Thanks Paul that did the trick. I should have caught that myself when I changed bug2 to -40 and started looking at all the postblocks that were being called but for some reason I started looking at pmiscreal and skipped the first few. It's been a few years since I've done any post work or anything with Mastercam for that matter. The posts have changed a bit. Thanks again, Ed

Paul, Thanks for your reply. Setting mtol fixed the X & Y output but the I & J center points are still only 4 decimal places. Any suggestions to fix that? Thanks, Ed

I need to create a subprogram with 5 place accuracy and only X, Y, I, & J moves. I modified the MP_EZ post to get the proper output except for the arcs. It seems that no matter what I do I can’t get more than 4 digits after the decimal. I can change the format statement to output less than 4 digits so I’m pretty sure I am changing the right one. To test it I created a square with sides .123456789 and arcs that touch each corner of the square then chained the square and circle segments. I just changed all format statements to “fs2 (1-17) 0.9 0.9” out of frustration just to see what would happen. This is the output: G0 X.123456789 Y.123456789 G1 X.123456789 Y-.123456789 G1 X-.123456789 Y-.123456789 G1 X-.123456789 Y.123456789 G1 X.123456789 Y.123456789 G2 X.1235 Y-.1235 I-.1235 J-.1235 G2 X-.1235 Y-.1235 I-.1235 J.1235 G2 X-.1235 Y.1235 I.1235 J.1235 G2 X.1235 Y.1235 I.1235 J-.1235 M17 The .nci does output to 9 places. I am using version 9 (March 24 2004). :firebounce: :firebounce: :firebounce: :firebounce:

code: ptlchg if op_id <> prv_op_id, [ (original contents of ptlchg) ] else, ptlchg0 !op_id Just testing, the preview looks good

The indentation didn't show up. The ptlchg must be in the first column, the other lines must be indented Ed

airborneman, I've found a pretty easy way to get around this problem with a simple post edit: ptlchg if op_id <> prv_op_id, [ (original contents of ptlchg) ] else, ptlchg0 !op_id

Thad Are you using a custom .cfg file assigned to the post? I have found this to be a problem with forgetting the path. After I removed the assignments and use mill8.cfg, I haven't had any problems. I also use the setdir c-hook to set all the paths at one time. Ed

I have noticed the rounding differences using the same file and MC version, just posting it from a different computer. Like you said, not a big deal, but I have been wondering about that for quite a while.

Does anyone have any experience converting Cadkey solids to Mastercam (ver 9)? We have had problems where the toolpath doesn’t seem to follow the solid. If surfaces are created the surface in the area of the gouge doesn’t match the solid or the toolpath. Once the surface is fixed and the operations applied to the surfaces the toolpath is correct. Another problem is that sometimes a face seems to be missing and the solid looks hollow. Even though the face doesn’t appear on the solid a surface can be created over it. We have tried Parasolid and SAT converters. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Ed

I use Aim Keys, a key stroke macro recorder from Aomsoft that allows you to define your own macros in any application. I also use it for Mastercam to add extra hot keys that I can reach with my left hand so I don't have to let go of the mouse. It will let you use control or control&shift so you can triple the number of hot keys in Mastercam. Aimsoft Productivity Products, Macro & Automation Utilities

I like to ride bicycles, mountain bike and road bike. I usually ride between 3000-4000 miles a year. I race the mountain bike in the sport vet class. (Sport is between expert and beginner, veteran is the 35-44 age group.) So far this year I have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 5th. Last Sunday I was 3rd at 'The Curse of Dark Hollow' in the Michaux State Forest in central Pennsylvania. I tried racing road bikes but it's not as exciting as MTB's. I also have a cyclo-cross bike on order and plan to race it in the fall. I got into cycling because when I turned 30 years old I started putting on weight, and tried running to lose it. The running thing got old real fast so I tried cycling and have been doing it ever since. Now at 44 I can beat most of the kids half my age. I also like hiking, cross country skiing, and just plain being outside, away from this computer.

Another one to try is Penn United Carbide http://www.pennunited.com

When milling to a depth of -.31725 Mastercam (ver 8.1) doesn’t round the number consistently. On a linear move the depth is .3172 but on an arc the depth is rounded to .3173. I tried several other numbers that end in .xxxx5 but the error was only on -.31725. The .nci has -.31725 in both linear and arc moves. Not that it is a big problem; I was just wondering if anyone else has seen it. Ed

Thanks, it is working correctly. I checked the subprogram box in the drill parameters page but didn’t use 'Subpgm ops' from the drill point menu.

I have just started experimenting with subprograms in version 8 and I’m not sure if I’m missing something. A contour with depth cuts seems to work fine, one sub no matter how many depths, but with drilling I have a separate subs for each tool even though they are at the same locations. Is it possible to drill & tap a group of holes and call the same sub program for each tool? I am using the mpvickers post exactly as it came from the disc.