Would the new point be in the same spot where I could draw a line between the two points and that line would be perpendicular to the original surface?

As the title says, I'm having some issues trying to get a vector line for a point on a surface that is quite complex. I have the point already located, but having trouble figuring out how to get a line vector that is perpindicular to the surface normal. any help guys? =]

From what I hear HITCO Is at capactity at the moment. However my company might be interested. I'll pass along your contact info!

Haha, we'll see if I can. My predecessor had a tendency to....modify.....our machine in ways that are questionable at best. and From what I understood he spent a lot of time messing around with the innards of our Z Assembly. I'll have to look at the damages myself, but from what I've heard it's pretty cramped in there.

Mm, Thanks bob. It will be a little bit different and simpler I think for my application since Our C axis head rotates the spindle, not a table. Our Table is stationary and the Spindle moves in B and C, so I just need to make 1 connection on the hose where the line comes from the center of the Z Assembly to the point where the C axis Rotates

So just a regular air nozzle installation, with something like this around the center of the C Axis? http://www.deublin.com/products/rotating-unions/idev/passages_one-passages/media_air/

So I've got a 5 Axis Router, and currently we do not have an air nozzle on it, no air pressure from the machine itself, our operators must use a hand-held shop air to remove chips. I've been tasked with coming up with a cost analysis to install a magnetic base nozzle to our spindle, but the problem I'm having right now is the continuous C Axis on our machine, it wouldn't be too hard to get a hose through the center of the spindle, but some of our programs do a +700degree swivel and I am afraid of complications if that occurs. As far as I know, our machine does not require an "unwind" of the head after a program. Any Suggestions, or links to parts would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

I'll pass your info on to our guys

So my company has put me in charge of ensuring that our operators have correct training on the proper use of an Edgefinder on a 5 axis Milling machine. I am trying not to type one up, and was wondering if there was a good guide I could use to teach the training, as something to hand out to them. If anyone knows where I could find such a guide I would greatly appreciate it.

ah, we figured it out. Just restore default color selection =/ I feel kinda dumb now, looking all over the internet for an answer haha.

So here at my shop, we recently did a system cleanup tool (with Iolo system mechanic, I'm not a huge fan, but it works.) After we ran it, the config on our X6 install went away. Of course we had a back-up of it, but for some reason we can't get the colors to change back to the way we had them. we run 256 colors, and we usually have a ton of different colors on there, but for some reason, we're just getting the main 16 colors, with added gradients when we switch to 256 instead of the usual array of colors. I've provided a screenshot of what our color selection looks like in X5 (Our usual colors), and what it currently looks like in X6, (The problem.) We've tried doing a search of these forums for our problem, and saw a similar situation that suggested changing to 16, save config, restart mcam. Change to 256, save config, relaunch mcam. But it didn't work for us.

Anyone feel like telling a noob what IMTS IS? =]

hmm, we might try that later. Right now we have a big project we're working on, and we already spent all morning messing with it >.< We've got a workable version now so we're gonna stick with that for the time-being. We'll let ya know when we start messin with stuff again haha.

Ok so we're up and running now with MU2. We didn't try to move any of the files that weren't the ones you specified and it worked well. Thanks for the advice!

I don't believe it's the Windows installer that's the problem. Like I said we can install/run MU2 fresh out the box with the Web DL and have it run fine, the .net framework problem solved that. The issue now comes when we move our custom config/post/machine definition files from our saved folder (that was working in MU1) over to the "My Mcamx6/Shared Mcamx6"

So nothing in particular? I Would assume that Web DL would be best just because of it being more recently updated? We're in the process of reinstalling everything fresh, then we're gonna try selecting our files carefully to switch, will keep you guys updated.

We're using the Web Download for X6 AND Mu2. We can get Mu2 running fine (stock machine def's etc etc.) But the issue comes when we copy over our settings(config/cnc machine files/mill/Posting preferences). In my opinion there's something in there that changed with the most recent update that MU2 doesn't like. We're going to try bringing over all the individual files one by one, and checking each time to see exactly which file it is that MU2 doesn't want to co-operate with. Hopefully this should narrow down our problem and we'll be able to fix it by redefining it in Mcam itself. *Fingers crossed* Which is better to use? The DVD or Web Download?

So we updated the .net framework. Uninstalled, reinstalled x6, worked. Installed Mu2, (didn't add any of our previous set-up folders) worked fine with new framework. Replaced the default "My Mxcam6, Shared Mxcam6" Folders with ones that we had saved in a separate folder. (with our settings etc etc.) Then when we tried to reopen Mcam6 MU2 again, it crashed. we got this

This might be wrong, but from noob-to-noob, here's what WCS means to me. a WCS can be thought of in any real-world application. All that it is doing is setting a Zero point, you set a WCS point on Mastercam, and now all of your space is reoriented to that position. in real life, I could set a zero point on the floor, and say this is x0y0z0. my machine is x18y124z5 from that zero point on the floor and I have created a WCS. So no matter where you set it on the machine, what you are doing is creating a Co-ordinate system for your machine to follow. You can set the part anywhere, find the x0y0z0 point and tell that to the machine and bam. That's your WCS. Just make sure your WCS on Mastercam matches the WCS you set up on the machine (oriented at the same point on your part.) Again, I'm kind of a noob, so it would be nice if someone else can verify what I said but from my understanding that's how WCS works. Cheers!

This is the guy that works with nils. He went to run an errand. I'm updating the computer right now to Net Framework 4. When he gets back we'll do the un-install and reinstall of X6 with MU2, and keep you updated on how that works for us. Thanks for the info JParis!

I'll check that out, thanks!

Yeah but then I lose all of my config settings for Mill.. Like the gradient background color, right-click menu etc etc

So, Nils is out on vacation for 2 weeks and I get to be the programmer for awhile...by myself....>.< talk about trial by fire! Anyways, here's my question. For some reason, when opening Mcam in the morning (Using X5 for this particular project, since the job we got has custom form-tools that had been made in X5, and half-programmed in X5.) I lose my gradient background and X5 opens in (MastercamX5 Design) instead of Mill-level 3. I can go into settings -> Config -> Start/Exit -> Default start type -> Mill. But as soon as I restart the computer, we're back to design....... =/

If you have a small custom computer shop around your area, get friendly with them. In my experience they always provide the best prices/service of any other place. Normally really friendly people too.

=[ Dell.