Thanks for the information. Will use your method JP.

If I have a program where I am machinig 4 parts in one setup, is there a way to set up 4 pieces of stock in my mcamx file?? I have the main stock set, but would like to move it and have it set for all 4 pieces I am cutting. Thanks.

+1000 to Romicron Great boring heads.

I have been exporting to do some other stuff, but I have recreate a bunch of geometry to do that. I wish there was a simple way that would automatically mirror the toolpaths and also have them climb cut too.

I have two parts. One is a right handed part and the other is a left handed part. I have already programmed one of the parts. What is the easiest way to use the already programmed part to get a program for the opposite side part?? I tried transfrom toolpath mirror but it makes all my toolpath conventional cut instead of climb cut. I also tried to transfrom mirror the geometry but all of the cutter comps are not right. Is there a simple way to do this? Thanks.

Romicron Boring Heads work the best IMO.

How about insert a feedrate into the g-code by hand. That was hard.

quote: I was hopeing someone had already setup a spreadsheet to do this as I don't have time or the inclination to setup a spreadsheet myself for this purpose. thats your problem right there. you dont want to do anything for yourself. if you want something done your way, then do it yourself. otherwise stop complaining.

quote: I am routinely assasinated on it's FogBlog yet I am not a member of the circle. Circle members are either chosen by the circle or inducted once the application and $100 fee has been recieved and reviewed. Hope this clears things up a little.

quote: No worries I dont mind being the bad guy The Wicked EMastercammer from the West.

quote: Did you know todays my Un-Birthday

1" deep pocket that is 40" x 40"? What about plunge milling? We have done some work with plunging 304SS using Kennametal Z-axis tooling and running dry. Removed alot of material in a short amount of time.

For the type of work you are doing, I think that the balanced holders will work fine.

It all depends on what type of cutting you are going to be doing and what materials, etc... The big advantage to heat shrink tool holders is rigidity. This will be the most rigid set up that you will get. The downside, you need a heat shrink machine also and these can be expensive depending on the type of options you recieve with them.

Lots of tapping oil, slow and steady. Is it a blind hole or a thru hole? Maybe a roll forming tap would be a good choice since it doesn't produce a chip. HTH. You could get a single point thread mill and thread mill it.

Axis Substitution.

That wont create a toolpath becuase you are telling it that you want to pocket something and leave a boss, and the tool diameter will wipe the boos out. the only way i can get exactly what i want is to create spirals.

Tried it, gives me the same out put as Pocket - True Spiral. There is no input for how much stock is left on stock.

I have a part that I rough machined and sent out for processing and now have to finish machine. There is a bore on the part that is .674 diameter and I have about .006 per side left on the bore dimension. I want to to machine the pocket by taking my tool to depth, and then spiraling inside to out with a .0005 step over. I try a pocket, true spiral toolpath, but it starts at the center, and 90% of the toolpath is cutting air. Is there a way to set this up? To tell it to start .01 off the wall, and spiral out from there? Something maybe like a remachining toolpath, that will start the spiral where the stock is remaining and eliminate cutting that is unneccessary?

quote: And that wow factor will remain until CNC Software decides to quit using Mastercam fanboi's as beta testers. So, does that mean if you were a beta tester that everything would be fixed?? I dont understand.

Although MasterCAM has modeling capabilities, its real function is that of a programming software for CNC machining centers. SW is a modeling software that is used for modeling, and that is about it. Nothing wrong with designing in SW and importing to MCAM. Just my .02 cents HTH

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The tool is only .250, so you are not going to be able to run it to hard. I would maybe see about getting a 4 fluted tool? The two flute has a smaller core thickness than the 4 flute.

Any coating on the bits? How long do they run before they snap?