Doug, thanks for the info. Had a quick look at the Ansys site where they talk about resources: quote: High end servers These systems offer maximum performance all the way up to the current limitation of ANSYS software. They should be configured with maximum memory per processor. It is better to buy fewer processors and more memory on such a system. An 8-processor system with 64 GB of memory is a better system to run ANSYS than 16 processors with 32 GB of memory. An ideal configuration for a high end server system is 16 processors (Itel Itanium, 1.6 Ghz) with 128 GB of memory and 1 TB of striped disks. This system can solve multiple million DOF-sized jobs, a single 100 Million DOF analysis or a steady workload of ANSYS jobs including remote solves from ANSYS Workbench. It runs shared memory parallel and achieves even better parallel performance using PPFA and distributed MPI-based parallel performance. This is the only system configuration that can solve a 100 Million DOF sized model currently and it is also the only system configuration that can support multiple very large jobs in excess of 1 million DOFs all running at peak performance. 128GB of Ram 1TB Disk space. How much does that cost? Allan

Anyone using windows XP on a MacBook Pro? I had a customer ask today if Mastercam would run on this thing. Initial searches on the web look promising, with the "Boot Camp". Here are some links to reviews on the MacBook Pro laptop: Link1 Link2 Allan

There is no need to open the .stl file in Mastercam as a geometry file to machine it. The .stl file would come in as lines only and does nothing for you. Under the xform menu there is a function called xform stl, this function allows you to read in the file as a mesh, shade it, rotate it, scale it, translate it and create a bounding box arround it and then save it as a new file. The surface toolpaths have an option for selecting a cad file to machine, this is where you select your .stl file. The toolpath will access the .stl file when processing and generate the path to the external .stl file. HTH Allan

When you run the cadcame ug translator, if you do not have a licence key it will generate a CPUid string to supply to cadcame, have you tried running the software? Allan

Readings of less than HRC 20 are considered unreliable, so that is why your ball tester does not read anything under that. Under HRC 20 you should use the Rockwell "B" scale. You should find that your 1018 steel is between 80 and 90 HRB Allan

CPlane, normal, select the line. Allan

The mplfan post with G112 support works like this: quote: #Polar interpolation, G112 canned cycle: # Polar interpolation is active only for face cutting (Right or Left). # Use the Caxis/Face Contour toolpath. Create geometry for the lead in # and lead out with the start and end position on the View number 3 tool # axis. All paths must start and end at the 'C0'location for output to # be correct. Chain the entire geometry without using Mastercam leads. # Set mi4 to activate! # Bottom line: Dont use lead in and out parameters, start contour at C0 Allan

The IT guy needs to grant read, write and modify access to the folder where Mastercam is installed, no need to have local admin rights.

If QC from mastercam has asked you to upload a file I doubt that they expect it to go to cadcam's ftp site. From an internet explorer window go to ftp://ftp.mastercam.com/Customer%20Area/To%20Mastercam/ Or try this link. Mastercam FTP site Once you have that page open drag a file from an explorer window into the ftp site, then let QC know what the name of the file is. Hope that Helps. Allan

It does'nt work in my X2 MR1 either. I really wish it would. I could have used it today.

You should be able to change the port number in the Port settings of the device manager of windows. And then set the USB port to either com 1 or com 2.

I've had some issues with the initial set-ups with Agie's, mostly with the Machine tool dealer and the operators, I think the operators like the PEPs better because the icons and terminology in the software match the machine. Mastercam does have a good post for the Agie that creates your .sbl .iso and .sbk files. What does your dealer say? How about having him out for a benchmark? Allan

If you do not have a modifier for the mill license it will grab a level 3 license, that being said you need mill level three and 5 axis for all the 5 axis toolpath types except curve and drill. Allan

You'll want to try the latest X2MR1 that problem has been addressed by that release. Allan

The red flashing error light was what I was getting when the data bits/Baud rate were incorrect, It would still punch the tape but it was un-useable. Is there a reader on the unit that you can read back what you punched? Allan

The N81 stands for No parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and yes I used Cimco edit. There was some labeled dip swithches undere a clear cover on top of the unit. One was for DC codes the other just said slow and fast I used the fast for 9600 baud. Allan

Coincidentally I just hooked up a tape puncher/reader to a system this week. It was previously hooked up to an intergraf system. After some trial and error the settings were 9600 BPS N81 Allan

How about set it to stop on toolchange, then use fast forward till you get to the op you want to watch then press play.

The Allowance (overcut) increases the Diameter so a value of .049" should be used Allan

Are you changing the start location in z before each pass allowing for an infeed angle of 14.5 deg? If you are not, the tool is cutting on both sides of the insert and you'll most likely never get rid of the chatter. The G76 cycle uses the infeed angle defined in the P address usually 30deg. On a manual lathe we always used 29.5 on the compound and 14deg for an acme thread. Allan

Create, curves, edges and pick surface edges. I usually change colour and level of the new curves as well.

Duplex 2205: 2205 is the most widely used duplex (ferritic/austenitic) stainless steel grade. It finds applications due to both excellent corrosion resistance and high strength. The standard S31803 composition has over the years been refined by many steel suppliers, and the resulting restricted composition range was endorsed as UNS S32205 in 1996. S32205 gives better guaranteed corrosion resistance, but much of the S31803 currently produced also complies with S32205. 2205 is not generally suitable for use at temperatures above 300°C as it suffers from precipitation of brittle micro-constituents, nor below -50°C because of its ductile-to-brittle-transition. Key Properties These properties are specified for flat rolled product (plate, sheet and coil) in ASTM A240/A240M. Similar but not necessarily identical properties are specified for other products such as pipe and bar in their respective specifications.

The mpmaster based posts will call a new cycle when the refht (R plane) changes like this: code: (POST DEV - IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS) (T2 - 1/8 DRILL - H2 - D2 - D0.1250") N100 G00 G17 G20 G40 G80 G90 N110 T2 M06 (1/8 DRILL) N120 (MAX - Z.1) N130 (MIN - Z-1.5) N140 G00 G54 X-1.2039 Y.379 S2139 M03 N150 G43 H2 Z.1 N160 G99 G81 Z-1.5 R.1 F4.11 N170 G80 N180 X-.405 Y-.2861 N190 Z-.9 N200 G99 G81 Z-1.5 R-.9 F4.11 N210 X.3418 Y-.0334 N220 G80 N230 Z.1 N240 X.6763 Y.2229 N250 G99 G81 Z-1.5 R.1 F4.11 N260 G80 N270 M05 Most likely the refht variable is being reset in pdrlcommonb or the like, so without seeing your post it is a stab in the dark.

quote: I have gotten LOTS of material removal from one set of material and then it all turns to crap on the next run/ If I could see what the inconsistancy was, I could deal with it. The inconsistancy is diffrent "Heat" or "Lot" numbers. There is a 316L spec for that type of stainless usually found in bar stock that is "free machining" and would not give you the trouble you currently have. Perhaps annealing is an option?

Look at the pdrill_2 post block: code: pdrill_2$ #Canned Drill Cycle, additional points pdrlcommonb pcan1, pbld, n$, pdrlxy, pzout, pcout, pindexdrl, prdrlout, dwell$, feed, strcantext, e$ pcom_movea Change it to: code: pdrill_2$ #Canned Drill Cycle, additional points pdrlcommonb pcan1, pbld, n$, pdrlxy, pfzout, pcout, pindexdrl, prdrlout, dwell$, feed, strcantext, e$ pcom_movea Note the pfzout, if post is outputtinf zabs or the like than a * on the zabs will do. Hope this helps Allan