Welcome back Mike. What booth at IMTS? I'll be there Thurs and Fri.

John's suggestion might be the simplest.

If I understand correctly, you want a single pass Y axis motion then Y/Z ramp up then another Y axis move. You could simply use a contour (3D). And chain geometry that matches the numbers in your current program. In this case you have calculated the tool offset amount and are programming direct tool center. This would work since you already have the numbers in a program. I think the best toolpath starting from scratch (ie with the 3 surfaces modeled) might be a curve 5axis with output set to 3 axis. You would draw the cross section, copy it in top view and create a ruled surface between the two contours. Use that surface for the curve 5axis toolpath. Use Tip Control "on projected curve" and Projection "normal to plane". If you want to use one of the surface toolpaths you will have to change the cut direction and then play with the stepover / tolerances to force it to give you a single pass.

Paul, I looked at your file. I usually draw tools with the tip at 0,0. Since your tool was drawn way out there I did it two ways. First I reselected the Tool Insert Center using the "tool center" button. Second I moved your tool so the point (intersection) was at 0,0 and left the center coordinates as they were (based on .015" radius). Both ways backplot properly. CAM [ 07-24-2008, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: CAM-mando ]

quote: you can still get XP from Dell. I don't theen so Babaluey. edit/ I was wrong, you can still get XP as a paid for option on some systems. "Need XP? Windows XP Professional pre-installed when purchasing Windows Vista Business Bonus for only $99 on select systems!" quote: the workstations I've bought from Dell come in clean.. just the OS and software I purchased (MS Office etc) That's the difference between ordering from the Home/Home Office website (lots of crap) and the Small Business Division ( clean machines) Yes I just baught a Vostro laptop which is their business line and they don't come with any of the crap.

quote: I have the tool drawn with the corect colors, in a seperate levelAnd in tool definition on the geometry page the "level" radio button is checked and you entered this level in the field next to the button?

http://www.jt2go.com/index.shtml

Custom Tool

Just bought the update to X (we were at 9.1). 1 year of maint. included in our update purchase. SO yes we are now.

I finally purchased our updates to X2!!!!! Since we have had multiple programmers over the past few years doing things different ways, I am viewing this as an opportunity to start with a clean slate in terms of implementation. I thought perhaps some of you wouldn't mind sharing your approach to things like tool libraries, set-up sheets, operation libraries etc. I would like to invest the neccessary time up front to set up our libraries. This is partly a Mastercam chore and partly a tool selection problem. ie, we have purchasing history for 10 different 1/2 inch end mills for slotting in aluminum when we could 2 or 3. Historically we have not documented holders, just tools. I would like to include holders in the setup documentation. In addition to the software update, I have purchased the IHS html set up sheet product. For posts, the more complex machines without existing posts, we will be buying posts from IHS. The mills will be derrived from MP master. The goal is 100% unedited code from the posts. Any experience you would like to offer regarding general your approach to these broader implementation topics would be appreciated. Some existing threads by topic... Training and transition: Transitioning and learning X More on training (incl. poll) Old 9.1 --> X transition topic circa 2005 File Management: Single file multiple processes Set-up Sheets: What set-up sheet to use? More on set-up sheets Making changes to the X+ set-up sheet Adding a logo to X+ set-up sheet Post Processors: The first rule of fight club In House Posts Tool Libraries: Editing tool libraries Speed and Feed from Tool or Material? Numbering standard tools Custom holders [ 07-14-2008, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: CAM-mando ]

Someone want to send it my way?

I bought one of these when we were machining alot of phenolic... not cheap though. http://www.nederman.com/sitecore/content/P.../FilterBox.aspx

I just went to look at a demo for the smaller Makino A51. There were two options for broken tool detection. One detetects within 3/8" or so. The other is very precise and can detect less than .005". Also an interesting little rumor... I heard the lead design engineer left Makino and went to Mori a couple years ago. That helical thing is Fanuc still being ... well Fanuc.

Yes it can be, I believe around 325°F you can probably find something on the DuPont website.

quote: You're right, I don't believe it, but true position of [2] holes to each other is easier than trying to put them in relative to something that's already there.So is this a machine accuracy problem or a fixturing / probing problem Chris? Is the deviation primarily from the pre-existing bore? Sorry to question the obvious, I am just curious. quote: Proof in the part is a given on this project. Anyone and everyone who presents a proposal will need to agree that the machine, in my shop, makes XX parts in a row to this tolerance checked on that machine with this much warmup time, etc, or it goes back on the trailer.Amen to that... I won't bore you with the details.

Class 2 threads have "some" coating allowance built into them already. Class 3 threads should be compensated as follows: Reduce the max PD by 4 X MAX coating thickness Reduce the min PD by 2 X MIN coating thickness Reduce the min major dia by 2 X MIN coating thickness Reduce the min minor dia by 2 X MIN coating thickness Reduce the max major dia by 2 X MAX coating thickness Reduce the max minor dia by 2 X MAX coating thickness This probably doesn't impact you but some thread specs (such as MIL-S-8879) also have a maximum amount you are allowed to undercut for plating compensation. It is based on a percentage of total PD tolerance.

Thanks Yeah I would prefer a 500mm table and CAT 50, but most of our parts are relatively small and our other mills are all CAT40 spindles.

To those using them, how do you like them? What kind of parts are you machining?

No I'm talking about standard set up on VMC and HMC with no Attachments.

I worked in a shop with Paul (mcprogrammer) that used G41 for right hand and G42 for left hand comp? That took some getting used to. After a series of WTF's on my part, I was informed that that's how it's always been done here. I am curious if someone comes up with the history of cutter comp, they might also know if there was no "standard" for left and right hand in the early days... or if these guys were just bass ackwards (a very real possibility) .

As SAIPEM said it is the low carbon variant of 316. It is weldable and also preferred for FDA / food processing equipment. I use same speeds and feeds for 316/316L but I too cast my vote for Carpenter Project 70+ which is definately more consistent and worth the extra money. 316 can work harden so I would take a healthy chip load.

OK, we have been at V9.1 and are ready to update. We have multiple seats of Mill, Lathe and Wire. A few months back we purchased a twin spindle Hardinge with live tooling (single turret). Can lathe handle this at all? Given that I have a minimum of 5 employees who would be going to training and the update costs to X2, I have a serious decision to make here.

Down the memory hole A wonderful opportunity for everyone to flip flop on their political positions stated over the past few years in the O/T. Just curious Dave, how much space does this behemouth take up these days?

Nice to see teh monkey humping the football around here again. Glad things are progressing for you Chris.

Best wishes for your recovery Chris.