Inputs and outputs sounds like CNC Control terminology . What do you mean by Inputs? are you refering to Cad files that can me imported into the Cam system? Mike Mattera

Pete, Try the Wireframe toolpaths for Swept 2D. Just draw the "hook" profile you want to attach to the edge of the part. You want to cut Along the XY profile and Across the Hook profile. Mike Mattera

Plus you cant auto-chain a 3 sided patch. You have to pick it manually (3 walls and a point). Mike Mattera

Coons is still there ar a c-hook. Automatic Chaining never worked well for me when I had a lot of wireframe geo. I think you can window chain the Net Surface. Mike Mattera

It actually gives you more functions. Alt + C = Chooks Alt _ C = Create Menu. Twice the functionality from the same keys. Believe me Mastercam has an unbelievable amount of control for the user interface. It's good if you want to use it. It's bad if you dont know the hot keys yet. Yea it's different, But like James said, it didn't take long to get as fast as you were in V9. Mike Mattera

Oh wait.... You want Lock.... Lock = L Posting on/off = P Toolpath display = T Expant the Operations Tree = E Mike Mattera

You can also select the operation and hit "P" (Posting On/Off). Mike Mattera

You want to use one way filtering. It has to do with how the points are linked together, within the tolerance you specify. It's just like if you dimensioned a print from the left and also from the right. "One Way" calculates all the filtered points from one side, within the tolerance you specify. No tolerance mismatch from left to right. I think it's especially important in Parallel cuts. Mike Mattera

Usually due to compensation of the tool. If you had a .25 rad in the corner of the pocket and you used a 1/2" end mill. The radius is the same. So now it cant generate an arc. But in V9 or X it shouldn't do that any more. I thought it was fixed. Mike Mattera

Did you try it? Many modern controls can do it. G90 X(abs. position) G91 Z(incr. move) I would create a simple line like this and see if it works. You can do it on a Heidenhain. Mike Mattera

Isn't there a Modify - CtrlPoints, that lets you filter out some of the points, within a tolerance? I seem to remember that somewhere. I know it cant be done, But I dont have mastercam here to check it out. Look under Modify - and see what's there. Mike Mattera

It's possible there may be some items in the X nci that the V9 nci filter may not understand. Mike Mattera

There are Soooo many ways to do rotary in Mastercam. In version 6 I used to do a coons surface and then wrap it up with Axis Sub. It wasn't supposed to do it, but I found a way around the limitiations. It was a cool 3D surface wrapped around the cylinder. Mike Mattera

I know I started several Tips & Tricks sources of information. Free information & videos. http://www.helpformastercam.com & my training cd's & free videos. http://www.tipsformanufacturing.com Mike Mattera

So does this Mastercam file import thing work? Seems like a strange thing for them to invest engineering into. Whenever I showed someone Mastercam and they asked "What do you know about Surfcam" I would tell them "They only copy the best" Mike Mattera

John makes an number of good points. But I know this one is very true... ===== "Many of us already talk to people or know people in the business, many of whom say the same thing, "I can't find good help." Find out what they are offering, it is not anywhere near what a quality person is either already receiving or is actually worth." ==== Taking a Certification class does not teach you how to use Mastercam. It proves your skills and gives you a card that states you have a certian level of proficency with Mastercam. Is that worth the $ ? Will it make you more $ ? Those are the real questions. Will paying for the update classes and re-cretification for each new version keep you in the upper earning bracket of CNC programmers? Does the benefit out weigh the cost? I dont claim to know the answer. So here's the real question.... If an employer is looking for a Mastercam programmer. 2 guys show up and both have 5 years experience with Mastercam. 1 wants $18/hr and the other has a certification card and wants $20/hr. Which one do you think he will hire? Mike Mattera

You can create individual operation from the Solid drill optput and then sort the points. If your doing a cylinder with radial holes Solid Drill sorts by Plane. So it will do Top, Front, Right, Back, etc... Not very efficent. Mike Mattera

To answer the question in the subject line. Yes I have a clue. Mike Mattera

Thanks Roger. That did it. I appreciate your help. Mike Mattera

In the lathe toolpaths you have Tool #, Offset #, & Station #. Whst is the post variable to access the Station #? I need to output T010500 where the first pair of numbers (T01) will either be 01 = Lathe Tool 02 = Live Tool 03 = Gange Tool For the turret position. == This is what I want to use the Station Number for. The next two digits (05) = the tool #. The last two (00) = the offset. No problem there. Just need to know the post variable for the Station Number. Thanks, Mike Mattera

The only way that would seem like a good deal, is if someone else was to buy it for me Mike Mattera

You have holes on the part that intersect the profile cross section. It's probably Cross-drilled or Face Drilled. I had this whan I was at Alcoa and they gave me an aluminum car wheel. The cross section didn't know what to do with the open spoke area. Possible Solutions: Can you get the Cad file with the opening supressed? Do you have solids? Then you can supress the holes yourself. If anyone is curious about chaining a solid or creating a geometry curve on a solid, click here and download this sample video. http://www.helpformastercam.com/html/chain_a_solid.html Mike Mattera

rgollar: Never be sorry for a long question with plenty of detail. You gave the right information to get an intelligent response. Believe me that's a whole lot better than "My programs bad, what should I do?" Mike Mattera

I dont like or trust Symantec anymore. I started using Avast about a year ago and it's worked GREAT. It's also free for home use. Not many free things are worth while, but this is. http://www.avast.com/ Mike

You should talk to your dealer about a post. But as for programming a gang-tool lathe, it's really no different from programming any other 2x lath in Mastercam. You going to use your tool XZ offsets to shift the tool to the part, same as your doing now. Mike Mattera