If you go for flowline it might be worthwhile making a single surface, or at least a reduced number.

You can also get it via the web site, but again you have to have active maintenance to log on. I think Mastercam is trying to tell you something.

I know there was (is?) a file generated by Mastercam you could use in APT. If this is that file type it could be a Cutter Location file.

Don't you just love a happy ending....

The main problem with threads is the amount of memory they require. If you have a lot of threaded components you can slow your system down considerably. I usually download bolts from Mcmaster - Carr if I want to do a fancy presentation. MC doesn't have a good thread creation tool.

Thought that sounded a bit fishy when I saw it over on Industrial, never seen that ploy before.

Whenever you see the cut or rapid line go south like that, tool orientation should be the first port of call, everything has to work together.

Sounds like you have a conflict with your tools and offset direction. For normal turning you use a right hand tool offset to the right. For back turning it would be a left hand tool offset to the left. not having this correct will result in the condition you describe. Also make sure the tool is oriented properly in the set up page.

That's for the Manufacturers tool code t the bottom of the list, looking for the field at the top (Description), I am sure I have seen it in a post, by someone from CNC I think...

I've got that one as 20002 in my post (actually it's for a SET file). I am after the Description field at the top of that section. I think it only became available in 2018. I think the XML tags are not the same number. The Manufactures name top of your highlight it would be handy to put in the tool list too. I will keep searching...thanks

I tried searching for this ( on the Tool Manager, Finalize miscellaneous properties page, General section) , I have the "Manufacturers tool code" parameter #, I was sure Pete from CNC posted the "Description" field parameter # for 2018(?). Anything on the "Manufacturers name" field, is it usable yet?

Unfortunately all resellers are not created equal...

Just came across this while searching something else, a wise old machinist once told me: "It's impossible to help people.....who know every mother#%!*&g thing there is to know already." I usually don't even try anymore if I can help it. They are not difficult people to spot in my experience.

Try and obtain the MP documentation, MP is the C derived language. You can request from your reseller although some are resistant, probably because they make money out editing posts for customers, as do some people on this forum. You will do much better here if you can do some homework first, I get it you need the instructions, see above. Be prepared to metaphorically stamp your feet a little to get what you need. It has been available on the CNC website, if you have up to date maintenance you can log on and download all sorts of useful things, I haven't checked to see if it is currently available for download. One member here, Colin Gilchrist, has semi regular classes on post editing. You can see if there is anything scheduled on emastercam, keep an eye out here, he usually announces up coming classes on the forum.

Not only that, you can use it to your advantage, you are looking at less than .001 difference in space, I have blended surfaces and walls with multiple sized cutters by paying close attention to the density of the "tiger striping", once you get your eye in its like you only used one cutter.

Mikron

That's the spirit...I use that technique too. Just short of stubbornness to an entirely new level of stupidity can also be useful.

We have several companies around here that went down that road. Probably the majority of shops running Unigraphics can't get clean code to their machines if there lives depended on it. Of course they just aren't spending enough money...! We have had some of them turn up here and say things like, "Everyone told me MC was crap, how do you get the code like that?" Go figure.

Have you tried the Mastercam website. If you have active maintenance you should be able to download from there? It's worth getting the latest edition. Don't forget resellers make some of there income from selling posts so they may be reluctant to get it for you, this happens in the US too. I am unaware of anybody who has been unsuccessful if they stamped their feet and whined enough, a quick e-mail to CNC in Connecticut requesting a copy because you can't get it thru your reseller has also gotten results.

We run Featurecam here as well as MC. Featurecam has its place, but as James said it comes at a cost of control (I also don't care much for it's verification and there is no code filter so it has a habit of generating huge .nc files ). I did the training vids at the request of management, haven't touched it since other than to have a look at a file or two to see what was being done. This might or might not be OK depending on what sort of machining you generally do.

Just out of curiosity, how did you end up so far out of your depth? Is this for work or college? We will need to know a lot more, like what machine etc.

I don't think this a post processer issue, so a repost in the industrial or educational forum section might also help.

Told you so...

If you want to learn about posts I would suggest the following: Get hold of the MP documentation from your reseller, this may or may not be difficult...you might have to insist. Take one of Colin Gilchrist's (you will see him here often) courses on Post Processer editing. They are not regular but check emastercam website to see if there is an upcoming course. The amount of help you get in the PP forum is usually directly proportional to how people perceive your willingness to make an effort to help yourself.

The only problem I see here is the same as doing QC probing on the production machine. You aren't really getting an independent check, any problems with your scanner and it might just give you 2 bad results...then what, and how do you spot it. Best, but not always desirable or possible, is to check with an independently calibrated measuring tool.