It's understood that you should never go more than full diameter of the drill as far as peck depth goes. ( this all depends on the brand of drill you're using too) Any drill under .06" your peck depth should start decreasing to a little over 1/2 to 3/4 of the diameter. JMHO

Thanks Dave. I should have seen that. Chris

Okay here's the situation, I did a couple of toolpaths yesterday. 1) I created lines across the top of the geometry to do a facing toolpath. 2) I then created a contour toolpath with an endmill to do the outer contour of the piece. When i went to verify them, the facing toolpath showed up okay in the verification but the outer contour toolpath just did nothing. So I was left with no finished sides. I then tried the pocketing routine on the inside of the piece and it worked okay. Is this a bug? Just so you know I am using 8.1 with Windows NT SP4 and Oxygen 3D Lbs video card. Is There a patch that I may hve to download to fix this? I just got 8.1 yesterday so Im not up to date. Other than that I am really impressed with the quality of Verify---super fast!!! Thanks in Advance Chris DiNardo

I'm using version 8 and they are using solidworks 2001. But they insist that they are sending v11.1 parasolids.

Good Morning Everyone I get the following error when trying to convert our clients' x_t files. "PK ERROR CODE 970-open/close/read/write error for schema file-check PSLDDATA directory" Can anyone give me an insight to this error? Thanks in Advance Chris

Hello All. Our customer likes to send us Solid Edge files, (PAR is the extension). I've tried converting them into Mastercam V8.0 with no luck. It starts to convert and then gives me a message that there is no Parasolid data in the Solid Edge file. When converting I notice that there is another type of file I can use for SE, with the extension .PSM. Any suggestions? I've downloaded Smartview for SE from the web and I am able to look at DFT and PAr files thru that but it would be nice to be able to see the native file come in to MC8. Thanks in advance Chris

We were considering a Mitutoyo Millstar a while back but decided to go with the Acu-rite. From what I remember, the Millstar has the capability to read iso g-code? I can't remember. If you decide to go with the Millstar you will have to get the dealer (or if you can) do it your self. Just take the z axis movements out of the postlines. Another option you have is going with the Acurite. Mastercam has a generic post for that. I've used it without any problems so far. Other than that, there quite handy if your doing 25 to 75 pieces with repetitive ops, or small prototyping.

Thanks James, I tried going to that site but it won't show up on my explorer. I guess the site is defunct. But I'll look into that book you mentioned. Chris

Are there any books out there to get me started on Visual C++

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to reverse that, but you can try this: Create a curve at the edge of your extended surface. then create a line parallel to the curve at the distance you want your surface to be extended. Then Create-Surface-Trim/Extend -to curve. and trim your surface to the new line that you created. Hope this helps. Chris

Thanks Guys. I'll start looking into a course for visual c++. Chris [This message has been edited by ChrisD (edited 02-12-2001).]

Hello All. I've recently seen alot of threads containing subjects on C programming. Lately I have become more serious about pursuing this area further. I have a little bit of VB experience, but nothing to brag about. This may be a dumb question, but I always see just plain 'C' and there is also Visual C++. could someone tell me which of the above would be the best one to pursue. Please excuse my ignorance. Chris

I was wondering if it is at all possible to enable the post processor to automatically run the Mill.set post. The post I am using is considered a "legacy " I guess, but things are tweeked good with it so I'm not too keen on changing that.

Nick. Did you check to see if cutter comp in the finish section was set to "wear". Chris

Hey Ken. Try up here in Ottawa, Canada. It's about minus 40c with the wind chill this morning. Besides, everyone knows that the best ice fishing is up here in Canada! Chris

Mill Man, You can also try putting in a value of zero in your entryexit arc clearance. That will put in only a lead in line for you. Chris

Mill Man, I had the same type of problem. Depending on the size of your major diameter, your tool cannot be more than (I think), half the diameter of it. Try using a smaller diameter tool and see how it works. It should automatically put in a cutter comp lead in line for you, then arc into the contour. Good luck! Orrrr...... Try reducing the value of your lead in arc Chris [This message has been edited by ChrisD (edited 01-10-2001).]

Thanks DogFartz. Found that one out yesterday the hard way.I also had to fix the program number output. "O" is an unacceptable variable in our machine. I never knew that Acu rite had a post in the Mastercam install CD. I guess I never bothered to look ----Thanks Dave. Chris [This message has been edited by ChrisD (edited 01-04-2001).]

Is there such a thing as an Acu-Rite post out there? We have a newer three axis Acu-Rite control fitted onto a milling machine. It will not accept G-code, but I heard through the grapevine that there might be something out there I can use with Mastercam. Chris

I was wondering if anyone out there knows if it is possible to create a chamfer between a line and an arc. I've used Create-Next Menu- Chamfer and it only allows me to use two lines. Any hope of seeing this in 8.1? Or maybe there is another way? The reason I (by that, I mean by boss), wants to do this is because, sometimes in the pockets that we machine there are sharp corners that we'd like to save on deburring time, and we just put a .003 fillet around them. Fillets are okay, but my boss is happier with chamfers instead. Not a big deal, but I thought I'd give it a try. Thanks in advance Chris

I tried using a smaller entry exit arc and it worked. Thanks for your help guys. Chris

I was wondering if anyone out there would know if 8.1 would have the following fixed: When I am in my parameters for threadmilling and I'm doing an internal thread, it does not allow me to choose an entry exit line. It only has entry exit arc. The reason why this is a problem is that my machine cannot produce a G3 G41 line or else it will go into alarm. Any suggestions or am I S.O.L.? It's not a big deal but it would be nice if the option for both entry and exit lines and arcs would be available. It just saves the trouble of adding or inserting a G1 G41 line in the NC file. Chris

Check in the operations manager to see what your nci filename is for all your operations. If there is a difference then change the nci file to match. [This message has been edited by ChrisD (edited 12-19-2000).]

Okay! That's good enough for me. Now I can show this to my boss and tell him to nix the idea! Now I can't get all the toys I wanted...... Damn! Thanks for your advice James, I'll consider Windows 2000 instead.

We would like to switch to windows Millenium here at work, but I am wondering before we make any decisions how is it for use with Mastercam. Any Pros? Cons? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Second Question : My video driver is out of date (3 yrs) I'm told . Any suggestions on what to get that is more recent and can be used with WIN ME and Mastercam? Thanks in advance Chris DiNardo