If I don't use this toolpath for a week or so I forget where it's at too. They should rename this. Tool shift isn't exactly self explanatory, lol

Have you set it up on any other PC previously? The license is only for ONE PC and prior to the installation the license created by CGTech is specifically for that exact equipment. If you try to load it on anything else it'll bail without a new license. Just a thought, but I agree....their support is second to none, so they'll walk you thru this over the phone.

I have to admit, that their installation is like pulling teeth....I dread the moment I need to reinstall their software or move the license to a different pc

Not as easy... often times moving machine/control definition changes settings within control definition...small stuff, but painful. I'm not a big fan of how this whole thing is looping.... machine definition to control definition to post...

8 minutes ago, RDub said:

I was looking at Camplete based on some past posts I had read on here. Sent an inquiry form via their website yesterday but hadn't heard back yet. I wasn't 100% sure that they actually offer the post or just the verification.

They do (post and verification/collision detection) and it's an awesome setup, but with the price to match. Definitely worth it if there is money in the budged for it.

Did you add a rotary to your machine definition and is the post supporting it at all?

I meant to say "tuned"

Hmm....how come I can't edit my own post???

" has been nearly 9-months and the machine still jerks when changing direction and does not have a smooth motion at all."

WOW, MTB can't setup the machine that they're selling? Unacceptable. Send it back. Without this being tubed properly you'll never use it as a 5axis machine. 3+2 at best

I have a top of the line Boxx PC and see the same thing. I just learned to live  with this. Verify can be a drag... especially when there is a lot of helical toolpath as helical arcs have tendencies to bring verify to a crawl. Having large files don't help either ( above million lines )

Not much you can do about it, short of adjusting sliders/tolerances...

Exactly. Acceleration/deceleration (and some backlash) is the main thing. When you adjust the feed as it does the move things get really out of whack if it's not synced. I've seen an error of .050" on otherwise "perfectly fine" HMC equipment

17 minutes ago, huskermcdoogle said:

I'm not sure I follow the whole syncing thing.  How to you indicated it, and then show it being off with rotation?  What is off?

Indicate the c/l of the ring, and place it accordingly in relation to the c/r of the tombstone in Mastercam.  Running depth indicator using continuous X Z B move will tell you if those axis are synced (indicator should be nice and steady while XZB is moving). Checking every few degrees (positioning only) might falsely give you good results.

If you have to ask then likely you don't need it, but it's a must check for any simultaneous 4 axis machining.

Poor man's way is to clamp a ring (make sure it's round  ) either in vises or on top of the tombstone. Indicate a center as close as possible and write a little 4th axis simultanous program to drive an indicator around this ring. 180 deg sweep is plenty.

You'd be surprised how many HMC machines are waaay off.

Random order...I'd also add a higher level look ahead if possible in addition to the data server. High pressure coolant thru is a must imo too.

Also, make sure the 4th is SYNCHED! I've seen them (hmc) come in out of whack by a huge margin. Having Fanuc come in later to synchronize the 4th is very expensive.

1 hour ago, gcode said:

All Port Expert does is provide preconfigured tool paths set up for scenarios you'd encounter machining ports.

In other words, a skilled Multiaxis user can do anything Port Expert can do, without buying Port Expert.

 

That applies to blade expert as well.

I've been using port expert since day one and am amazed by how much easier it makes my job.

We all programmed those parts, weather they are blades or ports prior to those add-on's, so yes it all can be accomplished without buying them, but....it all depends how many parts like that you have to program. If it's just a few in a year then I wouldn't waste my money on it. If however you program several of them in a week like I do, or even just a few in a month it's definitely worth the money.

I agree with Colin in the assessment of time saved. Some ports used to take me days do program (just the port toolpaths) and with the help of port expert it can be a matter of 30 minutes to a couple of hrs. I'd think that the same applies to blade expert.

Best thing to do would be handing over the part that you already programmed to your re-seller (assuming they are decent) or someone from CNC software (Aaron  ) and have them throw a toolpath at it while you watch them do this. My bet is that you'll be amazed by their efficiency.

jm2c

It bit me too this morning.

Uninstalling this fixed it:

Thanks Murlin!

Alberti

I had something similar happen. I'm usually connected to dozens of drives at different locations thru VPN and lost one if them once. I figured out that one of the USB drives used that particular letter.

Shot in a dark, but plug in one or two USB drives and then plug in that external floppy drive

Had the same problem. This place rocks!

Thank you!

Doesn't it also have anything to do with better (smoother) accuracy in high speed 5 axis speed motions?

I could be wrong.

Has anyone updated already? Are you running it together with 2015 or overwriting the old install? Is MC2018 plug-in avalable?

It's a major upgrade, so I'm looking for some feedback before I nuke the old installation.

TIA

That doesn't seem right, but  there is not much you can do about it. We're at the mercy of MTB's. You can only speak with your wallet when the time comes for a new equipment.

PM me if you can ))

That is a good lesson. Machines are getting a little wimpier...

 We had ceramic bearings on a bunch of older Matsuras and never had issues like that. And those machines WERE ABUSED.

If anything, I'd expect an overload alarm, but not a bad spindle after feeding this tool hard like that ( I'm assuming you didn't rapid into the material?)

Oh, Dzien dobry! 

My comment applied to this specific machine:  Mats MX-520 with a 20k spindle.

Those things are MTB dependend. We had a Mori where this was quite opposite. Coolant on/off only while spindle was running. That was with the DIN style coolant though.

The important thing is to exactly follow the MTB's instruction and don't get fancy trying to make all equipment from different MTBs run the same way ...and sadly I do see it all the time.

Hmm...the important thing here is to NEVER stop or start coolant thru spindle with the spindle running. ALWAYS shut down the spindle first.

Parameters should be set the way to prevent you from doing it the wrong way.

I'm not surprised that you asked that question then. Did you purchase this MX-520 new?