical walls to do the quickest scans and get excellent results. Use the Thorough method when the part contains vertical and steep walls - it will take longer, but the quality will be very good.

Support for a Spiral Cut Method

This new option keeps the tool down and eliminates stepover, creating an even better finish.

Retract Between Cuts

The Project Blend toolpath works well for many different applications. With the addition of this new option, it will work well for Engraving as well. When selected, this option forces the cutter to retract between contours, which is perfect for engraving applications.

Pocket and Contour - Support for Undercuts with Slot, Dove, and Lollipop Cutters

The ability to machine undercuts in Rough Pocket, Rough Contour, and Finish Contour has been added. Using Slot, Dove, and Lollipop mills, you can now create gouge-protected undercuts. Version 9.1 can compensate to the tool shape and protect the shank of the tool from hitting the material.

Minimize Burial Option Added to Rough and Finish Contour

When the Optimize option is selected in Finish or Rough Contour, you can select the Minimize Burial option. This option will retract the tool in cases where it could be encountering stock on both sides as it works itself around bosses. With Optimize deselected, Mastercam cuts parts by Z level and may produce more retracts than desired. Optimize keeps Mastercam in one region until all of the Z level cuts are made. With Minimize Burial selected, the tool will stay in an area and make as many Z cuts as possible until it encounters stock from another region. Then it will retract and reposition.

Finish Shallow – Ordered Cuts by Minimum Distance

This new option creates more efficient toolpaths for certain geometry conditions.

Mill – Multiaxis

Simplified Entry and Exit

The Entry/Exit dialog has been simplified by removing the Approach Height and Retract Height options. Entry and exit moves will now use the Clearance, Retract, and Feed planes like other toolpaths.

New Backplot Controls

You can now see the tool tip motion in the backplot of 4- and 5-axis toolpaths, with an additional option to display the tool axis vectors.

Curve 5-axis Additions

· Support for check surfaces.

· Depth Cut control (similar to 2D Contour and Pocket) allows for multiple passes along the tool vector, simplifying control over the amount of material to be removed on each pass.

· Multi Passes controls (similar to 2D Contour) enable multiple stepovers of the tool, allowing for greater control of stock removal.

· Axis limits, similar to those found in the Msurf 5ax functionality introduced in Version 9.0, are now included in Curve 5-axis. This functionality produces toolpath output that will not exceed your machine’s axis rotation limits.

· Point Generators, introduced in Version 9.0 Msurf 5-axis, have also been added to Curve 5-axis for Version 9.1. This option gives you greater control in areas where the normal vector changes angles dramatically.

Swarf 5-axis Additions

· Support for check surfaces.

· Depth Cut control (similar to 2D Contour and Pocket) allows for multiple passes along the tool vector, simplifying control over the amount of material to be removed on each pass.

· Multi Passes controls (similar to 2D Contour) enable multiple stepovers of the tool, allowing for greater control of stock removal.

· Axis limits, similar to those found in the Msurf 5ax functionality introduced in Version 9.0, are now included in Curve 5-axis. This functionality produces toolpath output that will not exceed your machine’s axis rotation limits.

· Options to cut One way or Zigzag when Depth Cuts or Multi Passes are enabled.

· Point Generators, introduced in Version 9.0 Msurf 5-axis, have also been added to Curve 5-axis for Version 9.1. This option gives you greater control in areas where the normal vector changes angles dramatically.

Flow 5-axis Additions

· Depth Cut control (similar to 2D Contour and Pocket) allows for multiple passes along the tool vector, simplifying control over the amount of material to be removed on each pass.

· Point Generators, introduced in Version 9.0 Msurf 5-axis, have also been added to Curve 5-axis for Version 9.1. This option gives you greater control in areas where the normal vector changes angles dramatically.

Multisurface 5-axis Additions

· Depth Cut control (similar to 2D Contour and Pocket) allows for multiple passes along the tool vector, simplifying control over the amount of material to be removed on each pass.

MetaCut Utilities (MCU)

MCU Light v2.1 (a substantial sub-set of the MetaCut Utilities) is included at no charge with Version 9.1. The MCU Light OEM version for Mastercam requires a Mastercam security device (SIM). MCU Light is not included with Design.

March 8, 2003

Hi,

You will get it very soon.

Andreas

[ 03-08-2003, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Andreas Stute - InterCAM ]

March 3, 2003

Hi Chris,

I can understand your problem. Wer test here many graphic cards and the result is always different. Because Mastercam support only basic OpenGL language some card settings can me slow down the system. The first step we do is to set all graphic card function to off or to the min. value. Make the card stupid. Remove all extended and advanced settings - like Hardware acceleration, ...

Then load your part and try. If it is now faster, set one option. If this one makes the system slow, remove it. With some cards it is like a game. With one setting it works, with some not.

We test here also new cards from the manufactures, card that actual not on the market and Mastercam has on some PCs problems. But we can not say why. In a AMD 1400+ with Win XP the card is not working, with an AMD 2000+ and XP it works fine.

Do not compare mastercam with other cad systems like SolidWorks. They use a different OpenGL support.

Importand is also the setting in the config.

What is your database allocation, what the Toolpath allocation?

Please list all allocations and also the size of the Windows pagefile.

regards

Andreas

March 2, 2003

Hi Fred,

we will try to implement lathe in the v9.1 version.

regards

Andreas

February 26, 2003

Hi to all,

here is a 2nd Edition of MCUtils for Mastercam v9.0 SP1.

MCUtils 2nd Edition for V9.0 (approx. 40 kb)

Copy the dll in your CHook dir of Mastercam.

We fix some bugs, reported from you in this Topic.

- Pan problem is fixed

- Icons not shown in Solid manager is fixed

- dynamic rotation: when exit the function with the left mouse click - is fixed

reagrds

Andreas

February 24, 2003

Hi Dan,

here is a mc9rs.dll with the separated buttons in the Operation manager.

It is just a 1 minute job.

MC9RS.dll for v9.0 SP1 (approx. 600 kb)

Copy the dll in you Mastercam main dir.

(but please save first your orgin mc9rs.dll)

The DLL is for v9.0 SP1.

regards

Andreas

February 22, 2003

Hi MTI,

we are working very strong with CNC on the Agie post and fix a lot of problems with the output format from Mastercams Agie Post. You have to ask your local dealer for the latest Agie Post.

Importand are the correct settings in Mastercam. We will try to finish a "user manual" for v9.1.

regards

Andreas

February 21, 2003

Hi to all

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote from Jeff

I like the chook,but why doesn't my op manager look like the one above?

Or is that from something else?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The images is from my german version. Is the different positions of the buttons what you mean?

I change the OP-Manager a litle bit. I like it if the "Regen" button is not so close to the other buttons. Regen takes sometimes very long and a click on a wrong button is bad.

@cadcam and James Meyette

v9.1 will have a new DLL, because of the structure change inside the system. v9.1 is not releases and we will finish the dll if CNC gives the version out. I know that v9.1 supports the scroll mouse, but just for zoom. We create the dll because I like to have dynamic rotation on my mouse.

@all 95/98 and Me users

Mcutils works only in Windows NT, 2000 and XP because we just a special Windows API function for the icon menue that not exist is 95/98 and Me (Bill Gates problem) - just the wheelmouse will work.

I would like to say thank-you for the many words of encouragement.

Comments are always welcome.

Enjoy the chook.

regards

Andreas

February 17, 2003

"... That was a very helpful tip!"

and can also be find in the

MCUtils-Readme-english.txt

regards

Andreas

February 17, 2003

MCUtils V9.0

New, free CHOOK for Mastercam:

- Wheelmouse support

- user def. Icon-Menues for Solids and OP-Manager

MCUtils V9.0 (approx. 40 kb)

! ONLY for Mastercam Version 9.0x !

does not work under: Win95/Win98/WinME !!!!!!!!!!!

Note:

Copy the mcutils.dll in the CHOOKS dir of Mastercam.

Description:

see MCUtils-Readme-english.txt file

Menue exsample: Solid-Manager and Operations-Manager

regards

the InterCAM-Team

InterCAM-Deutschland GmbH

Bleichstr. 43b

33175 Bad Lippspringe

Tel.: 0700-InterCAM

oder +49 5252 9342 00

Fax: +49 5252 9342 01

Email: [email protected]

Internet: www.mastercam.de

January 24, 2003

Hi,

I can not understand your question. Both function are used for a different work.

Restmill

there are three option in this function:

- remove material in the side, dependent on the larger diameter of the prev. tool

- reduce the Z-steps

- clean out not done z-zones on the buttom of the part with a pocket style toolpath

This function will be typical used after a rought toolpath.

Leftover

this one is for a finish toolpath to clean out the corners.

This function will be typical used after a pre-finish toolpath.

regards

Andreas

InterCAM-Germany

November 20, 2002

@Jay/ aka CadCam

Yes I know Bill since many many many years.

He is often at the Euromold show and we teach him in german language - mostly the bad words - sorry - colloquial speech. He is a very impressive man.

regards

Andreas

November 20, 2002

Hi,

there is a bug in subprog in v9 sp1.

The bug is in the internal nci code and there is no workaround.

CNC plan to fix it with v9.1.

regards

Andreas

November 19, 2002

Hi,

Euromold is our biggest show here in germany.

All Software companies are there. Also many many customers (Tooling & Moldmaking).

The show is in 4 halls - 55.000 customers and approx. 1.600 exhibitors.

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