If your having this much trouble creating a single arc and all your getting is a bunch of small arcs that replace the lines of the spline, create a spline with even more control points that the original. Then you will not see the lines on the piece you are cutting. Of course you would not use the arc filter then.

Hello, I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers with my comment about our friendly neighbors to the north! I think I've figured it out. I have versions 8.1 and 9.0 available to me. I do not have 9.1 yet. 9.0 does not have the option to uncheck "machine finish pass at final depth" it just does it. When the guys sent me their files I had to regenerate them when I read them into 9.0. My version was giving a different toolpath than 9.1. It did a full depth finish pass and on their system it was not. I'll have to get updated ASAP Thanks Alot for all the help. Mark P.S. Can you guys see the north pole from you back window?

Andrew, I didn't know Canada had the internet? Markb52

Yes I recieved the files from Chris and Marc Thanks. However, no thanks. This is not what I'm trying to do! I want to make only one pass around the part ramping from z-.100 to z-.700. When it reaches z-.700 I want to do a lead out and be done. I don't want it to make another perimeter pass at z-.700 (constant Z). The reason I'm trying to get this to work is because the geometry we cut is for the most part rectangular but has alot of small detail on it. Creating 3-d geometry from it is a pain in the xxxx! I want this toolpath to be optimized for hundreds of parts otherwise this would not be much of a concern to me for a one off part. The only other thing other than creating 3-d geometry is to save a toolpath like you guys e-mailed me and save the toolpath as geometry then eliminate the constant z part of it and run a 3-d contour on it. The material I'm cutting will wear out a diamond coated endmill after 15-20 parts if I just do a constant level perimeter cut. You can see why I'm trying to utilize the entire flute length. I 'm looking for a simple way to do this with 2-d geometry and the ramp feature. Help!!!

All I wanted to save it for was to be eccentric or possibly print them and hang them on my fridge! Seriously, alot of times it is easier to use 3-d toolpath geometry for something than to have to create it from scratch. Thanks

Hi Chris M., Yes please send it to me. I didn't realize that my e-mail was not visible. I'm not trying to be anti-social. I'll do that at work! Thanks, Mark

This will not control what I'm trying to do. I want to make one pass around the part starting at z-.100 and finishing at z-.700. Once the cutter reaches z-.700 I want it to lead out and be done. I don't want an extra pass at z-.700. Make pass at final depth is not even an option in multi-pass? I want to do a 3-d contour with out having to create 3-d geometry. I want to use the ramp function with 2-d geometry.

Well can you?

Where is the "make pass at final depth" box? Do both v8 and v9 have it?

I'm trying to machine a piece of very abrasive material that is .080 think. I'm cutting a perimeter cut around it and want to use the entire .700 flute length of my cutter to avoid cutter wear as much as possible. The problem is that I want to use the contour toolpath with ramp maching but I don't want to do the extra full depth pass after the endmill reaches z -.700. I want one pass ramping from z-.080 to z-.700. What I had to do is create ramped geometry to run a 3-d contour from. The toolpath editor is another option but then I won't have my lead out after I cut the full depth pass out. Is there a way to do what I'm trying to with flat geometry? -Thanks-

Almost forgot the best feature of Powermill that Mastercam needs to have in V10. Collision testing. The ability to draw your endmill, collet, toolholder, spindle or whatever you want and collision test it to your block. Powermill even tells you how far you have to have to hang the endmill out and will even split the toolpath up for a long endmill/toolholder and a short one. I'ts awesome for deep cavity and force work and is always reliable.

Hello, I'm wondering what your ideas are on the right way to cut a spherical orbit electrode in Mastercam. I've debated this with co-workers in the past and have sided with the majority. The majority (me included) believe that in order to put the proper geometry on a spherical orbit electrode for an EDM machine you have to lie to Mastercam in the diameter of cutter parameter box.(amount of overburn required per side gets subtracted from the radius of the cutter, e.g. a .250 ball for .010 overburn per side becomes a .230 ball in the parameters box) However, I'm now working for a shop that believes you tell Mastercam to leave minus stock to leave in the surface parameter box. We're talking full 3-D electrodes here. Please give input! What gives?

I really don't understand the hype of the graphical interface. I think the menu based interface of mastercam is wonderfull. I've programmed quite a bit with Powermill which is a graphical interface and it slows me down. Think about it. What is faster hitting a hot key or mousing onto a tinny screen button that you miss anyways some of the time? What hand gets sore first after sitting at the PC for hours on end, the mouse hand or your typing hand? I admit that mastercam could use a refresh on the visual appearance. However, going away from the menu based interface would be a mistake! My biggest wants for V10 -more powermill features -better roughing -better rest machining -ability to create rest boundries -ability to machine between a boundry within a boundry (inner and outer boundries)