Surface finish.

In my experience, using "shift points randomly" and "minimize number of points" together has never been a very good combination, as they seem to cancel each other out. For me it always presents code that, on long smooth surfaces it will make only a few lines of code, but when you get into a corner or detailed feature the number of lines explode. Even with look ahead, it becomes a lot for the machine to parse all of a sudden. I've found I get the most consistent results when I use "fixed segment length" to keep the distance between points more consistent, and keep look ahead a more consistent distance in front of the actual position. This is just my experience; your mileage may vary.

In your control definition, you need to change the arc center type to "radius" instead of "delta start to center"

What code do you have on line 1029?

I was also going to point that out. I was disappointed when they just milled it off because I wanted to know what it said.

It's a relatively easy modification, but I can't see the post you linked. It leads to a page that's all in French and It seems as if it want's me to download something, and that isn't happening. So I'll just use a standard post as an example. Inside your post you'll find a table of strings that define your G codes. It will look like this: # Motion G code selection sg00 : "G0" #Rapid sg01 : "G1" #Linear feed sg02 : "G2" #Circular interpolation CW sg03 : "G3" #Circular interpolation CCW sg04 : "G4" #Dwell sgcode : "" #Target string All you have to do is modify the code in between the quotes. So you will want to change yours to look like this: sg01 : "G-1" #Linear feed Change it for every g code you need modified. To break up the cutter comp line, you need to find a block called plinout It should look like this: plinout #Output to NC of linear movement - feed pcan1, pbld, n$, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pccdia, pxout, pyout, pzout, feed, strcantext, scoolant, e$ Modify it to look like this: pccdia, e$ pcan1, pbld, n$, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pxout, pyout, pzout, feed, strcantext, scoolant, e$ And if you need the g code to output on every line, change the ` to an * in the prapidout, plinout, and pcirout post blocks. ALWAYS SAVE A COPY OF YOUR POST BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES

I have the same problem after switching to nethasp. I just assumed it was a problem related to MU1. I'm hoping that there is an answer because it is annoying. I have the nethasp plugged directly into this computer and it is running locally; been that way since we got the thing.

*in the check out aisle at Lowes with a new Husqvarna riding lawnmower* Cashier: "Now, you have the option to buy a two year maintenance package for this lawnmower. If anything goes wrong, we'll update it for free, and you get to try out next years model early!" Me: "Pfft. I don't need that, that's just a waste of money. I can fix it myself, and I'll have this thing for years, it already does everything I want." *goes home, starts cutting grass, lawnmower works fine then suddenly pulls a hard right and crashes into a wall* *shuts down and restarts lawnmower* *CANNOT FIND VALID LAWNMOWER DEFINITION*

I also make sure my servo drive motors and ways--i.e. arms and legs--are well lubed up with way oil--i.e. beer.

You can use transform toolpath to copy the toolpath and shift it a certain amount for each copy. Set the translate method to delta, type in the number of extra cuts (instances) you want, and put in the depth you want per pass in the Delta Z box (ie .01)

Create > Spiral You can make it variable pitch both axially, radially, or both.

Is it always G-1? Because in your sample, the second time it's G 1-X-8.

I always cut my grass dry, of course; I hate it when the Big Operator in the Sky accidentally flips on the flood coolant.

I found the whole website to be very annoying. Page after page of nonsense, and they never explicitly tell you what they are doing. "Machining Cloud improves the world of manufacturing on a fundamental level, representing a quantum leap in how processes are managed and optimized. Once you experience this unprecedented enhancement to your productivity, your operations will never be the same." Ok, buddy.

Solid carbide is perfect for dynamic roughing. Light stepover, no coolant. Using inserted cutters with dynamic roughing makes me nervous that it will rip an insert out.

2D Peel Mill...

Your default WCS, T, C plane should all be Top. The reason you see the X+ and Z- is because you have your Cplane set to lathe radius. This is fine, as long as the directions match the way you machine. I personally never use those planes, but it makes it easier for beginners to think about how their part is oriented.

You need to build a fence all the way around the yard, then build another fence half the width of your lawnmower inside of that. That way went you run your lawnmower and say, "Hey, I don't want you to cut this check fence," and it says, "check surfaces are gonna be treated as mow surfaces, beyoch," you still have the outside fence left when you're done. Just try to avoid building any gaps, i.e. no gates or doors.

I learned right from the get-go to password protect my machine and control definitions. If I don't, some "ghost" or "gremlin" or "glitch in the software" will screw it up. I know it's not my coworkers screwing it up because they always say, "Wasn't me!" or "I didn't see nothin."

.164-64 UNS-2B INTERNAL THREAD Number of starts............................... 1 Threads per inch............................... 64.0000 METRIC INCH Decimal lead is.................. 0.396880 0.01562 Major dia. is.................... 4.16560 0.1640 min. Pitch dia. is................from 3.90906 0.1539 to 3.98526 0.1569 Minor dia. is................from 3.73380 0.147 to 3.83540 0.151 Pitch dia. tol. for 2B is........ 0.07620 0.00300 The helix angle is............................. 1.85099 Or if you prefer 1 Degree 51 Minutes 3 Seconds These are COMPUTER values...................... 5-UP rounding was used......................... Run date is 07-21-14

I need me a five-axis lawnmower. Right now I always end up having to do another operation and finish by hand.

What I meant was, make sure you're looking at the right offset on your machine, not in Mastercam. The problems you're describing now all seem machine related. The tool change position is machine related and you should be able to change that in your work offset setup on the machine. I'm only familiar with Okuma lathes and we change our tool change position all the time. However I do notice that you have tool change codes on a stand-alone block; on the Okumas you have to have a Z position call on the same block as a tool call. So it looks like this: G0 Z.1 T070707 M6 I also see you have no absolute or incremental commands. It's possible that the tool offset cancel is causing the extra step. You're going to have to reference the programming manual for your machine to find the proper way it needs to be programmed. Since I have no experience with your machine I can't tell you what to change. If you can tell me exactly how it is supposed to be written, I can help you make the changes.

For aluminum we use three-flute, high helix uncoated endmills, mostly from IMCO. They say the TidB coating is supposed to be excellent in aluminum but I just stick with polished & uncoated. As for plastics, I use the same things specv posted. Uncoated, polished single flutes for polycarbonate, delrin, HDPE; two-flute with diamond for Ultem 30% glass and Torlon.

Whoa whoa whoa, crazy guy! This is a superstition thread, not a gripe thread! Anyway, can't you do balanced turning and syncing with the mill/turn add on?

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to seem rude. I tried attaching a funny picture to make my comment more lighthearted but I guess it didn't work. I have no experience with the material but I'm sure others will chime in.