Your motherboard manufacturer will have chipset drivers, usually in the form of inf or ini files, etc. There are vital, after they install you'll have to reboot, after windows decides that it recognizes a dozen or so new hardware componenets, things should be fine. Try that. Super Micro AGP ftp site E7505 Intel Inf Chipset- SuperMicro Directory Download and Install the exe file in that directory. if you are unsure, browse the parent directories and read the readme files. Install those files ONLY if you are sure that they match your chipset. Caution<< [ 02-25-2003, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

Wishing you the best of luck by the way: Re-install both Mastercam and the lastest version of DirectX Althought I don't have mastercam right here in front of me, if it has some sort of temporary file folder for whatever calculations, change it to somewhere else, it may have become currupted. (Who knows)

Yea, I'll jump on the bandwagon here,-I get the same problems at school- Its a funny thing, windows helps tells us all the make sure to set our color depth to 256 is we have redraw problems. Bah. I hate Windows. It would also help is mastercam auto redrew after ever line, edit, nutrino collision- etc. The single most anoying thing is having to redraw every ten seconds [ 02-26-2003, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

You'll have set the afinity to either one processor or another. MasterCAM doesn't support dual processors at this moment. quote: Q. Is Mastercam an application with native support for computers with dual processors (multi-processing)? A. No. In order to successfully (in a stable manner consistently) run Mastercam in a multiple CPU environment, you must set the affinity. To do this you first MUST be running Windows NT4.0, Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional all other Windows OSes do not support multi-threading if you do not meet this criteria you might as well spend a few more bucks and go get Win2k Pro (my personal favorite). Now, launch Mastercam, then minimize it. Launch the Task manager (you may need Power User or Administrator level access to do this so be sure you do), then go to the Processes Page. Right click on Mill9.exe and go to Affinity, and set it to run on CPU1 (or what ever CPU you choose, CPU1 is preferable over CPU0 because CPU0 is handling most of the load). Minimize the Task Manager and Maximize Mastercam and off you go.

I agree with the latter, However if you were NOT in the middle of a really long toolpath, you can post all the remaining toolpaths from the operation menue. To select the remaining ones that you want to post, slect one, then aditional ones by clicking on them while holding down the Control button (similar to slecting multiple files in the file manager). Then click the post button, this will post all the selected paths as if they were their own program. Retain the same height offsets, etc, origin also. You will likeyly have to restart the toolpath it was working on while the cutter broke etc. [ 02-25-2003, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

Why didn't I think of that before... You can post individual toolpaths by selecting the one toolpath, and then selecting POST on the operations menue. You can selct a toolpath group, or you can slect two or more idividual paths, by click on, then holding down control and selecting the others.

I've been running tool paths across NURBS surfaces, i rough cut with a flat endmill telling it to leave a little bit of stock, then i finishing pass the contours with a ball nose endmill. If your machine accepts (G54)Coordinate offset (which it should, ), then you can have several different COPIES of the same file, each with different tool paths-- As long as you don't change any tool height offsets, or change the G54 offsets, the the programs should pick up where they left off last. This is something i have to do with our Amera-Seiki as it has no DNC cache. For a better example: You could run all your roughing passes in one copy of a program, then without changing the setup on the machine, run all of youy finishing passes with two or more other programs. The only reason I would see to do this is because you have no ability to do DNC and your machines won't hold the program in memory because they're to large. This may not be very conventional, but tis the only way we can do it right now, as our school is broke. When i say copies, i mean that there are different copies of programs all containing identical geometry, but the tool paths are different for each machine.

Rick Damiani, Quoteing you quoteing me: quote: When will people stop associating pricey with high end. ...That was the entire point of that paragraph. "When will people stop associating pricey with high end."... Just because it costs a lot, doesn't make it high end. A good salesman could probly sell you a plaque mounted copper engraved portrait of president Lincoln for 19.95 through mail order. However, when you get the thing in the mail, you'll just realize that you been sold a penny glued to a wooden board. quote: Look at how much trouble CNC software has with pirated applicaitons today. When the source code for the OS functions that support the security systems are out there, how much larger a problem do you think that might become? Piracy is a problem indeed. There are always going to be problems with that...However, I would like to emphasize that you can't pirate a service contract. If the software is free, then all the dev has to do is maintain its paying customer support contracts. In order to maintain full dominance of its software, it would have to be the absolute best at providing help service for its cutsomers ...which it should do reguardless of anything anyway! On a note of security, just because a software's internals are open to the view of anyone, doesn't mean that its insecure all of the sudden. Linux tself is a testement to this- Its on of the more secure OS's around and it's entirely open source. The reason this is so is because the insecure areas are found faster due to the number of people working on the software. I think it would do a world of good to make Windows open source, after all, we see atleast one new virus a month take advantage of new security related windows illnesses. [ 02-22-2003, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

An application can be Multithreaded, techincally, and not need more than one processor for each thread. Or it can be multithreaded, with mlutiple processor threads. Don't really know for sure. *Gets off his soap box now*

In Light of the discussion turning somewhat to a OS war, I see if fit to explain I would perfer that sofwtware developers like AutoDesk or MasterCAM switch to Linux is for this: Linux is highly portable, it can be run off of a variety of processors for one. All that is required to make a program run on any of the given linux distros (geared toward any number of different processors) it a little code tweaking (custom compiling) of the EITHER BOUGHT or Downloaded source code. You could have linux running your CNC machine, and hell, if I had the choice to have linux control any of my machines, I would. (Especially those running a Windows NT based OS. Mazak is one of those.) Linux Multithreads its applications naturally, I believe. Not to mention has support for multiple processors. Linux can be run on SGI (Silicon Graphics machines)...which are graphically more powerful that standard PC's Linux is also very stable, the OS can never be brought down by (given the program was written professionally) any of the user run applications. One of the horrid pitfalls of windows is that it has extrodinarily PATHETIC memory management, and I speak for ALL versions of windows when I say this, yes XP too. Now I'm not looking for a revolution, things won't change until they have to, but that's exactly what slows development down. Open source software can be maintained by the founders, however, given that it is open source, this would make available for the public, the ability to change the code-submit it possibly, and change the whole of the software for the better of the industry. For once, it wouldn't be so bad for people who actually use the software to crawl down the neck of the programmers, suggestions-or even skilled programmers could aid in develeoping the software, just have a group to maintain the project, etc. There are many aspects to the program, grpahics etc. When you make all that available, then the sotware can be observed more dynamically, from many different fields of programming. Filtering nessesity, or convenience to the final product would be the dev's job. In my opinion the real job of any software developing company is to support its product(s) to the fullest degree possible. There is so little of this that is done with care. If it is piracy that Developers are worried about, go the way of redhat, and make a subscription based support system. This would create profit for the company, make it more worth the company's wild to inquire about how the software is working, etc., busy programmers as they would be getting more insite as to what the customer wants, and they may even get code contributions that they may have otherwise not forseen. I don't see how linux could be an objectionable OS though, its inner workings are not for the faint of heart, but neither is using mastercam! One of you aregued that Linux was... quote: The nature an ideals of the free software movement argue heavaly against the involvement of companies like CNC Software. Until the climate of that movement changes, I don't think you'll see much high-end software in that space. Even if Microsoft were to vanish tomorrow, I think you'd see folks like Sun take thier place, as they espouse a model that actually allows developers to survive. If Linux were to do that, it would cease being Linux. Linux itself is High end software. Just because you don't have to sacrifce a lamb or devote your soul to the devil doesn't make it low end. Whe will people stop associating pricey with high end. quote: I'd be very surprised to see a Linux version, actually. Folks that use Linux are, for the most part, unwilling to pay for software. That makes it hard for a developer to justify any signifigant investments in Linux. For the record, i am very willing to pay for software to run on linux, as well as any subscription service. I would be willing to pay for a version of MasterCAM when it comes out for linux(optomistically speaking) or if it were free, the SERVICE is/would really be of more concern. Simple minded people see a problem with free, they don't realize that there are other ways to justifyably and profitably be compensated for the work they've done. (Quotes pulled -not from name-, but from ideas. They simply summed up the typical anti-linux stereotypes)

Hahaha! I find this thread Humorous! Its a funny thing, I had a discusion with my father at one point, He said that things usually don't change unless they HAVE to change, and no sooner. Its odd to actually see The US government stand up and say somethinglike this about Iraq- premtive behavior. I feel that my govenrment is looking out for us. BUT I will NEVER stop quiestioning thiet true motives, afterall, this is a government for the people, by the people. PS. I very much like those lyrics, its quite an allusion to everyday irony that we see. [ 02-12-2003, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

Mark, I just noticed Mastercam already uses OpenGL Those reccomendation are quite a bit high, not alot of shops will have PC's running that fast unless they've upgraded withing the last 6 months, and if they had gotten that speed of processor, they would have been spending a pretty penny on them. I'm just money concious on PC's, its like Buying milk now days anyway, you might as well go ahead and put an expiration date on the hardware!

I wouldn't reccomend an ATI card no matter how good they say it is. Its the video card drivers that count the most, bad drivers will make even the fastest card worthless- And ATI is nutorious for having underperforming and pathetic drivers, as a matter of fact almost every single 3D game or application has erratta very specifically noting the ATI graphical anomalies-and believe me, there are usually quite a few. I personally advocate using Nvidia cards myself, they have very stable WHQL drivers and always perform very well. If you're considering getting new computers, don't get any with builtin video cards (On the motherboard- SiS in peticular)! For true 3D applications, onboard video cards just don't cut it-they simply aren't built for the bandwidth like AGP cards. Likely in the next MasterCam release, they will have better support for 3D - so I would think they might actually use hardware acceleration. Its probly easy to say that since they're trying to convert to a more windows based/integrated environment, that they might as well use DirectX. Althought I can probly say that it would be easier and more worthwild for them to use OpenGL, because its sources available and are not PROPRIETARY(confound Micro$oft)! OpenGL - Open Graphics Library is probly a good soultion for them, though under liscense agreements they may have to divulge the altered sources for the (IF they) create specialized graphics runtimes. I would like to mention that the RAGE PRO was one of the worst ATI cards ever made. It may sound harsh, but that chipset has likely got the most bugs of any ATI has ever made. I've seen the rage pro listed more times in glitches section than any other single card. I would indeed get a new card, the choice is up to you or your boss on the brand though. [ 02-12-2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

It wouldn't be hard at all to add the old shortcuts in, all the would have to do is add alt+ functionality to it, Standard windows menues incorporate key shortcuts as it is already. Hit Alt+F and you bring down the File menue. Notice, perhaps, on your browser the menue bar has a certain letter underlined on each menue its, on mine File has the letter F underlined. In each of the pulldowns, there is a seperate letter shortcut for each item. Hit (Alt , while holding down Alt, hit F-hence Alt+F) Alt+F, (Let go of alt and F at this point and hit the letter of the menue item you want.) ..in Mozilla, hitting the letter Alt+F,O will bring up the Open document dialouge. Old schoolers need not worry, they could easily perserve the shortcuts, all you would have to change is leanring to hit the ALT button plus the initial menue item, then your standard shortcut keys. [ 02-12-2003, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]

Hehe, sounds like version 10 will be something to look forward to. *jadaro is suddenly reminded of something out of 2001 a space odyssey...something about an evolution in use of tools,( and a big purrdy humming domino shaped black monolith )* [ 02-11-2003, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: jadaro ]