I have no problem figuring out a work around myself, but when someone I'm training says "why is helix not working, the switch is here (edit: YES numerous values and options have be tried) To re-phrase the question: The entry method option is there, does the toggle work? I see it works in Johns file. What's the reason it's not in this one: HELIX.MCX-7

I give up, I cannot get a helix entry move for 2d dynamic core. Come to think of it I never have.(Granted core isn't for entering material, but this application is a bit weird). Anyone know what combination of settings?

Last resort I'll go gorilla-style and build a big weldement to house the trunnion. I'd rather wipe out a (disposable) haas spindle than a trunnion. Although it will undoubtedly kick the z axis off too.

I've got a trunnion the the right side of the table, and use the left for vice work. Any ideas on a way to limit machine travel out of the trunnion zone? If the spindle is down and someone hit's X home, the trunnion get's wiped out.

The tool is pretty great, but tell me what to program/simulate with. That's just as impressive. IMHO

I've got the utility sc.config set to parasolid, so that's what seems to be working. Pete I'll send a file right now to qc, attn you. It will just be a cube, and nothing else. Yes sc 2014 thx!

Anyone having trouble opening native .scdoc files? I get an ACIS / does not contain solid model data error. However, if I use the instant transfer c-hook it comes it fine. It's doing a x_b conversion in the background.

Wow Jay those cases are really affordable. Yeah the gun case is a novelty. It generally only goes to firearm-friendly shops, and certainly doesn't come to the school. I used to have a nice Pelican case. Their products are so nice. I've always wanted a Haliburton case as the end-all though.

Pretty slick holder. I like em'. I use the case from my Smith & Wesson P99 to transport my SP Pro. Do the workstations at your college have 3d mice? I'd love to outfit our labs, but I'd need 36 units. Instead we are getting Spaceclaim. VERY good educational offering they have.

What he says with the Adobe. Ras-2-Vec is marginal any way you cut it.

New machine or used? Regardless, Gosiger. I know the AE who does the training. Second-to-none in mill/turn.

Or the total opposite of one-offs- high volume parts where a .125 move can save 20 hrs on a 15,000 part run. It's fun saving seconds to save days.

Funny you mention that, I just learned that one today. Turned out that was the hangup all along, you just can't turn on the 4/5 axis, you have to enter the dam codes. I just got the list of unlock codes to get everything up and running. Also had to manually enter about 100 parameters to match the 5th axis :/ Now I need to re-backup the parameters, and I wonder if it will write the parameters that need a code? I'll try it tomorrow and see. I kept reloading the backed up parameters but the needed ones didn't come back. Yes E-stop was on Dylan. Funny both the Becker brothers were working on the machine with me. Stop by someday and say hi. Thanks for the help fellas!

About a third of the topics list in pinned items. Can some of them be removed? Please.

I prefer longhand. Full control over every move in the toolpath. Lead/ins/outs, weird small edge breaks, point moves, insert inspection, dwells to break chips, etc. etc. I program a lot of weird parts that I need that subtle control over the tool motion that I just can't get with a canned cycle. m2c

Thanks Robert, having major issues with the machine. Unable to enable the 5th axis in the settings. I found it somehow got set to 0 in the parameters, however it will not let me change it to a 1. Yes parameters are unlocked with setting 7, and what's really weird is I can change some parameters, but just not single parameters that enables 5th. Says 'function locked'. I thought re-loading the parameters would help, however getting all sorts of 'CRC' errors doing so. I might just call selway on monday.....I hate not being able to fix stuff myself.

What's the key sequence to reload par file from disk?

Take a look at the attached file here. Main thing is turn on arc filter. Also I put .010 stock to leave for roughing, set the total tol to .005, and make sure you adjust the slider towards arc/line tolerance. Then for restmill set stock to leave to 0, then total tolerance to .001 or so. However you don't have a finish pass with these two toolpaths, so it will need a contour to finish the walls. Another way instead of rest is dynamic contour. It's nice because it has a finish pass with cutter comp rolled into the toolpaths. You have to make sure you set up the "contour wall" page with the appropriate numbers BASED on the previous toolpath. (kinda restmill-ish but you enter the data, also note that it's asking for radius values, yes even though everyone-and-their-mother defines tools by diameter). TEST-RIZZO.MCX-7

C-axis cross drill lets you select c OR y axis on the rotary axis control page of the toolpath. It has regular linking parameters that "make sense". C-axis drill basically is using axis substitution, where on the rotary axis control page you need to enter a diameter of your part, which is ADDED to all the linking parameters. Not as easy as regular cross drill, you always are having to think through what the dia of a particular feature you are on... An alternate way to go is use regular milling toolpaths, with the rotary axis control page set to C-axis. It takes an understanding of the view-manager and t/c planes a bit but there are a few parameters that aren't avail in the c-axis toolpaths, but you have access to in mill. (not to mention the fact that you can use any and all the mill toolpaths!) The best way to set up the correct planes for full blown milling toolpaths is using the c-axis utility, a little hidden gem. You will find it under the Mill Toolpaths, the very first thing at the top of the list. It's pretty easy to figure out. hth

1) Open the file MastercamSimulatorDefaults.xml in your MyMcamx7 folder. Find the below line and change true to false. <ShowWireframeGeometries>false</ShowWireframeGeometries>

I put that system on all our rotaries and made mini-tombstones. OMG was that a time saver. Literally opening the door and closing it took longer than clamping/unclamping the fixture. Ours were pnumatic and footpedal operated. Instead of longer tombstones packed with parts that required tailstocks, shorties with no tailstock worked better. Sure fewer parts per load and more cycles, but overall better part throughput. However, you being very slim-staffed, I know unattended and long cycles times are beneficial in themselves. At the college we get SO many calls from businesses looking for programmers, but the student supply and capability just isn't there. I'd say 10-15% of a class of college age students has the potential to be good programmers...and that would be after a few years of serious mentoring and experience. Figure the old apprenticship/journeymen model. People who go through multi-year apprenticeship programs come out with good skills, but are they journeymen? Unfortunate that takes another 10 years of experience. Someone with a year of classroom mastercam training knows the basics and can navigate the program, but has literally just scratched the surface of reality. On the bright side, I sit a class of high-school kids in front of Mastercam and Solidworks, and wow are they quick. As fast as I can go they can keep up and retain it. THEY are our future, as long as we can get the parents on board to encourage them and not turn their nose up at manufacturing.... Sorry for the rant and none of that helps you now, just trying to sympathize and tell ya I'm trying.

I tried creating an .exe presentation from Mach Sim, however it won't open on my ipad. It was a long shot, but I could see it being useful for operators. Not sure if it would work on an android based tablet. I'm going to try running the .exe on an OSP-200, it should work and be pretty neat. The only thing ipad is good for is watching you tube videos; particularly on how jet engines work, steam train maintenance films from the 1940's, or atomic bomb test footage. And reading the Onion.

Invest in a Big Kaiser or Shunk Unilock system for your fourth. Make some tombstones, you can approach horizontal w/ pallet changer spindle optimization. Big time be aware of that. Alternately, just make sure you have a value entered in your view manager for each and every view. Even if you want G54, don't leave it empty, have a 0 in there. Multiple views have the same offset, have the same number in the woff field in view manager. Another tip is set up the icon G view = T plane. That way with one click you can visually be looking down the spindle and be sure your on the view you think you're on.

Wow. Find out what they used to program that demo. That's what ya get. Also ask if it comes with the speakers and soundtrack

I hear ya Bob, with job shop work you put all sorts of time and r&d into a project, and when it's done it's done. Your "I" in the ROI starts all over again with every job, and your past part might as well be sitting on the bottom of the river: you don't get to amortize (and enjoy) the time and effort over a production run. Only to start the whole process over again with the next project. And repeat. You do some really interesting work and are a smart guy so I could see it being invigorating though.... M2C on your question, it's the tools that kill ya, and are reachable hanging fruit. My goal is to never have to dig for a tool, collet, holder, wrench etc etc. Every tool isn't in a cabinet, but in a holder with a tag. It's offset marked and ready to be loaded into a machine. A low-tech magnet board / list / hang tag on the machine with what tools are in the machine. hth