I've been tasked with making a special Plaque containing 30+ signatures engraved into it. Can anyone recommend a way for me to scan the signatures from a piece of paper and import them into MasterCAM? I've already scanned them all and have them in PDF format, but I can't figure out a way to import a PDF into MasterCAM??? I've attached the PDF files, if it helps. I need to keep all of the fine detail in the signatures as much as possible. Any help is always greatly appreciated! Brian Joel 2.pdf Joel 3.pdf

And after telling me how you did it, I was able to duplicate it for myself which will help me in the future. Thanks Again Hockey Guy!!! Hopefully I can help you one day. Brian

Helps a ton! Thanks Again! Brian

Thanks Hockey Guy! You nailed it on Level 3. Now can you tell me what I needed to do to accomplish that? Thanks to all for the help! Brian

Yes David, I need the larger end "Centers" to remain in their same green/red line origin, but I need the entire cones (without changing their shapes at all) to tilt/angle so that each of their center lines matches their red line. It will cause their bottoms and their tops to angle respectively. The solution that TSALADYGA drew, keeps the bottoms and tops level on the X axis, but they will angle when done like I need. I'm sorry this is so confusing, but I REALLY appreciate all of the help! I've been racking my brains on this one for a while now and really need to get this job done.

Gcode, That only allows me to move entire cones. I don't know how to better explain, but I need to leave their bases where the are, and without changing their shapes at all, alter their positions so that their center lines follow the Red/Desired lines. Are you as confused as I am? LOL, I do appreciate the time and help though Very much!

I hope I'm attaching the file I need help with correctly??? I basically have 4 cones that I have managed to draw correctly but I need to move each of their positions and can't figure out how to do it like I need. I have drawn a center line through each of the cones. I have also drawn a "Red" line at the base center of each. I need the cones to be moved so that their centers are aligned with the "Red" lines. Does this make sense? Any help is GREATLY appreciated. And please tell me the correct way I should have tried. Thank You, Brian CONE HELP.MCX-5

Thank You guys! I had not tried the "Merge" Very much appreciated

Happy Thanksgiving to all I would like to know if it's possible to import one of my MCX files into a drawing that I am working on. I would like to be able to import a logo that I have drawn and saved in my MCX files, so I can engrave the same logo on my parts without redrawing every time. Can someone please explain to me if this is possible and the steps to follow if it is? Thank You in advance!!!

Got it now. Thanks Stan for all of your help!

I have uploaded a part on the FTP Site in the Drawings Folder labeled "Go No-Go Gage". Can some of you please take a look at it and tell me if my X4 Mill Level-1 is capable of programming this Toolpath? It is just a very simple part, but is a good example of a problem I have ran into several times before, and haven't yet gotten a straight answer on. I've been told by some that X4 Mill Level-1 won't do it, and I've been told by others that it will do it. And I have literally spent hours trying different Toolpaths and Chaining, with no luck at all. On the part you will notice a 90 degree (sharp) transition in the middle of the part. This transition is not critical and does not have to be exactly how it's drawn, however the tool makes the transition here will be fine. The thing I am having trouble with and really need to learn to do, is producing the Arcs with my Z Axis for Concaving & Convexing parts on their top surfaces. Basically I do a lot of parts that I need to round off the edges on, and instead of trying to find a Corner Rounding End Mill for every radius that I need, I want to be able to create Toolpaths that will do this using Ball Nose End Mills. For the sample part I have posted, I would like to be able to machine the entire top surface using a 1/2" Ball Nose End Mill. Any help is always GREATLY appreciated! Thank You, Brian

Still, not having any luck with getting on FTP Site. Still getting same request for user name and password, and nothing I enter works. Is there any other way to display the part I am having trouble with?

It's saying the FTP Server won't accept my user name and password??? I need help with a part, and would like to be able to upload the part so I can explain exactly where I need help. X4 Mill Level-1 Thanks

Using X4 Mill Level 1

I am, all of the sudden, having problems with “Tabbing”. Last night, Mastercam locked up and shut down on me mid program (yes, luckily I had recently saved), then it posted a message for me to report problem… I didn’t. But now it is not letting me manually place tabs. It will still place them automatically when I select automatic, but manually (which I use a lot) will not. I’ve tried rebooting my computer and everything else I can think of. Any suggestions? Or are you aware of any problems there? Or am I missing an update or something? Also... Even though I've defined my material, when I view my program in Verify, It's not showing my tool cutting through the material. I've never seen these problems before. Very frustrating for a Noob... Is it me, is it my computer, or is it MC??? Will try to forward program to anyone that can help with this. Thanks, Brian

AHA!!! I always use the Lead In/Lead Out but have never played with the Ramp or Helix Heights. Until now, that is. Thank You Guys As Always! I'll keep practicing, so hopefully one day I won't have to bother anybody for the "petty" stuff!

Using X4 Mill Level 1 on my Haas... Trying to cut a Contour Toolpath, but I don't like to Plunge my End Mills when I can avoid it. I have extra material for my part. Is there a way to make tool enter with a Helix, or even a Ramp for a Contour Toolpath? Surely there is a way to do this, but I can't see it Thank You in advance for any help. Brian

Zoober, What do you mean "by edge"? Do you mean Face Face Fillet?

Okay Ajmer. I've already tried srinking the size. But I'll try even smaller

I've tried both ways. I just get 2 different errors, LOL. If you'll walk me through how to send it, I will send it to you so maybe you can see if I'm doing something wrong???

Can someone help me? I'm trying to change the sharp edges of my part by doing a "Fillet" to the desired edges. But I keep getting "Error" messages. I have my Wire Frame Drawn and have turned my part into a Solid. Now I'm going under the "Solids" menu and choosing "Fillet". At this point, it tells me to select entities that I want to add fillet to. So I go and select all of them, but as soon as I hit "Enter", I get messages that read... Blend Creation Failed Probable Cause: Blend Overflow Removes Adjacent Face or Edge Then it takes me back to square 1 everytime. Can someone please explain this to me? Thank You

WOW!!! You guys nailed it! And I learned something new! Thanks to both of you Colin & David. It's impossible to show you both my TRUE appreciation for your help, therefore all I can offer is my TRUE THANKS! Hopefully some day I can return the favor!

I'm thinking more along the lines of what Colin is talking about by using the 2 separate toolpaths. I'm going to give that a shot now. Thank you guys VERY MUCH!!!

I am having trouble finding the toolpath that I would like my mill to take for machining a particular part. Without a doubt, most of you can answer this for me in a lot shorter time than it is taking me to type this. However, I have litterally spent several hours now and can't figure this out... I am milling a part and basically need to leave a Trunion Stub (Pivot Pin) remaining from my stock. I've made several of this part already and have many more to go. But I want to change my Toolpath to one that would better suit my needs. From my bare stock/block, I want to Helicoil cut (slightly larger than my finished OD size) completely down at approx 2 deg angle to my total desired depth. Then I want to (at full depth) climb cut 2 finish passes, bringing my remaining "protruding pin" down to my finished OD size. Does that make sense? I've only been at MC for about 2 weeks now and have already learned a ton, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to make this toolpath happen. Any help with this, is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for reading, Brian

Hello again everyone. It was a MUCH better week with learning MCamX4. I'm still eons away from becoming the expert that I envy in most of you, but I did manage to finally turn out my first parts and see for myself how all of it ties together. I owe my life to (member) Chri$ #31093, who stayed up past 11PM one evening just helping me (a stranger to him) get my first program through. VERY few people like that in the world anymore! Thank You Again Chris ! Now that I am beginning to get some of this stuff, I have to admit that with programming this past week, I have seen where having a "good", "properly set-up", and "accurate" Tool Library would be extremely beneficial to me. Can any of you offer suggestions to setting up my tool library within Mcam accurately to exactly what I have for use in the "real world". At the job, we have 2 tooling carts for our CAT40 tooling. I'd like to assign each tool a specific spot on one of our carts, then number each spot to reflect the exact Tool # they are known as within my Mcam Library that I set up. Have any of you encountered any problems with accuracy when it comes to the "Speeds & Feeds Calculator" recommendations for tooling? I guess I've always leaned towards to conservative side, because I would never have dreamed of some of the speeds & feeds that it recommends to me sometimes. But on the other hand, I've been told that I can damage tooling by running it too slowly also. And I guess I need to build an accurate Materials Library as well now. What are your oppinions for all of this? As always, it is GREATLY appreciated!