Toolpaths page... Right click, options, edit common parameters.

Thanks Ron...

I need to work on my programming also... My main objective is to go from post to machine. It's alright my post is close. Actually the file I showed you is what I'm building... The second one is in the machine as we speak. Like Milling man was talking about with contouring and positioning. I will keep working on it... It's tougher than it looks... dialing in all this software. Designing molds. programming. new machines to work with.

quote: You are not really buying the jacket, just leasing the right to wear it. Now that was funny! quote: You can build a Shelby Cobra copy, but it's not the same as owning a REAL Cobra. That's the difference. Shelby Cobra...

Thanks JM for e-mailing me. I'm looking to go from file to post to machine. I don't like editing .NC by hand to get the proper code.

Thanks. It's also a V9 Post Q. I updated my Control Def. Still no Stagetool.

I turned the stage tool switch to 1 in my post. Stagetool is in my nexttool. I'm not getting the tool staged in my posted program. The machines are moldmaker VF1's with 25 tool side mount. any help would be appreciated.

Here are some of my struggles with the rotary and post. ftp://mastercam:[email protected]/Ma...um/MCX/Core.zip

I'm struggling with A axis contours and A axis substution. Just like you say it verifys fine. My post is in need of some adjusting. My X post is off of my V9 post and both give me different outputs. I don't have enough time to mess with the post and punch code. So I'm editing .NC code a lot manually.

How do you change surface normals in X? I'm trying to run a Flowline, with three surfaces and there not the same normal.

I've been know to help people for free. Send me the picture and I can take a look.

That's weird... I just downloaded the file off the FTP. There was some surfaces that were all messed up I re-uploaded it( ftp://mastercam:[email protected]/Ma..._6_FLOW_NET.MCX ) . Just wondering is anyone else is having much luck with "net surfaces".

Nowwwwwww I understand..... Makes sense.

King Louie had a good idea.... I have been trying to get some "net surfaces" to work... For this file I created a swept surface using the existing geometry. My swept surface is quite close to his orgional surfaces. I could'nt get X to create a "Net surface". My swept surface toolpathed a "flowline" well. Since I'm new to "net surfaces". Can someone else mabe get a "net surface" on the existing wireframe? I like the idea of "net surfaces". I'm just eire of how generalized the surfaces are created. (i.e.) Like if there's close tol. on a mold or a part. Will "net surface" be able to work?

Do you program Horzontals? Sounds like it would help the Horzontal gurus.

Right on... Thanks Mike! Seriously, I appreciate all your info. X just seems to take some getting used to.

Some of your "wireframe" toolpaths would work nice. "Ruled", though it's difficult to check for gouging. So I wouldn't recommend those until your confortable with how your toolpaths should look in "BackPlot".

Gerard, Flowline is really pickey... I think this is what you want. ( ftp://mastercam:[email protected]/Ma...6548_6_Flow.MCX ) I just made one... (Cause I have a full time job also). I made one "ruled" surface. For "Flowline" all your surfaces have to have the same normals and chained consistantly. Try making all your surfaces the same direction and the same endpoints and the toolpath should work. Contour and scallop and project would also work in this situation! Hope that helps!

hope this helps.... quote: Ok (cracks knuckles), let me see if I can help... First off, the individual stations are going to have to see the server as the same path (i.e.- the drive mapped to the same letter on each). You cannot create the control definition and machine definition locally and then move them (without editing them once they are moved), which is what I am betting you have tried to do. The path to the post processor file is stored in the control definition, the path to the control definition file is stored in the machine definition and they are not going to update on their own. So, let's fix the paths so they work for you, and then modify your default machine so it looks at the server. Make sure your CD, MD and post files are all where you want them on the server (we don't want to have to do this twice). If you currently have X open and an active machine group, either close and reopen X or go to the Machine Type dropdown, select Design and then do a File - New. Modify your control definition file - Now go back to the Machine Type drop down and select Control Definition... Click the Open a control definition file button and browse to the control definition file on your server. Click on the Post Processors: button and then Add Files... Browse to where your post lives on the network and select it. Green check to close the dialog. Select your post in the drop down window (it will have a plus icon next to it). Click one of the control topics and then right click on the right side of the dialog. Select import - all pages. Select this control file and then the post with the path on your local hard drive (we are importing the valid settings into the new control def). Green check to import the settings. Go to the text control topic. If the post text is not there, right click on the right side and import it from the post. Save the file. The plus symbol next to the post name in the drop down changes to a green check mark. Click the Post Processors button, select the original post (with the path on your local hard drive) and then click the Delete Files... button (You may also want to select any other posts if there are others from fooling around previously in the CD file). Leave the Default settings there. Green check to get out and then save the control file again. We're done here, Green check at the bottom of the dialog to exit. Modify your machine definition file - Select the Machine Type dropdown - Machine Definition Manager... Load the machine definition file on the server. Click the Browse For Folder button in the Control Definition Frame - Select the folder on the server where your control definition file now lives. Your control definition will automatically appear in the dropdown if it is the only one in the folder. You will need to select it if there are more than one. Save the machine definition file. We're done here, green check to exit. Modify your default machine setting - This is an optional step that will make the Machine Type - Product - Machine list dropdown show the contets of the folder on the server. This step can be repeated at each station (or the config file can be copied over). Select Settings - Configuration. Click the Files control topic. In the File Usage frame, select Mill Machine Definition (or Lathe Machine Definition - or Router Machine Definition). Click the File select button (the one with the filing cabinet on it) and browse to your machine def file on the server. Save your settings and exit. Now when you go to the Machine Type dropdown your machine will appear in the right flyout when you select that product type.

I've had that happen before. Someone was talking to me. I thought it (MC) was asking for the open file name. It was asking me for the save file name. Then MC opens (or re-opened) the file I was just working on... Autosave has saved me more than a few times.

Gotta admit... That was funny! George I guarentee the fellas at CNC software are working on it. Version X is definitly making it's way. The more I use it. The better it is. These guys in here have months ahead of me using X. (So I like to think, most of the glitches are worked out). It will be worth the wait.

Thanks for your reply.

like in (i.e.) Pocket finish pass. *override. I've run this before. I just couldn't get the post to post out the origional roughing speeds and feeds. Once it picked up teh override. Those are the parameters that stuck.

That's good stuff Bob. Thanks for your reply. I've learned a lot in the archives of X. Since Most questions were already asked.

Just out of curiousity... Is "pinch turning" two different controls run simutaniously? Or is "it" run on the same program just different "named" axis?