Have you tried Alt-C UpdatePST9.dll This is what is normally used to update a previous version post. Luc

Mario, L'écriture d'un script en langage VB est beaucoup plus évolué qu'un simple commande macro. Si tu regarde un peu avec les outils de recherche sur ce forum tu trouvereas beaucoup d'informations sur le langage de programmation et l'intéreaction avec Mastercam. Ceci dit, quelques bons volumes sont disponibles mais une base en programmation logique est nécessaire. Bonne Chance! Luc

To all Mastercam Users: Please find a screen cap of the Sprocket C-Hook here: If interested, please e-mail me! Thank you. Luc

Here is a little somethong picked up over the years ... I don't know if this helps, but it can't hurt:) There is a "hidden" way to run multiple batch files: open a text file and type in the full path and name of the batch files as follows: c:mcam9millbatchpart1.bch c:mcam9millbatchpart2.bch c:mcam9millbatchpart3.bch and save the text file (for example, today-batch.txt) Then open Mastercam and open the Operations Manager (either through main menu, Toolpaths, Operations or through Alt-O). Double right click on the gray area in the lower right (above the OK button, holding down the shift key) and it will pop up a Debug message (that is deliberately there) that says "Run a list of batch files! Select a text file that contains batch file paths. Temporary file created:..." Hit Enter or click the OK button and it will bring up a standard File Open dialog called "Select batch listing file". Navigate around and find "today-batch.txt". Select it and hit OK or double click on it and it will start running. Then just leave it and go have coffee or go home. When it is done it will return to the Operations Manager. Hope this helps! Luc

Thanks all for your replys. We all know, I hope, that the ATI is almost a four letter word for Mastercam, even our receptionist ask's our customer's calling for tech support if they have an ATI card if it's a graphics problem Seems that the newer cards (ATI Fire GL) might be a better match for the Open GL support. I personnally would stay away from it but for my customer that has the IBM laptop, he can't (I think) change the graphics card and wanted my advice on it. Guess it's going to be try and tell, I'll let you know the outcome! Thanks all! Luc

Well guys, here is the revised posting I've made earlier. My customer has translated the C-hook in English with a text file explaining the functionnality of the product. The C-hook is available for the general public. Please drop me an e-mail and can send you the info. Luc

A customer of mine is looking to install Mastercam on an IBM laptop with an ATI Fire GL 64Mb video card. Does anyone have any experience with this model of video card. Thanks! Luc Simoneau

You could create a special postblock to call up everytime you want to output your special coding, for example: pspcool #Special Coolant Codes from mi10 if mi10=0, "M50" if mi10=1, "M51" then, in any line that you would normally find the scoolant varaible, you could put in the pspcool code like this: plinout #Output to NC of linear pcan1, pbld, n, sgfeed, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pccdia, pxout, pyout, pzout, pcout, feed, strcantext, pspcool, e This would force the post to look for the pspcool postblock for the coolant code. A bit of logic would prevent the code from being outputted on every line in the pspcool block. I Luc

What you could do is use a misc.value to define a complete series of coolant codes. Ex.: mi10 Coolant Code Override(0=M50 1=M51, etc...): In the post, you would then call up the mi10 value and output the resulting coolant code: if mi10=1, "M51" if mi10=0, "M50" The sky's the limit here! Luc

Rookie1, Just tried it out - seems every time you press the STOP button, it will display the time elasped in the message box. Luc

Also, a very good item to have on your desktop for anyone doing posts is the Mastercam Post Processor Guide which is available from your reseller. There is so much info in there, that anybody trying to write posts should purchase it and take a good look at it. That's my 2% for the day! Luc

You'd have to ask Dave about that one, but I do beleive that in the beginning it was only a trial on the new web page of www.emastercam.com because before that, In-House only had there own web page. Is this right guys? It's been a while... Luc

On the Mastercam side of things, you'll have to wait 'til the release of the Multi-Axis Turret Spindle Synchro product. Luc

Hi CamGuy, Lot of responses in here ... I've used SmartCAM and Mastercam extensively and we also cover the Mtl area for Mastercam. Send me an e-mail so we can get together and evaluate your programming needs. Luc Simoneau

One of our customers has written a C-Hook for drawing sprockets. If you guys are interested, I can get his permission to send it out. Just let me know! Luc

Hi Peter, Are you looking for electric or acoustic? Luc

I pretty much know Mastercam after using it for 10 years and being a reseller for more than 5 but Avatars, that one is killing me lol! How do you do them, get them, or download them? Luc

For additional screen space, try getting rid of the prompt area, Alt-P. When you are familiar enough with the software, you don't always need the prompting to tell what to do next. Also, when you input values, it shows up at the bottom of the screen anyways. I've played around with a lot of configurations for screen color config's and it would be nice if we had different options when starting up, like different color sets to choose from. Sometimes when you change the background screen color to something you like, all the other colors don't fit well with them, so your stuck testing out every color issue to work with. One day you need to re-install the software and you have to re-start the whole process over again. I'm hoping that Mastercam X will propose different color schemes that can be choosed from in the config section, a bit like Windows themes. Luc

I've reached the 200 mark - do I have new status for signatures or "avitars" whatever that is! Luc

Lars, many applications are possible. Just think of ever possible hole manufacturing operation that is not taken care of with a canned cycle! Here are two simple examples that we have done for our customers: Steel C-Channel drilling - peck through the first plate thickness, fast feed to the next surface, peck through the bottom plate. Back chamfering tool - fast feed through the hole just enough to allow the spring loaded tool to extend, back chamfer in feed rate, retract at fast feed rate And so on ... Luc

Dan m, From out experience working with Dave from In-House to develop the Integrex post ... buy it! After close to a year in development plus macros used for plane mapping and so on, you would be much better off to get it from your dealer IMHO. Luc

Hey guys, you can download it from our website, here's the link: http://www.simtech.qc.ca/support/mastercam...load.htm#icones Luc

Are you sure there is a "%" sign at the end of the file to terminate the communication? Luc

This question gets to the bottom of the list so fast I need to repost for it to come back on top. Anybody out there with this machine? Sample code and DNC parameters would help! Thanks! Luc

Mick, In the old days when I was teaching SmartCAM and Mastercam, I liked the functionality of the macro programming language in SmartCAM. It was easy to create a dialog box for data input and manipulate the execution of the macro on it's own or through the post. Being a Mastercam reseller, we continually get requests for some sort of customization or optimized functionality for customers and the knowledge of VbScript would be tremendous. My question would be the following: I've done my share of Basic, Fortran, Turbo-Pascal and SmartCAM macro programming but nothing compared with the VBS examples I've looked at. In your opinion, how long does it take to be able to write a basic VB script with a customized dialog box for user input of variables? I would also be interested in a class! Luc