when i go to use one of the posts and make a program, i get a message about made for version 9 or something....

How do you update all of your posts so that they work with X2? Thanks.

Is there a way to make a helical bore toolpath takmake a complete first pass before starting to helical down. I am using a helical bore toolpath to cut a slot on the inside of a bore. Right now, the helical toolpath starts and leads into the part and then begins to helical down. I would like for it to lead into the cut, do a complete first pass around the top and then start to helical down? Can you do this? Right now I have to contour the slot first, and then helical toolpath it. Thanks for any info guys.

I went with the Xform --> stl and it worked out good. thanks for all the info guys.

I was using the regular translate and rotate. i will try xform. thanks mowens

I have a set up fixture that has 3 stations on it. I machine a part in Station 1, then flip the part and machine at Station 2, then move to station 3. I verified the first station and saved the verified stock as a .stl file. Now I open that .stl file and rotate it and translate it to the correct location so that I can use it as a .stl file for the stock at the second location. So after I translate and rotate the part, I go to save in .stl format and get a message about no surfaces or something. The file saves in .stl format, but when I go an open that file, there is nothing there?? Whats going on here? Why cant I move a part around and save it as a .stl file?? any help at all will be great. thanks guys.

What is xform -> squash???

What does this mean??

Layer. Level. Pretty much the same thing only different. Thanks John.

How do I move entites from one layer to another. I created some geometry on the wrong layer, how do I move it? Thanks in advance.

I am going to create a circle by adding together the finish diameter and half of the tool diameter. Then create a spiral with the correct step over that is that size plus 1/2 of the tool size and use that as my toolpath. Use the spiral to drive the tool path and the circle as the finish pass. Do a contour with offset turned off and trick it into believeing it is using an engraving tool when it is using my slot cutter.

I need to cut this slot in the piece on a vertical mill using a slot cutter. I want to do it by spiraling the cutter into the center of the part to create the slot keeping a constant cut. Can I do this? I could figure out the dimensions and create a spiral, but I would rather just do a toolpath. Is this possible? It would be like a helical bore but instead of feeding downward, we would feed inward. Thanks in advance.

We use Predator here, no complaints

Great link Todd. Very interesting stuff on there. There is a show on Discovery Channel that is called How It's Made. i watch it all the time. very cool.

john, not sure if i completely understand? could you explain more. the bad part about this is that i got stuck attending a mastercam class with a co-worker. and we are just going over the mastercam books, which i have done before. this is right out of the mastercam book.

I have an extruded solid body that is .825 diameter by 2.05 inches long. I have geometry that I would like to revolve inside of the extruded body to make a cut out in it. Everytime I try to revolve the geometry, I get a Boolean Removed Operation Failed Error. Parasolid® Kernel Interface Error. Boolean Error: Operation Would Result in a non-manifold body. What does this mean? I know I am doing this right, but for some reason it is not working. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Our spindle just went out of our 50 taper VF-6 on Friday. Just froze in the middle of a program and shut down. Something didn't smell good about it. Alarm 237: Spindle Following Error.

yes, smelled electrical

We were running our VF-6 and all of a sudden the machine stopped and we got this error. Smelled something that didn't smell good. The alarm is that the commanded spindle speed and the acutal spindle speed were to far apart. Anybody ever get this? Any info at all?

We use a program called Snag It here. works awesome.

You should have no problem handling this job. Just make sure you get the correct tooling and speeds and feeds and let 'er rip. Sometimes the vibration is just the tool working. For instance, I used to work in a shop wear we made stainless steel cabinet bases. They were 31" x 24" x 1.25" thick. In the middle of this part was a pocket about 25" x 18" x .75" deep. We cut it with a 2" Face mill. I used a zig zag pocket with a .2 step down running 600 RPM and 15 IMP. When the tool would movie from one long cut to the next, the machine would vibrate. Sometimes thought it was gonna start moving across the floor and we never had any prolems at all. I'd tell your boss that pulling jobs isn't a good way of making money and to keep the job going.

how do i do that to achieve what i am looking for?

I know that I can save my stock after machined as a .stl file. So that I can do all my roughing and then finish with the stock being the roughed piece. Is there a way to flip the stock over. If i have operations on both sides, I want to rough side 1, flip and rough side 2. Then finish side 1 and then finish side 2. I wanna keep saving the part to see the part from block to the whole way thru. I just need to be able to flip the stock (.stl file) over and machine the back side of it. How can I do this?

i must not be doing something right???

I have the 5 axis verify and put the file in, but still not working.