No problem, I can not spend all day on this obviously but would be glad to help you some, I did this in X9 because I though you only had X9 but if you have 2017 I would encourage you to stick with 2017 instead of x9 since they made many MT improvements in 2017 compared to x9. Here is a sample file link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cxomqo97al14dpd/T2-SAMPLE.mcx-9?dl=0 Here is a sample video link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0odi1fryf3l6uj3/sample.mp4?dl=0

Looks to be a Perfect part for the Multi-axis Swarf, i can do an example but did you purchase the Multi-axis module or the Swarf path for your Mill turn product? If not i am confident there are still toolpathing solutions but the Swarf in my opinion would be the easist, fastest and best for a part/Chamfer of that nature.

CB, You can guess or can use accuracy, Look at the Machine sim origin location, for example the Machine simulator called "1_3AXGEN_VMC" (very first mach sim on list) will use center of table in XY and top of table for Z. Once you know where your machine simulation's origin then from there its very easy, for example; I have a 1 inch tall part sitting in a 4 inch tall vice, If I want that vice to sit perfectly in the center of the table and perfectly on the table in Z, then I would use the Position: Translate in XYZ and the values would be 0,0,5 or X0 Y0 Z5" since I have a 4 inch tall vice with a 1 inch tall part. So ultimately, your Z value is the distance from the table to the origin of your part (for that mach sim) for other mach sims the origin may be in center of the rotary or in a different position but as long as you know where the Mach sim origin is then all you really need to do is compare that mach sim origin to your part origin and establish that XYZ distance

How would you like that tool to cut the groove? Mostly my question is, on your part is the groove the exact same size as the insert? If you would like the groove to be the same size as the insert I personally would create a line at that approach angle and use the ultra simple Point toolpath. If however you your groove on the part is larger than the insert, where you may want to do multiple passes for roughing than finishing I would go a Groove toolpath and then a Finish toolpath. There are other ways too but you may want to elaborate on your goal or put a pic of your part up and we may be able to help more

I find the fastest thing for me is to unshade the model with ALT+S then select, but there are a couple other methods too.

I got that same email and it is coming from a cretible email address whom we have worked with in the past. I tried to open it because I have worked with Jody before and the email address is the same but when you open the PDF it does not open and wants you to log in. I am just guessing but I think perhaps her email was compromised since some of my colleagues got that same email and it sounds like others too. Nothing that I know of happened to my computer from opening it but I wouldn't advise opening the pdf just to be safe.

If you hit "Q" on keyboard and then select the edge of that cylinder it will snap to the closest Quadrant of that circular edge, then you can simply hit Q again and pick the other side and it will give you the distance from quadrant to quadrant. That is the easiest thing i can think of to accomplish that other than using circular dimmensioning as someoen else mentioned.

Make sure to set the source to Geometry in transform for mirror, that will give you the "Reverse order" option on the mirror page, otherwise if the transform Source is set to NCI the Reverse order option will be greyed out and un useable.

yes, Hold down CTRL and try it.

Brian, can you attach a sample of what you do so we if you attach a generic sample of something you do (does not have to be a customer file just a sample file is fine) and I can see if I can get the same results without saving additional geometry. Without seeing your part I cant promise that there is an easier way but most of Mastercam's toolpaths allow us to toolpath efficiently right off the model without needing to create centerline geometry so I am thinking there would be an easier way to accomplish your goals but without seeing a sample I don't really have any suggestions at this point to offer.

hey brian, I have a thought although to me it sounds like there may even be other ways to accomplish what you are after but none the less; when you currently hit save geometry in backplot it will place geometry on centerline (which is what I think causes some of these troubles) unless you make a few changes. You can set that contour to Control Comp, then before hitting the save toolpath geometry in backplot first go into the backplot options "! button" and turn off the simulate Control Comp, Now when you hit the save backplot geometry button you get the toolpath geometry on edge of tool instead of Centerline of tool. Just a thought but I hope it helps

Seco Makes a MiniMaster series which is insertable tips. I used these at my previous employer and we loved them. Iscar has​ something similar too but they call theirs MultiMaster it looks like.

if you have multi-axis go with a multi-axis path locked to only 3 axis output. That will give you the most control and power over your undercut milling, otherwise if you do not have Mastercam Multi-axis i would take JParis's advice as a surface fin contour or flowline should handle that nicely.

Something else that it could also be is a Toolpath Manager setting found under display options. To see if that is the problem, right click into the toolpath manager and go to display options. From there make sure you do not have check boxes under "Highlight Geometry" for drive surfaces or check surfaces. what the highlight geometry settings do is change the color of geometry on screen associated to the toolpath when said toolpath is selected. Its kindof similar to the only show associative geometry button but this setting just highlites the geo instead of hiding the rest.

I think Jparis was probably just letting you know that you are more likely to get a response from the CNC software team on the other forums, I don't see many responses from CNC software employees anymore on these forums for some reason.

Toolpath Transform will do that for you. Edit: Here is a quick sample, https://www.dropbox.com/s/2dvirvg04x4oy10/5038-sample.mcam?dl=0 keep in mind this is only a sample and I did not check anything so I suggest if you plan on using this as a starter file to check everything at least once as I am providing this as a sample only.

If that cutter is the same form as your part i would create geometry similar to what i have shown in the image below and run a Lathe Cross Contour toolpath using your custom tool profile. . picture sharing​

lots of stuff you can do with stock models. you can obviously use it for your stock setup (anything non-standard, Forgings, castings, etc.), for rest machining (re-machining) additional material away. you can use stock models for lathe work when Milling comes into play (stock model can update your lathe remaining stock - this is new to Mastercam 2017), you can use them to save a PMesh. you can also target specific areas with the 3d Toolpaths by creating a stock model of only your area to cut and then setting the 3d toolpath to only use that model which will not let the toolpath cut elsewhere, this is a great option for 2d parts when a customer has mill3d as you can target areas and pockets and program with ease. or like someone else mentioned just to see your progression through the part without the need to keep verifying. they are exceptionally powerful and there is more that you can do with them but the most common stuff I use them for personally is for going from one operation to another or to save time on verifying.

Hey terry, try this with your legacy surface finish constant scallop. with that toolpath, on the finish scallop parameters there is a checkbox for "order cuts by minimum distance" check that box. Then if you go into gap settings check the "optimize cut order". I think with those two settings checked you will get much more desirable motion. hope that helps

i just seen your post on the other forum and responded. turn your fillet to Normal, you probably have it set to relief which is why it wont select anything but lines.

There has been many discussions about Tolerances and Arc Filters on these forums, if you do some searching you can find some good recommended settings but as you have already found they DO make a HUGE difference in the finished products surface finish quality and different machines / applications may require different arc filters

hey camelot, i have not noticed what you are describing but i do have just a few suggestions. New to Mastercam 2017, if you want the exact tool profile (for custom tools, etc.) you can also go into the tool settings and there is a button when defining the tool called "save profile geometry to a level and link the level". What this does for you is saves the entire tool profile to a level that you can specify and Links to that level, what that means is you can either use the geometry for whatever you need, or better yet if you want to customize the tool profile you can simply make edits and automatically since its linked the tool geometry should instantly update. This is pretty cool and does not save all the extra geometry that the backplot save tool geo does. If you were perhaps using that save tool geo for other purposes like seeing if the holder will clear the part, there is a new "edit tool projection" that can be done in Mastercam 2017 through the Mastercam mill tool manager. This function, new to 2017, lets you view your entire tool assembly against the model/part of fixture to make sure you have enough tool/holder clearance. So depending on your reasons to save the tool if you are mostly looking to compare the tool to your part that is very quick and easy and will let you snap the tool to auto-cursor positions. There is videos on Edit tool projection somewhere if you search it but all you need to do to use this function is right click on a mill tool inside the tool manager and hit edit tool projection. To answer your initial question, I have not seen any difference between 2017's save tool geometry compared to X9 but with some of my suggestions above perhaps you will not need that as there may be easier ways. Hopefully this helps but if not perhaps elaborate a bit on your ultimate Goal or the problem a bit more in detail and we can try to dig deeper.

i did a quick upload to dropbox if you wan the old one. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/94415403/MillingAdvisorSetup-6.0-1982.exe

+1 on that calc I also really like the milling advisor made by 1helical for my Dynamic Motion cutting data. I have an older application of their calculator that is less specific to their tools so I use it for other brand tooling too and still find it gives me pretty accurate cutting data , the newest milling advisor is a bit more proprietary to their tools but for a free product or free calculator I think it is pretty awesome. I used to use Gwizard from time to time but I like milling advisor better as you need less input data and even though it may have less features its all I need and works great. Just make sure to Select Volumill if you are doing dynamic as they don't have Dynamic listed but have it called volumill. if anyone wants the calc I am referring to its 1helical.com and just look for milling advisor.

That is a good point and I remember that problem in detail because it frustrated me like crazy. But the good news is that was an issue in past releases that is now fixed, now, even if the solid was built in Mastercam and has a solid history, you can toolpath the model and then later remove the history and your chains are untouched and are still intact to the solid even though the history is gone. But yea that was a problem in the past but with updates to X9 or with 2017 you shouldn't run into any issues with solid chaining going away with the history