I use not only the forum for Mastercam topic's but also for other Work related issue's, and I am a big fan of the search option, so I oppose deleting stuff from prior to 2002, but I do vote for the idea only keeping the 2 latest pages of the OT forum, and deleting old "no post" members.

Neil, 1st. welcome to the forum Sounds like you are in some what the same position as I was a couple of years ago. Life is good A couple of years later and we have now also added a 11 pallet horizontal Matsuura. In mastercam the best advice I can give you is keeping everything real, by that I mean draw everything thing up by the detail. Draw your tombstones, your travel limits, toolholders, fixtures, and parts to the right dimensions. You want to be able to sit at the pc and know that when you see the spindle head come within .015 to the fixturing on side 90, while you are machining side 180 you will be fine. When it comes to production you need to keep things tight, you need to be able to use tools with the smallest gage length for rigidity, but also make sure you do not crash. I normally tell my boss that it is only scary the 1st. time I run the program to make sure I clear. Do not be afraid to experiment, it is all about the details, rapid moves are expensive if they are not necessary. I can not give any help in regards to X2, but I can tell you to keep good track record of everything you do on this machine, because it is a pain in the.... to backtrack 6 months later, trying to figure out what you did. HTH Lars

Cadcam, I just emailed my boss the picture of you 1st. dual setup and also pointed out what a spacepilot is, I do not know if I came across to him, but I compared it with all the things i keeps talking about he want to do to his brand new Ford F350 John, I would also have send your picture, but that Diet Coke just want me to puke

you guy's are brutal

Kannon, I know, was I wrong or what quote: Actually, this is quite simple. Roger, I do not want to rub you or anyone else the wrong way, but....... ........you are just smarter than the rest of us quote: using Canned Text or Manual Entry. While that is possible, it is much more difficult and doesn't gain you anything. except gaining operations, I got a couple of programs that have almost 200 operations, and I think I can cut that by 15-20%, when I get this done to my other posts.

I do now Thank you Roger Lars

Oops, got a little ahead of my self here I can not use the function on the 1st. operation, I figure because it do not have a previous number to use. Any easy solution for this? Lars

Got it Thank you Roger for the detailed explanation, that made everything much more clear. Thank you all for helping out, you guy's are the once making this place great, I learned a lot from this topic, and verily appreciate this. Thank you Lars

quote: Kid up all night long sick, coffee will be the fuel of the day John, Did not think you still would be awake I have retired post modifications until Monday morning, but would that differer much from what I already got, except from keeping my post more in order?: code: fmt 2 mi1 fmt 2 mi3 fmt 2 mi4 fmt 2 mr1 fmt 2 mr4 code: pprobecheck #check tool on probe #if mi4 = one, if doprobecheck = yes, [ pbld, n, "G251", prv_t, "H", *mr4, e ] Thank you Lars

Jim, Well you know she have been hanging out there for a couple of yours, kind of start having a relationship, you know Ron, For sure, helps things staying need, thanks Lars

quote: Lars, You're on the right logic track. Even if you don't know it I had no idea I did both of your guy's suggestions, with the same result in the NC Code. code: N176 M01 ptlchg (M20 X 1.5 TAP TOOL - 5) ptlchg ptoolcomm N178 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N180 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N182 T5 M06 ptlchg ptlchg_com N184 G00 G90 G54 X-14.759 Y-.2245 ptlchg ptlchg_com N186 A270. F650. ptlchg ptlchg_com N188 S800 M03 ptlchg ptlchg_com N190 G43 H5 Z1.35 ptlchg ptlchg_com N192 M08 ptlchg ptlchg_com N194 G04 P1. ptlchg ptlchg_com N196 T15 ( NEXT TOOL ) ptlchg ptlchg_com N198 G99 G84 Z.51 R1.35 F47.24 ptap p__66:1811 N200 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N202 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N204 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N206 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N208 X-3.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N210 Y-10.2277 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N212 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N214 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N216 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N218 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N220 X-14.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N222 G80 pcanceldc N224 M05 ptlchg1002 pretract N226 M09 ptlchg1002 pretract N228 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg1002 pretract N230 G251 T5 H0. ptlchg1002 p__38:1335 N232 M01 ptlchg (27/64 COOLANT DRILL TOOL - 15) ptlchg ptoolcomm N234 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N236 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N238 T15 M06 This was what I did with Johns suggestion. code: #Misc variables tcnt : 0 # Count the number of tool changes toolcount : 1 # Tool counter for logic control toolcountn : 0 # Next tool counter for logic control toolcountp : 0 # Previous tool counter for logic control tooltotal : 0 # Tool tool count nexttool : 0 # Next actual tool nexttp : 0 # Next tool plane prvtp : 0 # Previous tool plane counter : 0 # Counter nstrlen : 0 # Length of string last_op_id : 0 # Previous internal operation id last_cuttype : 0 # Previous cuttype stock_typ : 0 # Predator Stock Type cyl_typ : 0 # Predator Cyl Stock Type z_min : 99999 # Min Z z_tmin : 99999 # Overall min Z z_max : -99999# Max Z z_tmax : -99999# Overall max Z tapflg : 0 # Flag for tap cycle sav_mi4 : 0 #Saved mi4 probecheck <------ sav_mi9 : 0 # Saved mi9 value code: ptlchg #Tool change sav_mi4=mi4 <------ John prv_t=t <------ John pcuttype toolchng = one toolcount = toolcount + 1 if toolcountn <= tooltotal, nexttool = rbuf(4,toolcountn) else, nexttool = first_tool if wcstype = one, #Work coordinate system [ pfbld, n, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", e pfbld, n, "G92", *xh, *yh, *zh, e ] pbld, n, *sm01, e if mi10=one, n, *sm00, e ptlchg_com pretract #End of tool path, toolchange sav_absinc = absinc absinc = one sav_coolant = coolant coolant = zero #cc_pos is reset in the toolchange here cc_pos = zero gcode = zero pcan pbld, n, sccomp, *sm05, psub_end_mny, e pbld, n, scoolant, e pbld, n, "G00", "G53", "Z0.", e if sav_mi4 & prv_t<>t, <-------John [ <-------John pbld, n, "G251", prv_t, "H", *mr4, e <-------John ] <-------John #pprobecheck #pcan1, pbld, n, sgabsinc, sgcode, "G53", "Z0.", scoolant, e #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x, pbld, n, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e #pbld, n, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", protretinc, e #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x & cuttype = 0, pbld, n, *slock, "(LOCK)", e if abs(cabs) > 360 & nextop <> 1003, [ if lock_codes = 1, pbld, n, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e pbld, n, 'G28', protretinc, e if lock_codes = 1 & cuttype = 0, pbld, n, *slock, "(LOCK)", e ] pcan2 absinc = sav_absinc coolant = sav_coolant Now for Roger. code: #Misc variables tcnt : 0 # Count the number of tool changes toolcount : 1 # Tool counter for logic control toolcountn : 0 # Next tool counter for logic control toolcountp : 0 # Previous tool counter for logic control tooltotal : 0 # Tool tool count nexttool : 0 # Next actual tool nexttp : 0 # Next tool plane prvtp : 0 # Previous tool plane counter : 0 # Counter nstrlen : 0 # Length of string last_op_id : 0 # Previous internal operation id last_cuttype : 0 # Previous cuttype stock_typ : 0 # Predator Stock Type cyl_typ : 0 # Predator Cyl Stock Type z_min : 99999 # Min Z z_tmin : 99999 # Overall min Z z_max : -99999# Max Z z_tmax : -99999# Overall max Z tapflg : 0 # Flag for tap cycle #sav_mi4 : 0 #Saved mi4 probecheck sav_mi9 : 0 # Saved mi9 value doprobecheck : no <------------------------ code: ptlchg #Tool change #sav_mi4=mi4 #John #prv_t=t #John if mi4=one, #Roger doprobecheck = yes #Roger else, #Roger doprobecheck = no #Roger pcuttype toolchng = one toolcount = toolcount + 1 if toolcountn <= tooltotal, nexttool = rbuf(4,toolcountn) else, nexttool = first_tool if wcstype = one, #Work coordinate system [ pfbld, n, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", e pfbld, n, "G92", *xh, *yh, *zh, e ] pbld, n, *sm01, e if mi10=one, n, *sm00, e ptlchg_com code: pprobecheck #check tool on probe #if mi4 = one, if doprobecheck = yes, [ pbld, n, "G251", prv_t, "H", *mr4, e ] I am extremely happy with both of them except that the mr4 is now the next operation value, I tried to play around with sav_mr4 and prv_mr4 but I could not figure out how to get the "H" value. quote: BTW, Nice toolbar! Are those your favorite functions? I have the C-HOOK for mouse scroll to zoom and un-zoom, but for some reason I can not stop clicking on her lower torso and legs

Good morning John, Here is a screen shot of my operation manager. In the ideal world you can set the Misc. value for either drill or mill, and for what ever tool you need. The probe macro (G251) is right before M01 at the end of the specific tool operation. Thanks Lars PS. How do you guy's who have a table probe on your mill do this?

I know I must be missing something somewhere, but here is what I got now. I got this: code: N148 X-10.259 pdrill_2 N150 X-8.009 pdrill_2 N152 X-5.759 pdrill_2 N154 X-3.509 pdrill_2 N156 Y-10.2277 pdrill_2 N158 X-5.759 pdrill_2 N160 X-8.009 pdrill_2 N162 X-10.259 pdrill_2 N164 X-12.509 pdrill_2 N166 X-14.759 pdrill_2 N168 G80 pcanceldc N170 M05 ptlchg1002 pretract N172 M09 ptlchg1002 pretract N174 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg1002 pretract N176 G251 T5 H.005<-- Perfect, excapt it is one operation early ptlchg1002 p__126:2649 N178 M01 ptlchg (M20 X 1.5 TAP TOOL - 5) ptlchg ptoolcomm N180 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N182 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N184 T5 M06 ptlchg ptlchg_com N186 G00 G90 G54 X-14.759 Y-.2245 ptlchg ptlchg_com N188 A270. F650. ptlchg ptlchg_com N190 S800 M03 ptlchg ptlchg_com N192 G43 H5 Z1.35 ptlchg ptlchg_com N194 M08 ptlchg ptlchg_com N196 G04 P1. ptlchg ptlchg_com N198 T15 ( NEXT TOOL ) ptlchg ptlchg_com N200 G99 G84 Z.51 R1.35 F47.24 This is my edit in pretract: code: pretract #End of tool path, toolchange sav_absinc = absinc absinc = one sav_coolant = coolant coolant = zero #cc_pos is reset in the toolchange here cc_pos = zero gcode = zero pcan if mi4=one, pbld, n, sccomp, sm05, psub_end_mny, e <------ I did this else, pbld, n, sccomp, *sm05, psub_end_mny, e pbld, n, scoolant, e pbld, n, "G00", "G53", "Z0.", e pprobecheck <------ I did this #pcan1, pbld, n, sgabsinc, sgcode, "G53", "Z0.", scoolant, e #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x, pbld, n, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e #pbld, n, "G28", "X0.", "Y0.", protretinc, e #if lock_codes = 1 & rot_on_x & cuttype = 0, pbld, n, *slock, "(LOCK)", e if abs(cabs) > 360 & nextop <> 1003, [ if lock_codes = 1, pbld, n, *sunlock, "(UNLOCK)", e pbld, n, 'G28', protretinc, e if lock_codes = 1 & cuttype = 0, pbld, n, *slock, "(LOCK)", e ] pcan2 absinc = sav_absinc coolant = sav_coolant And my pprobecheck: code: pprobecheck #check tool on probe if mi4 = one, [ pbld, n, "G251", *t, "H", *mr4, e ] See it almost looks like "pretract" is actually the beginning of that operation I verily appreciate you helping me with this Thank you Lars

I do not know if it is different between V9 and V8, but pretract will put it in the "end" of the operation before it is needed. Almost like it would work if a set my Misc. value in the operation (Mastercam Operation manager)after the one I need it in. Thanks Lars

Ron, Well this post is for a Haas that I am only using for drilling, I was kind of hoping I could get it figured out, so I could use it in other posts for machines that also do milling. Up until now I have always used "Manual Entry" for this. But since my project right now is this Haas, I went ahead and followed your suggestion. This is now my code: code: N198 G99 G84 Z.51 R1.35 F47.24 ptap p__65:1804 N200 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N202 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N204 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N206 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N208 X-3.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N210 Y-10.2277 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N212 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N214 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N216 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N218 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N220 X-14.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N222 G80 pcanceldc N224 M05 pcanceldc p__126:2647 N226 M09 pcanceldc p__126:2647 N228 G00 G53 Z0. pcanceldc p__126:2647 N230 G251 T5 H.005 pcanceldc p__126:2647 N232 M05 <----- Can I get rid of this? ptlchg1002 pretract N234 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg1002 pretract N236 M01 ptlchg (27/64 COOLANT DRILL TOOL - 15) ptlchg ptoolcomm N238 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N240 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N242 T15 M06 ptlchg ptlchg_com N244 G00 G90 G54 X-14.759 Y-.375 using this: code: pprobecheck #check tool on probe sav_coolant = coolant coolant = zero if mi4 = one, [ pbld, n, *sm05, e pbld, n, scoolant, e pbld, n, "G00", "G53", "Z0.", e pbld, n, "G251", *t, "H", *mr4, e ] with "pprobecheck" here: code: pcanceldc #Cancel canned drill cycle result = newfs (three, zinc) z = initht if cuttype = one, prv_zia = initht + (rotdia/two) else, prv_zia = initht pxyzcout !zabs, !zinc prv_gcode = zero if cool_zmove = yes & (nextop=1003 | (nextop=1011 & t<>abs(nexttool))), coolant = zero pcan if drillcyc <> 8, pcan1, pbld, n, "G80", scoolant, strcantext, e preverse if use_pitch & tapflg = 1, pbld, n, "G94", e pcan2 tapflg = 0 pprobecheck Is there a way to get rid of that second M05? I know it dosent hurt anything, but I just hate this clutter in NC outputs, maybe I am going over boards here and is getting to picky. Thank you Lars

John, Then it gives me this: code: N158 X-5.759 pdrill_2 N160 X-8.009 pdrill_2 N162 X-10.259 pdrill_2 N164 X-12.509 pdrill_2 N166 X-14.759 pdrill_2 N168 G80 pcanceldc N170 M05 ptlchg1002 pretract N172 M09 ptlchg1002 pretract N174 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg1002 pretract N176 G251 T5 H.005 <---Should be in line N231 ptlchg1002 p__126:2645 N178 M01 ptlchg (M20 X 1.5 TAP TOOL - 5) ptlchg ptoolcomm N180 G00 G53 Z0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N182 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. ptlchg ptlchg_com N184 T5 M06 ptlchg ptlchg_com N186 G00 G90 G54 X-14.759 Y-.2245 ptlchg ptlchg_com N188 A270. F650. ptlchg ptlchg_com N190 S800 M03 ptlchg ptlchg_com N192 G43 H5 Z1.35 ptlchg ptlchg_com N194 M08 ptlchg ptlchg_com N196 G04 P1. ptlchg ptlchg_com N198 T15 ( NEXT TOOL ) ptlchg ptlchg_com N200 G99 G84 Z.51 R1.35 F47.24 ptap p__65:1805 N202 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N204 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N206 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N208 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N210 X-3.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N212 Y-10.2277 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N214 X-5.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N216 X-8.009 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N218 X-10.259 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N220 X-12.509 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N222 X-14.759 ptap_2 pdrill_2 N224 G80 pcanceldc N226 M05 ptlchg1002 pretract N228 M09 ptlchg1002 pretract N230 G00 G53 Z0. N231 <---Should be here ptlchg1002 pretract N232 M01 ptlchg (27/64 COOLANT DRILL TOOL - 15) It is the right tool number but it posts in a operation to early.

Just one of these that I have never been able to figure out, and doing some stuff to our Haas post it is eating me up I can not get it right. I would like this: code: N86 M08 N88 G04 P1. N90 T3 ( NEXT TOOL ) N92 G99 G73 Z-.4688 R1.35 Q.05 F14.75 N94 X-12.509 N96 X-10.259 N98 X-8.009 N100 X-5.759 N102 X-3.509 N104 Y-10.2277 N106 X-5.759 N108 X-8.009 N110 X-10.259 N112 X-12.509 N114 X-14.759 N116 G80 N118 M05 N120 M09 N122 G00 G53 Z0. N123 <---------Toolbreakage check here N124 M01 (STD-T-10A REAMER TOOL - 3) N126 G00 G53 Z0. N128 G00 G53 X-28. Y0. N130 T3 M06 N132 G00 G90 G54 X-14.759 Y-.2245 N134 A270. F650. N136 S940 M03 N138 G43 H3 Z1.35 N140 M08 N142 G04 P1. N144 T5 ( NEXT TOOL ) I got this: code: fmt 2 mi1 fmt 2 mi3 fmt 2 mi4 fmt 2 mr1 fmt 2 mr4 and this: code: pprobecheck #check tool on probe if mi4 = one, [ pbld, n, "G251", *t, "H", *mr4, e ] I can not figure out where to put "pprobecheck", the only thing I have been able to do is either but it right after the G80, or it is using the next tools information. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Lars

WOW It makes more sence now, but what a project ehh . I wish you luck, if anyone can do it in here it would be you. Thanks for the explanation. Lars

quote: Well Tim is looking at this now anyone else had luck with this stuff?? I do not even understand what the heck you guy's are talking about I picked up "Wait" and "Tailstock", I am figuring it is for a lathe, Ron would you mind explaining in short what "crazy" road you are heading down This stuff is way over my head, but it got me curios Thanks Lars

If this is for production run, I would look into straight flute carbide, but it proberbly have to be custom made for 36XD reach.

On what WEDM machine are you doing this on?

Never thought of using ice as support for something like that, thank you for sharing Matt

Thanks guy's, I have ended up using different layers for each view (like you describe FNMI) then I edited my post so the Misc. value for angular rotation can be edited in the post for each operation, and I am just keeping T/C Plane on top view. I am not sure how this is going to work for me down the road, and I definitely will look into subs and transform tool path. It still do not seems as smooth programing as it does with the horizontal to me, but you guy's confirmed for me that I did not have a major black out. Thank you for the help Lars

Colin, I was thinking down that path, and then reversing the direction on the drill pattern, to commentate for going left direction on one fixture and reversing going right on second fixture. John, I will try to play with the Rotary Axis again tomorrow, I am not sure what result I will get using Y instead of X. X2 is not in the near future right now, I feel like I am to busy to learn X right now. I think I just got my self confused a little here, that dual setup seems a little confusing from a Mastercam stand point. Thanks Lars

Hi guy's, 45 min searching the forum and I am giving up. I got one if these Haas Dual Rotary Sitting in a Haas VF2, I turn it with "A", they are chain driven, if one turns the other one is turning to. I got two identicial fixtures, with identical parts on each one, and I got everything drawen up in Mastercam 8.1.1 so I can check for crash in regards to tool clearence. Here is my problem, on our horizontals I will use T/C Plane to program my "B" axis, but on the dual rotary I am screwed (I think , maybe , I am not sure ) 1) if I go to the "Front" view the jump from one fixture to an other would be Z move 2) It would not matter that I have everything drawen up unless I put a 4 sided part on 4 different layers, where everything is turn 90 deg. I tryed to look at "Rotary Axis" but I still can not figure out how that is going to help the jump between fixtures. I am getting myself pretty darn good confused, the only solution I can picture right now is modifying the post so you make Misc. 1 being your degree, that is only going to suck when you forget to enter the value. Its Monday and I am ready for a beer, thanks in a advance for any help. Lars