Right now we are using MasterCam to model in. We are looking at going to Solidworks with the MasterCam add on. I don't actually do the toolpaths for the part I mentioned above but I am pretty sure they are creating models, turning them into surfaces and putting the standard old style toolpaths on them. That was what I was looking for in that if we have the model we need to be doing HSM toolpaths. We are using X5, does the feature based machining work well cutting H-13 steel?

I know that a model is actually surfaces with a water tight skin on it but does anybody see any advantages of programming a part as surfaces and not creating a actual working model if you can get the job done faster as surfaces. We do a lot of cavities with variable land and variable draft tapering up from the bottom of the land. This becomes a nightmare on some complex shapes to model. Just trying to get some idea on which direction to take. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys! I kinda already knew this but wanted to hear it from some experts. Now I have to find a way to pass this information along. Folks feelings get broken here about as easy as the cutters do!

Let me first say that I don't program for the Mills here were I work but I was told something that I had to get some feedback on before I believe it. We currently do all our Cam work in Mastercam and I was told that Mastercam is not good with fine detail work because we are always breaking cutters... But it is great with the thicker parts where we are using larger cutter taking out a lot of material. I was told that certain Cam software was better with the fine detail than others and visa-versa. Any feedback, comments, arguments are welcome. Like I said, I was just curious what some would have to say about that?

Yeah I think so to... Do you think since its such a repititious movement that if it starts out a small problem and then just compounds till it has a bad movement on one of the serrations and then resets itself and starts all over again. Thats the only since I can make of it since it only happens on these type of shapes.

Sorry, that was a piece of the shape that I manipulated to cut a test and put the startpoint on the outside. The wire comp is actually on the inside of the shape. We use .010" wire.

I have no problem doing that. I did just get through running test cuts on both of our Charmille machines and the Robofil is the machine that is causing the problem. Our other machine is a Charmilles Cut 20 and it cut the part just fine with no problems.

straight burns, control def is set to delta start to center and yes allow 360 deg. arcs is unchecked

If I am looking in the right place that you are talking about they are all set to Conical.

Fish tail is checked in my control setting in the corner tab. This has always been checked as far as I know in all previous versions of MasterCam we have used. One thing I did notice was checked that wasn't in our previous versions was the End point checks in the Arc tab. Would this cause problems like that? I am not familiar with what that does exactly. Another thing that doesn't make since is that it doesn't do it on all the corners, it can be a ridged top with .010" r. connecting the top ridge to the bottom ridge and their could be 50 of those just alike and it will choose to do this on just one fillet out of the whole bunch. Makes you want to pull your hair out!

What its doing is going outside the geometry which is causing a gouge in the steel. As its cutting or dry running it is tracing the offset around the g code from the .iso file and thats when you see it. We are using Robofil Charmilles machines and have never had this problem on similiar shapes before.

I am having an issue with our wire machine wanting do a full circle when it comes to certain fillets. It is happening when the offset is applied at the machine. On MasterCam its set to (in control). The only way around this is to have MasterCam set to (in computer) and call out the gcode with the offset already applied. Anybody have a idea or have seen this before. I'm sure there is some sort of filter I can use to prevent this but just not sure what to do??? Oh yeah, it seems to only be on small .008" or .010" fillets and so far its been on shape with a lot of small ridges, like a bleacher section. Thanks!

I did, thanks, I remapped all my power libraries in my operations to the proper folders. I made a folder in C:\mcamx\wire\power with all my power libraries just so I could tell what the power name was so each time I pull up a older file I can then remap it. Not sure if this is a wise thing to do but it works for me... For now...

'Simulate Wire Compensation' is checked. Nvidia Quadro 600? Doesn't that have to do with the graphics? Not to up on that end of computers... I might need to get our IT to take a look at it and upgrade if need be.

OK... I just rolled my mouse in and out and it appears and then disappears.... What the heck? Computer specs are: HP Z210 Workstation Intel Xeon CPU E31240 @ 3.30Ghz 14.0 GB of Ram 64 Bit OS This should be a enough juice so that I shouldn't have any display promblems? Right?