Thank you for all the advise. You all have been very helpful. Dan

Thanks gcode, all sounds like good advice. We will definetly be purchasing a 5-axis post for all the reasons you stated and then some. You said purchase a post from the "pros". Can you elaborate? Dan

Hello. One of our 2005 goals is to purchase a 5-axis machine. I was asked today if mastercam would handle it. My answer was absolutely. But that's about as much as I know about 5-axis. I'm currently using the mpmaster from this site with level 3, solids and maintenance. Other than training and a learning curve what are some of the things I can do to prepare or help to advise with the purchase of the machine. Good experiances or bad with certain brands? Will I need a differant post? Brand name or size hasn't been determined yet as it's still in the early stages. I'm just looking for any info or advice that any of you might have. THank you, Dan

I must admit I always used rapid out of the hole when reaming. Never really thought about doing it any other way. We don't ream very often but when we do it's usually around .07 dia +-.0002. It's usually a struggle the whole way. Do you find benefits when reaming as you are describing? Dan

Thank you everyone.... Dan

Thank you both. That clears things up. It looks as though copying of a system view and editing the parameters or creating a new view will get the same result. Is this true? I think part of my problem was trying to edit a system view. Thank you Dan

I'm having a little trouble using the wcs. Only because I'm still trying to grasp a full understanding of how and when best to use it. When I toolpath in the system view #1-top, and then switch to system view #4-bottom and toolpath, it seems to work just fine. But the posted code changes work offsets from g54 to g55, etc., from tool to tool depending what view I'm toolpathing in. I like the work offset to post with each tool, but need g54 to remain static throughout the program. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. The same thing is happening when I create new views in the wcs. I'm using the mpmaster from this site. Mastercam is up to date. Thank you for any advice. Dan

I think that's good advice. I'll start tweaking a newer post for that look and feel. It's time comsuming but a rewarding acomplishment. Dan

Steve We've been current with every release since ver 7. I am using a ver 8 post that is tweaked to everyone's liking, so I didn't want to change unless I have to. It has been updated through update pst to ver 9.1. I'll search some more threads myself. Thank you for your help. Dan

Hello I've always used misc integer 2 for posting toolpaths in icremental. Since upgrading to maintenance 0304 and solids all at the same time, a drill cycle won't post in incremental. The Z and R values reflect incremental but the post isn't outputing a G91. I say since upgrading because I haven't tried posting a incremental drill cycle for a while. It may in fact not have anything to do with upgrading, just can't pin point when something might have changed. As far as what to look for in the post I'm lost. Dan

Thanks guys, I posted with the mpmaster and the code looks good and the tool movements are a lot smoother. Thank you for the explanation and information. There'a always somrthing new to learn. Dan

Thanks gcode, that explains a lot. I will definetly look into inverse time feedrates. Thank you Dan

Can you explain what "Inverse time" feedrates are and what they do? Thanks Dan

Thanks Mike, I'll have to look into this a little further. I am using a post that's about 3 years old. It has worked great in the past. Maybe now is the time to change. Dan

Doing some 4th axis milling in 17-4 mat'l with a .031 endmill. I don't understand what determines the feedrates or how their calculated. Machining with the "x" and "a" axis the post puts differant feedrates on several lines. I realize the feedrates and in degrees/min, but their forever changing throughout the program. Could someone explain how and why? I'm having trouble keeping a constantload on the tool. Thank you. Dan

I wouldn't want to be a sanitation worker, but thank god there are people willing to do it. Dan

call me crazy or stupid but but on my machine op 6 only enters the larger part of the cavity once, and and leaves only once before going to the next cavity. unless i'm missing the question. Dan

Ok I admit it. I use wireframe toolpaths all the time. I use level 3 but still find myself returning to the tried and true. For me they are quick and easy, and provide great results for most work. They've been in the menu for a long time and I hope they never go away. Dan

Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to everyone. He may have been there. I wish I had it to do all over again. Dan

Hey Hardmill, Dale was there and was available to answer any questions we had. The dealer was J&M Machinery, just northeast of Indy, and I did learn plenty. AS I said we don't have a need for hardmilling right now, but I'm thinking if thats possible in hard steel then we need to re-evaluate our stratagies in soft steel. Thanks Dan

Hello, I went to a local dealer yesterday for a hard milling seminar, put on by hardmilling.com. Pretty impressive. As of right now we don't do any hard milling, but I know there's room to bump up our feeds and speeds based on what I saw. I know they've had time to tweak the program, tools, and machine, but is milling like that realistic day in day out and still hold a tight tolerance? Everything was programmed with Cam-Tool. Please reassure me that Mastercam will do it all and then some. Dan

I'm using that exact machine with a fanuc 18 to cut electrodes. I believe our post came from a v7 cd and has since been updated from each release to v9. I personally tweaked our post to suit what we wanted. I'm not grandstanding here, as I have zero post-weaking experience. My point is this. The fanuc post on the cd will work with very little changing. If you have a genuine cd that is. Dan

Philcot I don't make a habit of bashing machines, but I would get rid of it while you can. We replaced two, new 4020's for this very reason a few years back. I realize machines arn't cheap, but neither is downtime and baby-sitting because of wimpy machines. Dan

Bertau, Mirlin, Millman, Thanks for your help. It worked out great. I was having trouble coming up with some geometry on the two ends. It looks as thou you created a spline for the coons patch. I wouldn't have thought of that. Now I know. Thanks again. Dan

Thanks guys, I will take a look at them Dan