When mastercam complains that america's economy has kept prices down compared to other contries and then raises prices due to shortages and then reports the highest profit's earned over every other industry in the world i will stop congratulating them. Untill then KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Is it possible to save as MC9 in a VB Script? I know the X2 i can save to a backwards format but am having trouble doing it in a script. I give the file name as .MC9 but the file is not MC9 format. Thanks Chad Perkins

Are there any tools for VBScripts that a can check my variable values while a script is running? Thanks Chad Perkins

WOW, Alot more information than im ready for but i think i have the answer i am looking for. I should be able to learn with it(express edition). Hopefully i will understand what has been said here soon. Thanks!!

Thanks Takashi, i beginning to wonder if anyone would answer. I don't know anything about the exxpress - standard or pro versions. What benefits do each offer? If you can offer a general idea it would be nice. Are we talking ability to create a program, debug or just more wizards and gadget that make it eisier. When you say platform SDK are you refering to the mastercam SDK , .net 2.0, or something i am not even aware of? Thank anyone for the help provided it makes for a great community.

Hi kelly, i'm trying to learn C++ to make a tool I see usefull. I have jobs that have several details on them. I want to make a hook that will make it easier to controll WCS, Level control(main and visible) and active toolpath group. I also would like to see a better setup sheet developed i am hoping to help. Like you said your imagination is the key. What would you like to automate is the question I think you need to ask your self or people you work with. Any other ideas people?

Can anyone confirm that the express VC++ 8.0 will work with Mastercam X2, or do you have to buy VC++ 8.0. I am just starting to learning and would like to start off on something affordable (free is good) but also want no problems.

Been there walt. Pro-e didnt work out that well for us, we also tried Cimatron for a while which I thought was pretty complex but had alot of potential for doing some very complicated work. Then a new manager came in that only new mastercam so the sim somehow disapeared. Now i'm back to mastercam.

I've been trying to learn c++ for a C-HOOK i would like to write. I've been reading quite a few books describing variables,functions,arrays soo on and soo on. I havn't found anything describing what belongs where. I see several different file types when using MS visual c++ (.H .CPP .RC) and several others. I know .H is header and .CPP are the program but i have a dialog also so there are files for that too. I'm just not sure what code belongs where. Is there any books that describe formatting good code? The dialog and how the program will flow has all been thought over, it's time to put it all together.

Part is about 3-1/2 diameter with a wall thickness of 7/16. I'm only milling 1/4 deep though not through.

Can you project a curve on the surface then break it into several pieces or in whatever increments you like then change to a side construction view and create line perpindicular to point?

I believe the part is anealed and did consider running the 1/2 slower Guess i forgot that part. The part is actually cylindrical and hollow. Will be doing 4 axis work on it. I'm considering filling the center with some aluminum to take out the vibration from being hollow too.

Thier looking at taking a one piece inconnel job. Looking through old posts i see water solubles are no help and low speed seems to be the starting point. I have a high speed mikron that has an oil mist, Is that enough? The other option is a weak a$$ mitsubishi with the water sol. I'm thinking about 700 RPM at 4.2 IPM with a data flute or maybe OSG Carbide. Will rough with a 1/2 but half to finish with 1/4 inch ball endmill. How does this sound to those that cut this stuff? I've got a feeling this will cost more than they quoted it for. Please help.

Yea I do feel really stupid right now!Guess i had one to many

This seems to be a stupid question but how would one uninstall this utility? If my IT guy catches it before i ask him if its ok to use i'll probable get 40 lashings with the whip. Thanx!

It seems all you need is some imagination and knowledge of what you what to automate. I have a Idea for a tool that will help my company a great deal but am struggling with the language very much. I have the GUI designed and the flow of the program drafted out but am having a hard time with C++ putting it to a working program. I'm hoping to start some classes soon. I'm kind of curious are you guys that are writing hook's machinist's or are your skills in computers helping the machinist's? I see some very bright people in the developer forum and alot of people like me (Very glad there are helpfull people in there).

As i understand it C# is a take off of the C++ language? Is there any significent difference in the capabilities between C++ and C#, Or should i phrase the question what mastercam has allowed us to use as functions?

How about some recomended reading for someone looking to learn to write hooks? What language would you get the most bang out of? (C++, C#, .NET) I'm Very interested but very confused about net-hook, C-hook. I've read alot and feel pretty solid about some basics (arrays, char, int, double and so onnnn). But am having trouble putting it all together with which class to use or function, which class writes a variable which one reads a variable. I guess what i'm asking for is a good referance manual with examples (maybe even pertaining to mastercam. I only have VC 6.0 so i don't have access to the sdk for McamX yet. I've heard the net-hook wizard is really helpful. My immediate stumbling block is a understanding of how to use m_open m_close and m_enter instead of m_main. Sorry if this is more basic understanding for some of you.

I've seen this also. I suspect i was trying to use more memory than what was available (lets not forget windows uses memory for anything running even in the background.) This is the best i can come up with.

O.K. i'm missing something, My hook starts with a dialog box I careated then the user presses a button which prompts for another dialog box I made then enters data there. After OK to that box it closes and I want to prompt the user to select_ent, how do I lose focus on the original dialog to give focus to mastercam? I'm in way over my head but trying to breate through a small straw. Thanx for any advice!

OOOPS this was meant for developer forum. Sorry

Hello, I'll start by saying i am new to C++ Waiting for a fall Class). Ive been slowly learning, actually made a few small programs so far. I've dove into a larger project and need a push. I'm trying to create a hook that will associate a name and thickness(from a dialog box) prompt the user to select a piece of geometry (from which i can get a level from) and create a WCS for. All this inforation will be collected and kept in the hook and the user can turn on and off diferent related selections from it. I'm currently a little stuck on the prompt for geometry right know. I am looking at using select_ent then i saw something about GetLevelNumber somewhere. 1)Does this sound like a good direction to head in? Or is there something better? 1a)Am I supposed to use restore_mcam_afx_state and restore_chook_afx_state around select_ent? If i am how do i fix : undeclared identifier 2)I guess i need to make my hook modeless. I read about the m_open m_close m_enter but not sure where they go. m_open replces m_main the rest i'm not sure. Sorry but my Codeing skills are rather Embarassing. I am using MSVC6.0 Mastercam V9

Hello, I'll start by saying i am new to C++ Waiting for a fall Class). Ive been slowly learning, actually made a few small programs so far. I've dove into a larger project and need a push. I'm trying to create a hook that will associate a name and thickness(from a dialog box) prompt the user to select a piece of geometry (from which i can get a level from) and create a WCS for. All this inforation will be collected and kept in the hook and the user can turn on and off diferent related selections from it. I'm currently a little stuck on the prompt for geometry right know. I am looking at using select_ent then i saw something about GetLevelNumber somewhere. 1)Does this sound like a good direction to head in? Or is there something better? 1a)Am I supposed to use restore_mcam_afx_state and restore_chook_afx_state around select_ent? If i am how do i fix : undeclared identifier 2)I guess i need to make my hook modeless. I read about the m_open m_close m_enter but not sure where they go. m_open replces m_main the rest i'm not sure. Sorry but my Codeing skills are rather Embarassing. I am using MSVC6.0 Mastercam V9

This file (in V9) is created by the editor. Check the preferences in the editor also.

I almost always have 2 or 3 windows open. I am the programmer, setup, and operator of a couple machines. I don't see how it is so easy for some people to switch to new versions and have no slow down in production. No flame intended, but everybodys job is different. I don't use the auto back-up but i do save after doing some major step's while programming.