Dang! Didn't know they could/have done that. There isn't really a lot of ways to mill the part. Everything including simple parallel step-over must have a patent behind it then.

IDK why they don't add Circular feed compensation to the dynamic toolpaths. Surfcam's true mill had it 15 years ago and by now all related patents must have expired.

You would need a very rigid machine to use anything over 1/2" with high-speed machining. That said if that tool is all you have I would start to run it like this: If it handles it nice, turn off coolant and double the RPM and feed (to keep the chip load the same). You will get better tool life without coolant.

If you run it like that please get the video rolling. I want to see that! Btw on HSMAdvisor 150% Torque Limit is considered safe (when everything is solid)

So for my HSMAdvisor plugin I wrote a .NET Interop mapping library for getting and setting toolpath data, that is not available through the standard .NET hook library. It works fine for my use case, but I am thinking about open-sourcing it to get other people to contribute and test it. You get to use the library and in return report bugs and submit fixes if/when you make any. Does anyone need this functionality for their .NET hook project?

Yeah it is currently used only for uploading/downloading machine profiles. There used to be functionality to upload/download tools and cutting data. But I removed it because nobody used it. I will later replace it with a full database backup and sync.

Hi, you know I pay a lot of attention to user feedback, so please make sure to report the weaknesses!

Project update! HSMAdvisor Hook for MasterCAM 2021 is now available at the usual place: https://hsmadvisor.com/?page=HSMAdvisor_for_MasterCAM I recommend installing standalone HSMAdvisor before the Hook Regards!

I think it could be more valuable to create an interface with C-hook instead of net-hook. Net-hook, while easy to use, has big limitations. It also does not seem to be updated with support for all toolpaths.

Just a heads up. HSMAdvisor Hook for MasterCAM 2020 is now available at the usual place: https://hsmadvisor.com/?page=HSMAdvisor_for_MasterCAM Regards!

Since I created the program I can tell you how 100% is calculated. 100% tool life is assumed when all values are default (green). It is a standard base line and for most tools it corresponds to medium hogging toolpath at about 30% radial engagement and 100% SF overrides. There is no fixed hour value to 100% though. For Aluminum 100% may be 10 days and for D2 steel it may be 60 minutes. Then as you adjust cutting parameters, your expected tool life will change as well. In your case if you are getting 600% tool life and your actual tool life is 6 hours, you can reasonably assume it would last 1 hour when is shows 100% (assuming you are using the same tool)

There is also http:\\FSWizard.com - the lighter free version with fewer materials for Browser, Android and iOS

Tried to use this one: TpMainMatMgr.GetMainMatList().DatabaseAdd(opEnt) Still no luck

Hello, I am getting a material from the Material Library and then Adding material with the following 2 methods (C++/CLR code): bool COperation::GetMaterial(String ^ mat_name, CMaterial ^%ctp) { bool result = false; ent opEnt; if (TpMainMatMgr.GetMainMatList().DatabaseRetrieve(mat_name, opEnt)) { ctp = gcnew CMaterial(opEnt); result = true; } return result; } bool COperation::AddMaterial(CMaterial ^ctp) { bool result = false; ent opEnt; String2CharA(ctp->name, opEnt.u.matl.name); String2CharA(ctp->comment, opEnt.u.matl.comment); if (TpMainMatMgr.GetMainMatList().Add( opEnt.u.matl )>0) { result = true; } return result; } I am ONLY setting the name and comment at this point. It works just fine and the new material is in the list. Yet when I re-open MasterCam, the material is gone. I am sure there is something simple i need to do to make it save, but just can't figure out what is. Thanks in advance!

Hi, What exactly do you need?