I'm not sure what differences there are in the underlying mathematics -if any. The resultant shapes do appear to be similar, but I've not tried any tests.

Coons is still offered as a C-hook. coonsurf.dll. But I have had excellent results with Net Surface. Coons is there as a safeguard for legacy users.

This thread is devoted to questions about how things work in X compared with v9. If you don't know how to do something in X that you used to do in v9, ths is the place to ask. PLEASE; don't hijack this thread, go off on tangents, or whine. Ask a specific question, and someone will reply with a specific answer. If you want to complain about how a specific thing works, start a new topic. This is meant to be a constructive and informative thread, and I think the topic is very relevent for many of you folks that are just now getting X and are feeling a little frustrated because you don't know how to do the things you used to do. Let the education begin.

OK, here are some specifics of things I like about X; so far and in no particular order. If you have specific questions about how something works in X, just ask. We may want to start another thread for that, like "How it Works in X" because "X Sucks" is such a stupid and negative topic. We need to focus on the future. No whiners; let's get serious and work in a serious and constructive way. • Zip2go utility allows you to automatically pack up all files associated with a job (post processor, MCX, etc) with one click. • Update Mastercam automatically (like Norton Antivirus) using Help, Update Mastercam. • Attributes always visible, and much easier to change. • Planes have been re-worked and are simpler to use. • Preview any Xform operation. • Trim is far easier to use. Click once to single trim, double click to trim two entities. • Pick a chain by simple holding the Shift key and clicking on an entity in the chain. • Double click to end spline selection, polygon select, and more. • Just keep creating entities. There is not need to End anything, and say goodbye forever to Done, Done, Done, Do It! • Pre-select or post-select geometry. In other words, pick your geometry and then the function, or pick the function then select the geometry. • Click one to select, click again to unselect. • To window anything in, just click and drag. No need to select Window first.tc. • polygon select, double click to end • Many consolidated functions. Only five Line functions that do what it took nine to do in X. • Fields remember previously entered values • Gradient background support. • Operations and Solids managers always accessible. No need to stop what you are doing to view the Operations Manager! • Alt-O to temporarily hide the Toolpaths/Solids manager to maximize your drawing space when drawing. • CPU usage is flat-lined unless you are doing something. • Infinite undo/redo! • All/Only selections are very fast and efficient. • No more File, Converters, Next Menu, etc. Just File, Get, and select the file type. • Multi-surface machining FZT fast Z-cut…. 3D surface toolpaths faster and better • 5-axis continues to get better and better • Live entities” give you a chance to preview and change any entity parameter before your commit to it. • The menus are reorganized and grouped in a far more logical way. The menu is “flat” meaning everything is there, and you can get to it with usually only one or two clicks. • Zoom is cursor sensitive. When you start to zoom with the mouse wheel, cursor location determines the center of focus. • Program any machine in the same session. You can program, verify, and post a part as it moves from the lathe to the mill, and then to the Wire EDM all in the same MCX graphic. • Accept and stay in function. No need to continue to select Line when creating lines. • Complete customization. Program the right mouse button or any keyboard key to be exactly what you want. Create your own toolbars. Make Mastercam display only things you want. • Support for space ball. • Divide is a single click. • And on, and on, and on……

You really need some persistence if you've been using the "old" Mastercam from years and converting to X. While many things work the way they did in v9, some are far different. You can't keep thinking that you want to do it exactly how you did it before. Think of this as if you are learning a totally different product (because it is, in many ways). In total, complete, unvarnished honesty, I can say that I love this new product. I'm sure there are "bugs" that will now be smoked out, and that would happen if CNC beta tested it for 100 years. But these will be fixed soon, and with the new Mastercam you will get these updates automatically if you are on maintenance (see Help, Update Mastercam). I get very frustrated when I "have" to go back to v9 as I am spoiled by all the conveniences in X. There are a lot of jewels in there, keep digging.

Jay, Good point. I'd suggest you "play" with the software, work through the transition guide and other stuff with the software, then attend a class. Remember, the Mastercam interface hasn't changed in 20 years, and probably won't have to for another 20. Take your time, be patient, and enjoy the process. This is really cool stuff. The comments of most of my customers has been more lie, "I don't know quite how to use it, but I sure like it so far and see that it is better."

The Handbook Volume 1 has been delivered to the printer. I believe you will find it comprehensive and informative, and heads and shoulders above anything you've seen from me before.... 450 pages, over 600 illustrations. These will be distributed through In-House Soluions (emastercam.com) and you might be able to pre-order them.

As a matter of basic courtesy, you may want to pose your issues as a question, rather than a flame. That way you will learn from us people who have been using it for 18 months rather than getting flamed in return. With all seriousness: If I can offer anyone out there any reason to persist and work through your initial frustration, it would be this bottom line comment. I really get frustrated going back to v9 now, and there is no way I'd go back to the old interface even if I could.

Expect to get frustrated at first. This is a big change. You will grope around for a while, not knowing how to do things, or not being able to find a function you used in Version 9 in X. It’s there, and probably in a more logical place and implemented far better than before. For example, Squash, Project to Plane, Project to Surface, and Project lines normal to a surface are all in one function, “Project”, rather than scattered in different places. As you use Mastercam X, you will start to see how much more you can do, and appreciate the thought and care that went into its design. It doesn't help to flame on first impressions. I'd work for it for 20+ hours before I even thought about complaining. It will save you a lot of embarassment.

It cuts great with a "valve stem" cutter, but you can only tilt the head so far before the 5-axis head hits the table. Also, you can't put in tight radii. I thought of the template idea. At this point, the customer seems against it, but I think this might be the only solution that can yield good results. You guys are great. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Does anyone have experience machining nomex honeycomb, before it is laminated? With a .25" flat cutter it tends to tear and fray -even at 18,000 RPM. I was thinking of going with a high speed air driven spindle 50,000K+ and a smaller tool. This is a "captive" shop and does not compete with anyone.

Just a guess, but have you tried using Point Generators? try setting and angle of 1 degree and see if things get better.

I found www.robotmaster.com which has a very mature and polished product for programming robots with Mastercam; two thru 6 axis simultaneous. If you have a customer that wants to program robots with Mastercam, you have a nice solution here.

The Motoman robot takes a .jbi file format. This appears to be a very simple xyz comma delimited file in 3-axis, and xyzabc format for 5-axis. Does anyone have any documentation on this file format? Specifically, I need a list of the commands similar to a G&M code list for a regular CNC machine. In the JBI file these commands are like ///POSTYPE, //RECTAN etc. Any help you can fax or email to me would be greatly appreciated.

Look at Alienware. These are big (17"), heavy, high performance desktop replacement computers. Not what you want if you travel on planes a lot, but great if you are just moving desktop to desktop. Otherwise, look at Dell.

I mapped Translucent to a hot key too. Being able to quickly switch to/from translucent is invaluable when working on shaded files! In Mastercam X, you can put Translucent (or most any other function) on the Right Mouse Button menu. Sweet!!!!!!!

Mastercam has the most powerful and flexible posts I've ever delt with. I can't remember NOT being able to give the customer code that looked and worked exactly like they wanted; zero edits. I'm not sure what more you could ask for.

1. Use Xform, Squash 2. Use Edit NCI (right click on NCI in Operations Manager) 3. Can't help you here

There are some Windows plotter drivers from a company called WINLINE (based in AZ?) that might help.

I'd use Transform toolpaths instead if possible.

Don't despair! I had a customer who knew NOTHING about computers, CNC machines, or CAD/CAM buy a 5-axis router. He was actually up and running independently in a couple of months. It took a lot of effort and keeping optimistic on his part, but he pulled it off. He is very successful now.

This is why I am able to make a living as a Mastercam dealer. Tracking down and fixing post processor issues can be a major time hog and headache. To turn a phrase, "This IS rocket science!"

Fixture Offsets are set by the Work Ofs setting (0=initial offset, usually G54, 1=G55, etc.) They can also be auto incremented if you use a Transform toolpath (see the settings related how to handle Fixture Offsets). Some older posts set the Fixture Offset using Misc Value mi1. If that doesn't do it for you, you need to contact whoever provided the post processor. You may have to open the post and see how the WCS is handled (see mi1 and pwcs).

Ketil, I have a Dell M50 with Quadro4 500GoGl and use driver version 6.13.10.4258 with no problems. ------------------------------------------------- Techschool Student: no matter how brilliant you are, you won't get anywhere in life if you are rude and cruel to your peers. Are you sure you don't want to take this opportunity to redeem yourself by apologizing to Ketil openly? I think it would make it easier for people deal with you going forward. [ 01-27-2005, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Charles Davis ]

1. Surface normals only matter for flowline, but if you want to set them all, you can use Modify, Normals, Set to set them the same direction as the active Cplane. 2. Small surfaces aren't bad. 3. You'd be a lot better off getting the data in either Catia or STEP than IGES.