Ok Storkman, that just might work.

Thanks for the replies. I thought there was a program for GE3 conversions, when I get a chance I will have to download it from the FTP. As for installing V9 after X2... the forum consensus is not to do that. So I would have to uninstall X2 SP1, X2 MR1 and X2 MR2. Then install V9 and whatever updates it had, and then reinstall some of the X2s... That’s a lot of time and trouble. Anybody have a MC7 to MCX conversion program?

I'm disapointed that MC doesnt read in its older file formats. I still have some MC7 and GE3 files that I might need. With my new computer I dont have the older Mastercam versions installed, just X2 (SP1, MR1, MR2). Would there be a problem if I installed V9 now? Would it overwrite some system files that X2 uses? Or is there a Chook out there that will bring in the geometry from the older files in to the current version of Mastercam?

I have been waiting a while for the dockable Operations Manager - great new feature, THANKS!

I was going to suggest turning on "Pre-selection", window an area and hit the Screen Statistics button, but that doesnt work. You would think that it would...

Who woulda thunk it! A keyboardmouse driver causing video problems. Thanks for the update.

Check Mastercam's download page

But if you need to import text or a logo, I have used *.AI (adobe illustrator). *.EPS and *.PS should work as well provided the geometry saved to them is in a vector format and not raster.

It might be easier to create the letters directly in Mastercam. From the main menu select "create" then "create letters". You will have the ability to use any windows font on your system as well as some that Mastercam supplies.

Another fix would have been to select "Combine Views" from the "screen" menu. This places the bottom plane created arcs to the top view... or left plane arcs to the right plane... This also can happen with projecting geometry. MC probably created the arc in the bottom view and not top.

Yeah a lot of post stuff moved there.

If you are using Ver X or higher, check in the machinecontrol definitions. Look under "Arc", then "arc breaks" and make the change there.

I believe you have to pay for it now - just the maintence cost that is. As opposed to the full cost of adding it.

I dont use mastercam for communications, so I cant help you there. But I did a search and found this... http://www.emastercam.com/cgi-bin/ultimate...ic;f=1;t=026767

What software are you using to connect to the Mazak? Also what are the settings? Baudrate, parity...

Double check your Z limits or better yet maybe turn them off. Also double check any containment boundrys that you set up, try rechaining them.

In addition to your local reseller, I think you can take a post class at Mastercam’s corporate headquarters in Connecticut. Follow the link... Mastercam training

Get better soon... chris m

Yup, Ocean Lacky, that was one trick that worked!

Axela 06 thanks for your reply... Yeah, I looked at that, but I think that is only for toolpaths, not shading - it was set to 50% - 1 gig. However I did get to shade the entire file and here is what I did; Turned down the color depth in windows from 32 bit to 16 bit. I was able to shade 75% before the error popped up this time - some progress... Then I went into the MC's System configuration, Shading options and changed the Parameter - Chord height from .0005 to .001 (inch) and all is well!

I have a 375 meg file (around 50,000 surfaces - no toolpaths). When I try to shade it I get an error... quote: opman Not enough memory available FYI - My system has 2 gigs of ram. The video card is Quadro FX 1400 with 128 mb. (Nvidia drivers, NOT Dell's) Running dual monitors at 1280 x 1042 with 32 bit color. Also there is a progress bar at the bottom that shows 1/4 done while attmepting to shade before the error popped up. So on a different attempt I was able to hide 3/4 of the surface and had no problems with shading. Any ideas? Is there a setting somewhere that I need to change? MC settings, video card setting?

quote: ... I purchased both of Dale Mickelson's books and finally starting to apply these newer methods of machining. What did you think of his books? Are they worth getting?

Vista I assume... Probably nothing new here, but I did a search on vista and found this... Link

Also what version of windows are you running?

Which video drivers do you have loaded? The ones that came with the Dell or the ones from Nvidia's website?