Is your file still open in Mastercam? If so you have to close it first... Rob

quote: Did you get the "watertight" error when using an STL as your stock, but now with SP2, you don't? I have SP2 and still get the error. Thad, That's right... I did a new disk install and varified maybe 20 programs since then. Still haven't gotten the error. With SP1 it would happen maybe once every 3 files (random). Maybe I'm just getting lucky here? Rob

Good move Keith on editing your post . I have never heard of that control.Is that the name of the machine or the control? Is it Fanuc based? What exactly do you need it to do? Did you try the MpMaster? If so is it close? Rob

Welcome to the forum Keith. Have you checked the install disk? If it's not on there you should consider contacting your re-seller. On the other hand if you're handy with post editing you might ask for help here on the board. There are some great post-masters in here. Rob

Ever since I installed SP2 my STL files have been fine... Was that one of the fixes maybe? Rob

quote: I look for a boom in the California economy. Hang on, it's going to be a good ride. I really hope you're right and not just for California's sake, but for the whole nation. California is major market for a lot of different industries. When California is in good shape than it helps out the economy of the whole country. Rob

Smit, You can make that change by using the WCS or changing the T-Plane. Rob [ 10-08-2003, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: robk ]

By the way, you should not have to do any x-forming of the geometry be selecting off for compensation. Rob

quote: how do you tell it to cut with the center of the tool. Under compensation type select "Off" Now, what's the story with the slot? Rob

tonyb, What exactly do you want to do? Are you talking about contouring? You should do a search on the forum. This topic has been covered quite a bit. Rob

Thanks again Simon for leading me in the right direction. All is good now Rob

Thanks Simon, your tip works great. Millman, parallel spiral is also my preferred method. This tool is traveling @ 270ipm though and I wanted the tool to relly "roll" smoothly around the corners working inside to outside. With Simon's tip I can't work inside to outside, but the tool does do what I want it to. So back to parallel spiral it is. Thanks again Rob

I am using a 2.5 Dia. cutter that is cutting a rectangular through pocket ( 14.5 x 9.625) using true spiral method with a 66% stepover. Manufacturer recommends the DOC to be .072 with a ramp angle of 1%. Is there a way to do that without zig-zag, or the cutter cutting air? Basically I want the cutter to follow the same path that it would follow without ramping, yet ramp to .072 @ 1% than stay @ that depth until the next pass. It does not have to be spiral method (it could be any of them). I could do a contour ramp (depth), but it splits .072 over the whole path. Thanks for the input I'm using V9.1 Sp2 Rob

quote: Sometimes when I get some "free time," I pop open the help file and read whatever interests me +1 Thad That is one thing a lot of people forget about--the help icon. I do exactly the same thing, and even if I learn just one new thing everyday, it's still one more thing that I knew before. Rob

Where are you in CT? Rob

Circle mill is just it--circle mill. You can mask on arc and not chain the geometry. You also have the option of selecting it by points and entering the dia. of the circle. You also have the option of starting the tool in cener of arc. Cicle mill is much quicker for the right application. Rob

Cool What are you gonna machine with it? Rob

How can I close multiple arcs? I asked this question a couple of months back. Thanks 'Rekd for the earlier reply about holding the left & right mouse buttons and "scanning" over the arcs. It still works great... The only problem that I ran into now was that I must have missed a couple of arcs. There was no material list from the customer, so I had no clue as to how many arcs there were. Is there another way to close "all" arcs that I still don't know about? Thanks. Rob

As Jim mentioned earlier-- an optical pre-setter works nice but expensive. If you get a chance check out Command Urma Digiset 2. It's still not that cheap, but works beautiful. Rob

quote: If its that bad then MOVE!!!. I can handle comments about bad habits, but not about our country. I hear Iraq is nice this time of year. I'm sorry if I insulted you Hardmill... I'm not making any bad comments about our country, and never did I say that this country is bad.I think this is the greatest country in the world. Don't put words in my mouth Hardmill. I just have my opinions about certain things and I decided to put in a comment. Like I said before you can't please everyone. Rob

This is just the beginning... The government makes up the rules on where to smoke, who should wear seatbelts and helmets and how fast we should drive (just a few examples). In this "free" country you're the furthest thing from free. I don't want to step on any toes and/or hurt anybodys feelings. You can't please everyone (kinda like the posts for your machines). Somebody will always insult somebody else. Going at this rate pretty soon you will have bars that won't be able to serve liquor, the towns will have a designated park for smokers, and you will have to wear a helmet in your shower (there is more head injuries in showers than on motorcycles). Again, everyone is their own beast, and everyone has a bad habit of some sorts that is bad. My grandfather smoked 2 packs a day, drank his vodka daily and ate what looked to be chunks of fat. The man lived to be 96 and died with a smile. With everything that is bad for us nowadays we're all walking dead in one way or another we just don't know it. But the government will decide what is best for us... Has our government with some of our silly laws ever failed us? This is only my opinion, so take it how you wish. Rob

quote: So, allow me to say, 'best of luck' to Mr. Jim. I'm sure you'd have a bright future with Mastercam if you'd pull your head out of you a$$ long enough to actually make an effort to use it. +1 Chris Mastercam is only a part of his problems Rob

I get the same thing (once in a blue moon). When I regenerate the file in the temp folder all is good. Put it back in my Mc folder and the file is still good . Until next time. Rob

Nice looking car. Don't forget the fact that it's still a concept though. Once the bigwigs at Ford will get their hands on it they will make it less appealing (to reduce costs of course). Cheap plastics interior, squeaks and rattles after after a few miles, some of the most uncomfortable seats. Still looks good though. Rob

I belive V9 is the latest Demo... It's a demo so it's free. Rob