I just started working on someone elses computer, and I keep getting the error message Entry point not found I did a search, found something about copying the file NTVDM.EXE to the root directory. I did that and didn't help. Any suggestions? btw, it's X5 MU1 on Win 7

Are you using a custom defined tool, or the Mastercam defined Tapered tool?

Carbide insert drills work great on inconel, but you need some oomph to push it through. What speed/feed were you trying? Coolant thru? Also, rigidity is the name of the game. What type of machine? I've had better luck drilling inconel with cobalt drills than carbide, just for the cost issue. Cobalt drill will only last a couple holes, but then you sharpen it. With a carbide drill, maybe you get a dozen holes, and then it takes six weeks to get it sharpened and re-coated. 25 sfm sounds WAY too fast for HSS. I would start out around 12 BTW, what alloy and temper? And, don't spot drill, and don't peck.

and a happy new year

Sometimes, when I define a tool that comes to a point, MC doesn't seem to like it. Try putting a small, like .001, flat on it.

That was simple. I unchecked Auto Hide, which I assumed would leave the taskbar in my way ALL the time, but it turns out, it leaves the taskbar at the bottom, and moves the bottom of the MC window Up a notch. Thanks for the replies

For some time now, I've been annoyed by this. When I go to click on something at the bottom toolbar, such as Level, Color, Gview, etc., I have about 1/4 sec to click on it before the windows taskbar pops up and covers the toolbar up. Then I have to raise the cursur up, wait for the taskbar to go away, and try again. BTW, I'm running X5MU1 on Windows 7 I was just over at another shop, and they were running X5MU1 on Windows XP, and I noticed on their screen, the taskbar pops up, but the bottom toolbar is above the taskbar. Is this a Win7 deal? Anybody esle have this problem? It's not that big a deal, but it is irritating.

Was your WCS set to Top when you created the solid?

How about top level, and only serious on Tuesday thru Thursday?

I've finally gotten this to do what I want. Since you cannot post custom drill cycles longhand, I created a custom drill cycle at #10 to work the same as the PECK drill cycle, #2, and named it G83 Peck Cycle. Then I modified my post to allow 1st Peck and Subsequent Peck entries on the old Peck cycle, which is #2, and renamed it Deep Peck Cycle. Then I disabled canned cycle posting for the Peck cycle #2. Now, if I want a normal peck, I use cycle #10 and it posts a normal G83 cycle. If I want to pick up where I left off with another drill, I use cycle #2, and it posts longhand, starting where the last drill left off, and retracting all the way out of the hole at each peck. As an example N1 T1 M6 T2 ( TOOL - 1 , 1/8 JOBBER DRILL ) G54 G0 G90 A0. G0 G90 X-.5054 Y.266 S10000 M3 M8 G43 H1 Z1. G98 G83 Z-1.5 R.1 Q.065 F12. G80 M5 M9 G91 G28 Z0. M01 N2 T2 M6 T1 ( TOOL - 2 , 1/8 TAPER LENGTH DRILL ) G54 G0 G90 A0. G0 G90 X-.5054 Y.266 S3000 M3 M8 G43 H2 Z1. Z.1 G1 Z-1.56 F4. G0 Z.1 Z-1.46 G1 Z-1.62 G0 Z.1 Z-1.52 G1 Z-1.68 snip

I think I know what Darin is trying to do, at least it's what I've been hassling with for years. Say you have a hole that's 6" deep, so you drill it with a jobber drill 1-1/2" deep. Then you go it with a long drill. If you set the R -1.5, then it starts drilling where the jobber drill left off, but the drill doesn't retract all the way out of the hole to clear chips. If you set R to the top of the hole, then it retracts, but you have to drill a bunch of air. I usually post the program using drill cycles, then post a second program with the drill cycles long hand, then manually crop the two together. Less than ideal. There seems to be no way of posting canned cycles and long hand in the same program. There may be a way of getting the G83 cycle to post longhand, and then creating a custom drill cycle to replace the g83 canned cycle. I was dicking with it a few months ago, but got sidetracked (again) I know I've run machines in the past that allowed you to do this with G83, have the R at the top, and the first Z at some - value. Don't recall exactly what controls though.

Traditionally, a 1/2 axis is an axis that can be positioned, but not interpolated.

5axmsurf Parallel cuts will work with a bull em. Keeping in mind your end mill needs to be ground with a flat bottom.

Are you turning the comp off and then back on again from pocket to pocket? Some programmers try to turn the comp on at the beginning of the sequence, and off at the end. Alomst always creates problems.

I'll have to give Opti-rough another look. I never rally used it because of the enormous file size it creates.

It also depends on what your part looks like. Some parts we do have a lot of detail, such as valve bodies with ports comming off at all angles. Using a DOC of .100, you can rough out much more material.

Do you also have the box checked to allow 360 deg arcs?

Are you trying to use a custom tool? Try using the MC defined lollipop. I use it all the time with no problems, but if I try to draw the tool as a custom tool, no luck.

As a starting point, around 35 sfm and .003 fpt. When you say 1/2 endmill, plan on making that plural. Your probably going to need more than one. Garr or Dataflute coated 5 fluters work well. Try to avoid cutting with the corners of the endmill, it's better to take a full depth cut and go lighter on the step over. And, as is always the case with Inconel, rigidity is crucial. I wouldn't try using the high speed toolpaths, as the backfeed will be hell on your tool.

Go to Xform, project Select curves Select project onto surfaces Select surfaces

You need to set the diameter of the tool. The diameter will depend on what diameter you chained on the part. You'll also probably want to run the tool deeper than .157. Calculate the point where the taper of the tool meets the taper on the part to find you tool diameter.

I have an old CAD system that used Gerber files, but it quit working with Windows XP. Try a graphics company that does photoplotting (if any even still exist.)

Thanks for the tip. The post I've used for years is based on Mpfan. I just tried it with Mpmaster and that works. So maybe it's time for a post overhaul.

Yah, what he said, I thinx One thing I find real irritating, but maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I'll have a program with 10 or so WCSs in a machine group. I want to use G54 for the entire program. No matter how many times I set the work offset box to 0, every time I look there are half a dozen toolpaths that have it revert back to -1. Then, when I change it to 0, again, I get the friggin warning box that the work offset has already been used. So I click on Update the view and all operations.... and when I click the green check mark nothing happens. So then I click on Upate just this Operation, and my work offset goes to 0. Then, when I post, I get another friggin warning box that I'm using the same work offset in more than one view. Then, if I search my program, I'll find a couple toolpaths using G55 or G56. I go back to those toolpaths and the work offset has reverted back to -1. WTF?

Your carbide drill won't be alive much longer. Your going to need a handfull of them. I've had better luck just using cobalt drills. They only last for a couple holes, but they're cheap and easy to sharpen. A carbide drill with coolant holes is around $130 and takes OSG 6 weeks to sharpen and recoat. For cobalt, go around 12-15 sfm, don't peck or spot drill. We use 1/2 5 fl also, either Garr or Data flute. You didn't say what type of Inconel. We cut 718, and its a little easier to cut after heat threat. We also cut Inconel castings which can have hard spots that are a real headache.