Thanks Bullines, Good thinking...I had a buddy open it in Illustrator, re-save it as an eps, and now I can open it. Originally I was just trying to open the file directly from my customer (not through my Photoshop), and I would see the usual error "contains pixel data that cannot be converted"..I'm used to seeing that error, but eps files will usually open anyway. So what is the difference between Illustrator's eps and Photoshop's? (other than the fact that I can open one, and not the other! ) My sense is that Illustrator is vector based?

+1 to utilizing the WCS system. Once you get the hang of properly using it, it's a must have tool!

More conversion issues, I'm trying to read an .eps, and the usual >file>converters>eps>read file does not work. I played around with opening it in Photoshop and re-saving with some differnt settings (Ascii, and various size changes), but that did nothing. I've compared previous eps's to this one, and can't descern any difference. Any thoughts?

I'm sure that I'm probably missing something (been known to happen ), but how about saving as a dxf/dwg?

Exactly Jim! I just had this discussion the other day with my instructor...saving all sorts of configs,defaults,posts,operations,toolpaths, etc. allows you to almost build your own type of "feature recognition", except that YOU acutally create the parameters and save them, and then use that as a library of sorts to apply to features of different parts. I'm just messing around with saving simple toolpath routines that I use alot (pockets,contour), and applying those "canned" routines to different parts.

Yeah, I've found that Illustrator/EPS files work the best for that type of font/text applications..getting a zillion splines though isn't that great! To solve that issue I create a contour path with no z value, cutter comp off, and save that toolpath as geometery on a different level. Then use that as my good driving geometry for the actual cut...

Hi Surface, I remembered a similar font/text issue I had a while back, and you had the best solution... would this help? (scroll to the very last reply)

I too used to do a bunch of bicycle racing in my earlier years...and know the amount of suffering a bicycle racer tolerates is absolutly incredible. What other sport do the competitiors have to endure that fine line of aerobic/anerobic performance for such a long period of time...I think armchair cyclists and sports fans in general don't really understand that type of performance, nor have every really experienced that type of exertion. Pedaling the bike is the easy part, it's the abilty to tolerate anerobic pain and lactic acid for extended periods.... That's why I race bikes with motors now! To win the Tour once is amazing, but multiple times is mind-blowing. Five (or 6!) times is incomprehensible! Lance is truly a god of human performance, endurance, and perseverence.

WOW! That's some nice work Surface! It's great to have your work showcased as a true art form. For the millions of esoteric parts that are machined, I am always psyched to see people enjoying machined parts for their intrinsic quality and precision. Sure we all scratch our heads at collecting some of this stuff, but it's a great showcase for your skills. People certainly don't appreciate the same skills used in manufactuing all the other nameless and faceless stuff our machines produce....gears,cams,brackets,molds,widgets,gizmos,etc.etc. Personally, I collect stuff with two wheels and internal combustion engines that go fast! P.S. I've always found doing work for cottage-industry types to be interesting and challenging, but usually "less than fulfilling" financially.....how about you??

+1 on the plunge milling. We bought a 2" Iscar "plunge" mill, and it worked great. The material was cast iron, the machine a Haas. Unfortunatly the part was more rigid that the Haas, but I found that for roughing, z-axis moves can take a hell of a bigger bite that x-y's. If you'd like, I could dig up the model number of that Iscar cutter....

A few months back I learned another neat little Haas trick that's worth sharing. Those of you that spend hours at the control might like this ... In just about any mode (handle jog, MDI, edit, memory, etc.) you can select an axis on the regular ABC keypad, and press the home/g28 button. Machine zero's that axis at rapid rate.

quote: Simply put, where Mastercam has associative toolpaths, SolidWorks has associative dimensions....In Mastercam you'd have to go through the whole desgin, moving things by hand. That's what I've seen from SW making it a very valuable tool......unless you like moving a hole or other feature, and having to completly re-draw the dam part!

quote: EDIT:After re-reading this thread I have to agree with Gary W. I've seen the thread ID's on cast material come out looking pretty nasty when roll tapped. I would also reccomend cutting taps for cast material. Ah ha! So I'm not crazy!! (Well, at least as far as this is concerned.) I've only done a bit of thread forming, some of which was in cast tooling plate. Needless to say I was un-impressed, and went back to traditional spiral-flute cutting taps. I'm glad to hear that it was the material causing my problems, and not necessarily the process.

Hey wizz-ard, What kind of jewelery mfg. does your outfit do? I've tinkered around here a bit with some jewelery, and was wondering what other people are doing in that field. The jewelery / fine metalsmithing community seems rather slow at adopting the abilities of machining (esp. CNC). It possibly could be do to the fact that real CNC gear is somewhat cost prohibitive to smaller manufacturers and artisans...I was wondering about jewelers that can afford it, and how so. thx!

OH YEAH! Well...well...well...well over that challenge our Hass will make a laughing stock of...of...of...of.... ITSELF! just a little comic relief from the peanut gallery.

Brings back memories of a past job about a decade ago...Worked at a forging company turning superalloys- Waspaloy, Hastaloy, Nickel 625, titanium alloys, etc. All forged or rolled seamless rings (donuts), 3"-70" in diameter. On my lunch break it was great watching the crews run the single frame air hammers, and load the big rings with a fork truck on the double frame hammers... Anyhow, all our machining was on manual machines; (BIG Leblond engines and BIG Bullard verticles). We used a lot of Kenametal inserts, can't recall the model. The metal sure is tough, but try the mill scale from forging! Like trying to machine granite!

Huh, tell me about this "shank protection" feature. Is it only in surface paths? My co-worker was doing an undercut part a little while back (V9), using a 2" x .125" ISCAR slotting mill with a 1.25" shank, and just running a 2d contour tool path. Our "shank protection" consisted of sticking you head in the dam machine, and hopefully remembering to turn the coolant off first!

How about this: DELETE > DUPLICATE > ENTITIES That should do it.

Sounds pretty cool...looks like they are not offering the demo version anymore though.

Hey thanks Christian! That is something that I have been wondering about for a while...so it is the post that is outputing (or not outputing) helix moves...in the form of g18-g19 (arcs in xz and yz)?

Rodger, Those Microscribe CMM look pretty nifty. Although the accuracy looks alittle lacking (.009-.017"). They might be ok for curves and amorphous shapes, I don't know if I'd like that tolerance for hole locating... have you used these units?

A-Ron, you've got enough hot-air there to sit beside Rush Limbaugh....nothing but babbling opinions there. Have a look at some FACTS. Thanks for the numbers, Mark!

quote: Bill did turn a profitRead it and weep. Read the next part and really weep.... quote: WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government had a deficit of $292.1 billion for the first eight months of the 2003 budget year, roughly twice the total for the same period a year earlier. The latest figures, released Thursday by the Treasury Department, underscored the government's deteriorating balance sheets. The Congressional Budget Office expect this year's federal deficit to exceed $400 billion, surpassing the previous record deficit of $290 billion in 1992. A $400 billion deficit would be nearly 4 percent of the U.S. economy as measured by the gross domestic product, the CBO says. Now, what great business savy FAMILY seems to be setting these record deficits? Not the Clintons, that's for sure....thank's for reminding us, CAMmando! I can hear it now; "Bill did this, and Bill did that... this, that, and the next thing happend under Bill.... blahhblahhblahhhh....you can whine a good tune as well! But in case you forgot the first line of my post(or should I say FACT).... quote: Bill did turn a profit Now were talkin' Jack! P.S. When you first mentioned "Silver Cup", my first thought was Lord Stanley's! after all, you guys do deserve it up north!

Hey Dan, Which books have you found motst helpful for surface toolpaths? We are in need of some good info here. thanks

Oh no, Don't get me going on GOVERNMENT B.S..... Last time we had a governmental debate it centered around the question of weapons of mass destruction...if or IF NOT they exist.... I think you probably remember that one Jack.