yeah. i wait until the last possible moment to add fillets. i've only briefly worked solidworks and solidedge, but i never ran into fillet issues with those programs. i had a 30 day trial of solidedge, and i "tried" to crash it with complex fillets, but it just wouldn't!

sometimes when i expect Mcam to have problems, it doesn't. other times it seems that i'm asking something basic and i get errors.

well, don't feel bad. MasterCAM is not very forgiving when it comes to fillets. I will say that X6 is a great improvement over X2 in this regard. Still, you have to fiddle with your fillets sometimes

i'd definitely be ineterested, but only have access to X6 here at work. Tried opening up the file, but "industrial SIMS cannot open ECM files". So, it looks like i need a way to get the home learning edition. Oh, and as far as my abilities... I've been working with MasterCAM for about a year now. I've only ever done 3 axis mill, but i have an extensive background in 3D solid and surface modeling. I can draw anything, basically.

Yeah, i'm going to have to read up on G10 also. lol

Okay. I think I get it. I'll do some reading on macros, internal and external.

I see. I always thought a Macro was somewhere inside the original program, but it's actually an external program like a subroutine?

I've never used a G10 call. Just did some googling, but I don't fully understand it, or what it's used for.

frigg'n sweet yeah, it's like indexing an array pointer in c++. that is EXACTLY what I wanted to do. it's definitely possible to create pseudo-arrays then... as long as you have enough open variables. This would be a LOT of work, but would definitely be some sexy code. sexy code is sexy. i like sexy code. Obviously I completed the task, but this is more of a learning project for me now. I might go back and rewrite the program using macros, pseudo-arrays, loops, and parametric programming just to see if I can do it. The knowledge and experience would definitely be valuable.

I originally had the M00 stop at the reference point so the operator could heat up the insert, then press cycle start, but this created problems. The plastic has a foaming agent in it, so if the operator heats the insert up too much, the plastic will foam up and it creates a scrap part. If he doesn't heat the insert up enough, it won't sink into the part to the full depth. I decided to change the program so the operator presses cycle start as he starts heating the insert, and the dwell time keeps the heating consistent. I was worried about someone getting hurt, but the machine always moves away from the operator after the dwell, so... I guess I consider it an acceptable risk. Plus, I am the operator... so I understand how the program responds, and I know what it's next move is. Still risky, I know... but sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the final product, right? I am using a commander tapmatic tension tap head, so there is some "float". Our machine does not have a synchronized spindle, and this is the only way I've ever been able to power tap. I created a tool for each insert size, and machined it to fit into one of three different tap holders. So, the Insert set subroutine code looks like this: (The main program moves 0.0" above the insert location before calling this subroutine) % O9003 N130 G1G91Z-.25F50. N140 G04X5.0 N150 M04S200 N160 Z.25F3.93 N170 M5 N180 M99 % That looks like something I should have used. I would prefer that the G65 call be nested in a loop though, and the passed variables get incremented. Not sure if that's possible, but I'm beginning to think it is... with some work of course.

That's exactly right. If there is no way to create an array, then I would need a variable to keep track of which variable I am accessing. How would #501 be able to point to another variable? If #501 = 2, then #(#501) = #2 ? This is something I want to get familiar with. So, G65 is the macro call, and the P8500 refers to a section of code somewhere labeled O8500? Would you then end that macro call with a GOTO statement? I did just read up on passing the variables to the macro with A-Z. That's very cool. So, in my macro I just access the passed variables with #1 - #26?

Hello Everyone, I just finished up a project which was a secondary operation to a plastic cover we produce here. After the covers are made, they come to the toolroom to have brass threaded inserts installed. These are set by heating them up with a propane torch, and then pressing them into place. There are 27 inserts for each part, with three different sized inserts. We were doing this by hand, but it was taking around 35 minutes per part. So, I decided to write a program to let my CNC mill do most of the work. This was my first time using external subprograms, but I felt it was important to make slight modifications easier. I used one main program, and 4 sub programs. It worked great, and only took 10 minutes per part to install the inserts. The program worked like this: (basically) G0 (Rapid to Reference Point) M00 (while I thread on an insert) <start cycle> G04 (dwell a set amount of time while I'm heating the insert) G0 (move to XY coordinate of insert location) G0 (move to .1 above Z coordinate) G1 (press insert to proper z depth) G04 (dwell time needed for insert to cool) M04 (unscrew the tool from the insert while moving up according to its thread pitch) Rapid to Reference Point (Repeat 27 times) Originally I wanted to use a macro to run this process to keep the code sexy, but I felt like the only advantage to using a Macro is if I could create an array with all my insert locations. I couldn't find anyway to do this. So, this is my question... can you specify multi-dimensional arrays using parametric programming? Is there a way to index which part of the array the macro points to, like in a do or while loop? I would have needed an array as follows: Insert_Array[insert_size].[insert_number].[insert_ coordinate] insert_size would range from 1-3, to account for the three different sized inserts insert_number would specify each separate insert, and range from 1-6 for the first insert, 1-10 for the second insert, and 1-11 for the third insert insert_coordinate would hold the X,Y, and Z values of the insert (1 = X, 2 = Y, 3 = Z) So, Insert_Array[2].[3].[1] would point to the X coordinate of the 3rd insert of the 2nd size. i would then want to index the array as follows: for (i = 1, i <= 3, i++) for (n = 1, n <= 11, n++) for (u = 1, u <= 3, u++) G0 Insert_Array.[n]. This snippet of code isn't syntactically correct, and doesn't necessarily represent how I would use the array, but does show how i'd like to index and point to the array. Can this be done?

I started drawing 3D modeling with AutoCAD at age 16, when I spent half my school day at a vocational school. From there I moved into Architecture, doing 3D rendered presentation drawings and blueprints. After 13 years I decided I hated it. So, I returned to school for a degree in Mechanical Engineering, which I'm still pursuing. The company I work for now saw my resume' on the school's website and called me in for an interview. At this point I had zero experience with CAM, but they really wanted someone good with CAD and they liked my style. Plus, I basically told them I can learn any CAD (or CAM) system almost naturally. They put me on a 90 day probationary period, and within 2 weeks I had surpassed everyone else in the shop with MasterCAM proficiency. (I'm kind of a natural when it comes to math, geometry, computers, and problem solving... and those are basically the fundamentals of CAM and CNC machining... from what I can tell) There's always something else to learn in MasterCAM, but I think the bulk of my learning is based around the actual machining process. (which tool is best, which path is best, how should I approach the piece, which fixture/holding method is best... etc...) Right now i'm focusing on making my programs as efficient as possible, and learning how to foresee wasted time before I start cutting.

my comment on the case being a great design was limited to Corsair designing the 400R. your photoshop was nice though

that case is amazing. great design. Yes, everything had clearance but the fans got in the way of the power supply cable connecting to the motherboard. Plus, I wanted push/pull fans on the radiator. so, i mounted two fans inside the case, then the radiator and two more fans outside the case. the modification was easy enough using a pencil grinder. I've used two Gigabyte mobos on two separate PC builds, and they both failed within a year. Maybe I had an isolated experience, but it's enough for me that I'll never buy another Gigabyte brand component. :-/ I've never had an ASUS mobo die on me, and that includes computers that have ran for over 6 years. (hand me downs) I can't endorse the Sabertooth enough. It's an amazing mobo.... and it has a 5 year warranty. few electronic components boast such a thing.

oh, and i know corsair says the H100 hydro will fit in the 400R, and they are right it will. However, they make no claims about the hydro fitting around the connections to your mobo. I had to do a little modification to my 400R to accept the H100 and Sabertooth.

1) nice case 2) I went with the X79 sabertooth because it's construction seemed more... hearty. military grade. amazing warranty. My computer sits next to my Mill, so I wanted durable construction. 3) If you're setting this machine in a shop somewhere, I'd definitely invest in case fan filters. I have 10 fans in my 400R, and all intakes are filtered. (400R comes with a bottom filter, and a front filter, but no filters on the side) I just cleaned them for the first time recently, and found the inside of the case almost spotless.

absolutely.

wow... just wow... i spent probably an hour looking for that, and finally gave up hope. i'm an idiot... thanks. :/ Yes, that's what I wanted. Thank you for the other links though. I will look into those for my future presentation needs.

I'm working on a drawing for a customer of an invention he would like to prototype. I'd like to create some exploded views of the assembly, but would like to render all the parts transparent like clear plastic. Dimmed Wireframe is not what I want. From what I've seen, MasterCAM does not have any advanced rendering techniques or materials that would make this possible. Any suggestions? (buying solidworks is not an option) I remember there being some free rendering software out there like POV-RAY, but haven't worked with it in forever.

thanks. i'll look into compression cutters. that sounds like what i need.

I have a project I'm working on where I'm milling 1/2" plywood into various shapes. I'm getting 8-12 shapes from a single 2'x4' sheet of plywood. I'm looking for tooling to give me a better finish on the final product. My scrap rate on this sample run is about 80%+, which is okay for now as I only needed one complete part. The edges of the plywood get curled up, or simply ripped off in chips. This is unacceptable. When the customer approves this sample and decides to move forward with a full production run (300 units), I'll need more reliable cutting tools. So, I'm looking for a 1/4" endmill or router that can plunge, or at least ramp, and will cut plywood nicely without exceeding 3000 RPM (my machines max RPM). Suggestions on feed would also be appreciated. Wood is not our primary medium, and I have no clue where to start.

then it sounds like i'll need my 2000 to "go bad" one of these days.

i went with the 2000 because the 4000 was double the cost. my theory was if i found myself needing the 4000, i would just get a second 2000, which would actually give me higher performance than a single 4000. i had a budget of $2,000, and i ended up spending $2,500. i doubt the owner would have been so forgiving if the price was $3,000.

i use a quadro 2000, and it seems to handle complex surfacing very well. we work with a lot of injection molds, and i've even designed a few complete molds using Mastercam. quadro 2000 works great. (though the geek in me wishes i had a 4000)