I have that book as well, and while I already know how basic programming works, I find it to be very helpful. If you have never done any other programming, that book may not be what you're looking for. It's not meant to 'Teach' you how to write posts, but rather to help you with syntax and variable names etc.

Well, that sux. Why'd CNC have to go and fix that 'bug'??? That was probably the single most useful 'bug' I've seen in Mastercam... Please put it back!!! (Or sumfin dat werks like it...) Rekd

Yip, it's an awsome machine! The program I made for the BD is a standard Win32 application. There's no install program, so you can just drop it into a folder of your choosing and run it. Again, there's no help for it, as I don't plan on releasing it to the public. But if you know how the canned shapes work on a BD, you shouldn't have any problems figuring out how to use the program. As I said, I'll help you out as much as I can. There may be some functions that don't do anything, like the input device selection, but it won't affect the nc output. I don't have the file with me at work, so I'll email it to you when I get home. (As well as a quick run through of how it works) Rekd

Paul, As for the setup sheets, I have the same feelings on the length of the setup sheets out of the box. So I took the mill.set and completely revamped it. It utilizes the stock values/locations, tells you when there's an M0, and most importantly, put's it ALL ON ONE PAGE while still giving you the comments for every operation. I had to sacrifice some of the detail for EACH operation, but IMHO it's much better now. It also has switches for the stock size, and stock origin. Here's a sample setup sheet just as it comes out of MCam. ------------------------------ | Genomics Institute of the | | Novartis Research Foundation | | Milltronics Setup Sheet | ------------------------------ Date = 05/22/01 Program Name = 1067-0031 Program Number = O0001 Material Type = PLASTIC inch - ABS Stock Size = X 18.7000 Y 9.2000 Z 0.5000 Stock Origin = X-.1 Y0. Z0. From Part Zero Part Origin = Z0 on Top, X0 Y0 on Upper Left Corner +--------- | | | | | | --------- TOOL LIST: No. Dia. Len. CRC Max Depth Description/Comments -------------------------------------------------------------- 01 0.2570 01 01 -0.5972 # F DRILL 0 DRILL 1/4-20 BOLT HOLES -------------------------------------------------------------- 02 0.5000 02 02 -0.5200 1/2 FLAT ENDMILL 0 *MILL ENDS *MILL SIDES -------------------------------------------------------------- 03 0.2500 03 03 -0.5200 1/4 FLAT ENDMILL 0 ROUGH STEPS FINISH STEPS *THRU SLOTS ============================================================== Cycle Time: 1 Hrs, 15 Min, 45.55 Sec The mill.set template is just that, a template. You can modify it to do just about anything you want. Rekd

I think they calc the same way, inches traveled times ipm, and then it calcs the rapids. You need to make sure you have the rapid rate of your machine set properly, as well as the tool change time. (Edit these values in the post) Hope this helps. Rekd [This message has been edited by Rekd (edited 05-21-2001).]

blah

Disclaimer: This post is NOT a sales gimick, nor is it meant to overrun CNC Software or Boston Digital. I have used both, and must say, they are both the BEST I have ever used! Kudos to both CNC and BD!! Now for the dirt on what BD calls Canned Shapes, (sub programs for the rest of us). I used to run electrodes on a BD, (most bestist machine I've had the privy of using!). I run sub programs quite a bit, so I developed a piece of software to create sub programs for fanuc compatable NC G-code files, and am getting ready to market it. I also made a version for the BD, and don't really have intentions on marketing that one, but if you're interested, I will send you a copy to 'try'. (at your own risk, of course ) It's very small, and has a few nice options. It will convert your NC file, and has nothing to do with Mastercam. Email me if you're interested. I haven't made a help file, but there's lots of good 'prompts' built in to it. I will, of course, help you with any problems you might have.

You can access the 'Recent Files' by right clicking on the file window in the open dialog. Rekd

so... don't keep us in suspense. Did you pass? Rekd

There's a million and 1 editors out there that give you the file size (in bytes) at the bottom in the status bar. I use Ultra-Editor. (It also lets you create 'tools' to, for example, copy the open file to a floppy disk using a built in name, and has syntax highlighting) Mayhaps this is something CNC can have put into their default editors...

Webby's got it right, I need help. But the kind of help I need I have to get in hourly sessions!!

Only one solution... FORMAT C:!!! j/k I dunno what to tell you..

I don't think you'd want to have it stay down when doing multiple pockets, would you? If you have a wall, it's gonna get wiped out. Rekd

In the contour/pocket parameters page, there's a check box under the button for Feed Plane called Rapid Retract. Check that box and it will rapid to the clearance plane. Rekd

Keep in mind that CNC Software expects it's resellers to deal with issues like this. If you're having problems with your dealer, it's likely NOT CNC Software that's responsible, it's the DEALER's. You might try to contact an out of area dealer as well, if yours isn't 'up to snuff'. (And if it's that bad, you may want to inform CNC Software) I have found that the help, (including thru this board) is THE BEST of ANY software I've ever purchased. Mastercam sells WAY too much to be able to handle all the problems of all it's customers. That's why they have resellers. Just my .03 cents... (Inflation, you know)

Dave, stop me if you've heard this... YOU DA MAN!! Thanks! Rekd [This message has been edited by Rekd (edited 05-22-2001).]

On my (m)Illtronics MB19, Centurion 6 Controller, (which I love dearly...NOT), I want to be able to use a tapmatic. It's working while using a boring cycle, but as you imagine, it's skipping on the way out because it doesn't retract at 2% higher feed.) If I set the canned cycle for bore1 to NO, it' doesn't put it in long format. I need to output only bore1 in long to be able to change the feed. If I set the main switch for canned cycles to NO, all cycles are long output, which I don't want. Any ideas on how to get just bore1 to output in long format? Rekd

Mark H, Yes, in the pocketing parameters tab. It has always been greyed out, but in the OFF mode, which was fine. gstephens, I only noticed it because the first operation I did on the first part with new version it created an extra operation. I couldn't figure out where it came from, (I initially thought I was getting senile, not remembering I created it. Man what a relief when I found the problem) So... having had such good results with almost all previous upgrades from Mastercam, I didn't back up my originals prior to updating. I'm sooo annoyed, I'm thinking about re-installing 8.1 from scratch. (Yea, that'll make my day) Rekd

This subject was covered earlier, but no solution was provided. Now the problem is still here, only it's backwards now. When creating a pocket, there's an option to create additional finishing operations, which was always greyed out and un-available. Now it's still greyed out, but it's checked ON instead of off. What gives? I like it better stuck off and un-usable, because it's not often I need to use anything other than the built in finishing operations for pocketing. Now, when I create a pocket operation, I get an easter egg with it; another operation. Now I get to delete an operation every time I create a pocket. Hrmph... Rekd

Once I got the right video card, the only complaint I have it the 5 to 35 second hang time when I minimize Mastercam.

This isn't a big issue, but very annoying. I created a custom drill cycle that I use for a 'drop stop' to locate X0 on some programs. This cycle works fine, disabling the feed text box and everything else I don't need, and setting Speed to 0. Problem is, when I create the next operation, if it's a drilling cycle, when I switch to G81/G82, it doesn't enable the Feed text box. I have to completely exit out of the Operation back to the Ops manager, then open it again, set the feed, and regen the toolpath. I don't think this is an error in my modified post. Any suggestions? Did I completely overlook something AGAIN!!??? Thanks. Rekd

Lol, James. Funny you should say swag. I own a company called Specialized Web & Grafix, and I often refer to it as SWAG. Never really thought about what swag meant. Rekd

um, i got a v8 pin and a commuter mug, and 2 calendars... wow Rekd (donations gladly accepted!!)

Chalkyw, I was looking for the formula, not the sum. (Feed a man and he's good for a day, teach him to fish and he'll leave you alone!) Thanks tho! cycletimechalres, I sent the file to you. I appreciate you looking at that for me. I noticed that the association to the dimension was lost when I scaled the geometry... (Kinda went thru the dialog boxes fast, so I might have missed something.) Rekd

I often use Analyze/Edit to modify diameters. I have geometry that has dimensions on it, and when I try to modify the diameter, it doesn't show the Rad/Dia/View/3D Length/Sweep text boxes. Is this because it's associated with the drafting? And if so, is it possible to make it so it CAN be edited if it's got dimensions associated with it? If I use Xform/Scale and scale the same arc, it updates the dimension thru associativity, so why shouldn't we be able to do it using Analyze..? After all, that's the only way I've found in Mastercam that you can change a diameter by typing in the new value instead of having to use scale... If I am forced to use scale, what formula do I use to change a dia from 2.56 to 2.557...? Rekd [This message has been edited by Rekd (edited 04-24-2001).]