quote: what would be a good way to convert Lightwave's low polygon subpatch cage object into a Mastercam NURBS object? If your mesh part is fairly simple Rhino has a few tools to put surfaces on a mesh. Try the 'Drape' command - it will lay a nurbs surface over the mesh. You then have to trim it. By doing this over the top and then the bottom you will have a surf model. Also you can use 'curve-curve from objects-contour' to create sections thru the mesh which can be used to 'loft' a surface. Like I said, this works for simpler parts. HTH check this thread

this site has some useful edge finders - but all appear to have .200 dia web page

quote: I grew up in Ventura CA, but moved to Pennsylvania three years ago. How long have you been there? Over 20 years - great place to live. 3 of our 5 offspring live here also. Also spent about 10 years in Ojai/Oakview The collet advise came from end mill reps, I always tried to use collets, but I've done it both ways with no adverse effects.

Carbide end mills should be held in collets, not end mill holders with set screws. However, if you have not had any problems in the last 2 years you are probably fine.

Whomever, good for them !!!!

LOL !!! Way to go g

Get out the blood pressure medicine, we are going to need it ............

I've done that type of engraving before. .003 dia x 12 to 25 deg in D2 (not hardened).020 deep. Not done 3 deg though.... Used single flute carbide 'D' bits ground on Deckel tool grinder. I don't think it would be a problem in aluminum. Go slow - 3 to 5 in/min, 25,000 rpm .0015/.002 DOC - expect to break quite a few cutters. Hope you only have one to do HTH

Should be a setting in 'Depth cuts' to cut 'by depth' rather than 'by contour' HTH Welcome to the forum!!

MC vs Esprit

Give me 10 minutes then check your mail.....

I've got this in ver 9.1 if you want.

I don't think there is anything like you describe, I'm sure you will just have to redraw the letters or maybe ask the supplier to get you a better layout. Too bad. E-mail them to me, I would be glad to have a look.

Not sure if this will help, but here it is anyway. This is a sample code for drilling on the Servo my jeweler friend has. code: ( SAMPLE .CNC ) (SAMPLE DRILL PROGRAM FOR SERVO MACHINE) ( TOOL DIA. - .006 ) G90 G70 ( PROGRAM IS IN INCHES!! ) ( S25000 ) (M3) G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 G99 G0 G90 X0. Y0. G0 G90 X0. Y0. Z.03 (MUST HAVE THIS LINE) E5 F5. G81 C0. T-.01 D-.001 (NO X OR Y VALUES HERE) X.15 Y-.3 (NO Z VALUES HERE) X-.143 Y.3429 X-.132 Y.3429 X-.1595 Y.3715 X-.154 Y.3619 X-.1485 Y.3715 X-.143 Y.3619 X-.1485 Y.3524 X-.1595 Y.3524 X-.1265 Y.3715 X-.1375 Y.3715 X-.132 Y.3619 X-.1265 Y.3524 X-.1375 Y.3524 G80 G0 Z1. M5 G17 G80 G40 G90 M30 I have never been able to get the post (ver 9.1) to spit out proper drilling code. I always have to hand edit. Fortunately I rarely have to drill holes. HTH BTW - Welcome to the forum !! .

OK - I'm going to push Rhino one more time. I'm sure Rhino is comparable in price to Alibre. Many of the people on this forum also can answer questions about Rhino as it is a popular complement to MC. Rhino has an excellent help forum just like this one. And many answers come right from the Rhino staff. Check out the link. Rhino3D quote: Rhino provides the tools to accurately model and document your designs ready for rendering, animation, drafting, engineering, analysis, and manufacturing or construction. Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids with no limits on complexity, degree, or size. Rhino also supports polygon meshes and point clouds. Rhino offers: Uninhibited free-form 3-D modeling. Tools like those found only in products costing 20 to 50 times more. Accurately model any shape you can imagine. Extreme precision. Design, prototype, engineer, analyze, document, and manufacture anything of any size no matter how small or how large. Unrestricted editing. Revise freely without concern about how you got there or where you want to go next. 2-D drafting, annotation, and illustration. In addition, flatten 3-D surfaces into 2-D patterns and drive laser, plasma, and water jet cutters. Good luck !! HTH

Mark, zip and email me your file and I will look at it. I looked at the human head.zip on the FTP and see nothing wrong that would gouge the part. .

O/T just for Thad.... Went for a 4 mile walk today with my daughter and her dogs - here is a couple pictures: The water is cold but the sunshine is the best !!! .

quote: Do you think that Rhino3D is easier to use then Mastercam? I would say they are comparable. Both have their better points for designing. My personal opinion is that Rhino3D is a great complement to Mastercam's design capabilities. I think Solidworks is the accepted design standard on this forum and if you can afford it, go that way. I think you need pricing info and a plan for the future to better help you decide. Learning ANY design software is a plus and useful for the future. In my opinion, unless you are doing architectural design, I would stay away from Autocad. Hi Thad !!! How are you doing in the freezing state of Michigan? .

Design Lite is a good place to start, Mastercam Design would be the next step. And those products are a good way to get ready for using Mastercam to make toolpaths. And as said above, be sure to get the Solids package if you do anything more than line drawings. Check with your reseller to get prices and how to move from one product to the next and what it would cost. Another great design product is Rhino3D (Rhino3D.com) - Easy to use, very reasonable price (about $1000, $200 for students) and converts or translates into Mastercam and other products very well. HTH Good luck in your career !!! .

Works good Jay .

GBD My jeweler friend here in Ventura has Rhino/Matrix and a revo machine. I can put you in touch with him if you are interested. Rhino has very good techniques for splitting surfaces, I would consider splitting your model in Rhino before importing into Mastercam. HTH .

HELLO bryan314 !!!! Good to see you here again !!!!

quote: who has time to edit a post when you are up to your eye balls ..... I did most of my post processor learning at home on my own time. Sometimes I got paid for it - most times not. But it was still worth it to me. A little like going to school at night, you rarely get paid for it but it's the best way to be worth more at work. my .02 cts

Does 'Comb Views' help ??