Thanks for all your replies! I've put in a req for v9 level 3 + solids. I'll tell ya, though, I'm not gonna let my students use the solids stuff until they THOUROUGHLY understand the rest. Just like I wouldn't let them touch the surfacing things until they really have a firm grip on all of the fundamental stuff. I've seen too many people who jump into the "cool stuff" before teaching the basics. Students come out thinking that they know just about all of it, but when you give them a project that they have to start from scratch, they're lost. Kinda like teaching CNC programming/operation to someone who doesn't know manual machining. Fundamentals first... Thanks for the replies, and thanks fer listening!! Mike R.

Are you talking about setting different G54's for the different vise's? If you are, then the first operation of each "job", change the T/C plane to "1", "2", "3", etc. hope that's what you're talking about.. Mike R.

I use the T/C plane option to set different work coordinate settings, like G55, G56, etc. Hope this helps! Mike R.

Our school is closed until Spring startup (middle of January), but I'll be sitting here most every night, playing with mcam, working on spring courses, learning, learning, learning....... Merry Christmas to all of you, and thanks for all of your help this past year! Special thanks to the Webbies for keeping this forum what it is.. C-ya's!! Mike R.

Good question, Dave! I'm just wondering about this, so I'll say all of the above. I only know two systems (UG and Mcam), and I'm not planning on switching. Like I said I'm just wondering. Thanks! Mike R.

Hi all! I've been listening to our cad staff talk about high end and low end cad software, and they're saying that acad is low end and UG is high end. What about cam software? Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE mastercam (I teach both UG cam and Mastercam, and don't think much of UG cam). But what are your opinoins of the high and low end cam packages? Can yall's give me a range from (high to low). Example: Bobcam to Mastercam? Whadaya think? Very respectfully, Mike R.

Hi TJ. I posted this on the other forum as well. You don't have to have the raster to vector c hook to bring bitmaps into mastercam if you have MS powerpoint and acad. Just past the bitmap into powerpoint, save as windows metafile, open the metafile in acad (insert), save as dxf, then go to mastercam, file converters, dxf..... Hope this helps!! Mike R.

I agree, I started with mp ez post for use on simple 3 axis generic fanuc controllers, and found it to be FLAWLESS. Then when using our 4th axis horizontal fanuc, MPfanpost worked good with a few modifications. THEN, I started using MP masterpost for the 4th axis stuff (and sub programming), and will not go back (unless I'm programming for a simple 3 axis VMC. Mike R.

Hi Comp! Here's a tip someone gave me a while back : File, Edit, Pst, ("find" 'fastmode'), and set it to zero. This will still output your nc code (on the left portion of your editor screen), but it will also tell you what part of the post output the code (on the right side of the screen. Hope this helps!! Mike R.

Hi Felix! Looks like Dave beet me to the punch. MPmasterpost is an awsome post, though. Ta, Mike R.

Thanks Trevor! But I was trying to accomplish this without having to purchase additional software. Actually, I was just playing.... Thanks for the replies! Mike R.

Hi Felix! Welcome to the forum! Anyway, if you use the mpmasterpost, your tool list will come up at the beginning of your program. You can download mp master post from the "posts" page at the top of this page. BTW, if you type in caps, people think you're shouting at them. hope this helps!! Mike R. [ 12-17-2001: Message edited by: Michael Reynolds ]

Hi All! I've been playing around designing a candy box that has a 3 jaw chuck embedded in the bottom of the box. So, I started to create the lid, and wanted to have a raised micrometer, vernier, or something on it. I was lamenting over how to get a bitmap into mcam (WITHOUT using the "raster to vector" c hook, and came up with a really good way. Here it is: Find an image that you want to engrave (or whatever), copy it (right click, ya know), and paste it into MS powerpoint. Then SAVE AS a "windows metafile". Then it can be opened up in acad, saved as a dxf. Then you know the rest, "file, converters, dxf". My world has been forever changed..... (is this a "Tech Tip"? Thanks fer listnen' Mike R.

Hey Charles, how come your book is not listed in the "Books" section of this page? Also, is it possible to get an evaluation copy? Thanks! Mike R.

Gotcha. But now I want to be able to pick the bottom of the pocket and have mcam create a pocketing toolpath to cut out everything except for the chuck. Is it possible without having to chain everything together? Sorry for my ignorance of solid machining!!!!! Mike R.

Ok, I got it (thanks to James -n Jay. I had to xform, translate some entities down .0003. Is there a tolerance setting in screen config that I could have set? Again, thanks for your most EXCELLENT help!!! Mike R.

Thanks James, but I get a message that says "booooolean operation will result in disjointed body" or somthing like that. What am I doing wrong?? Thanks, you Senior Member, you.. Mike R>

Hi All! I just created a 3 jaw chuck, and all jaws are solids, but they are seperate solids. Then I created a box around it (also solid). Now I want to join these 5 solids together to make one part. Ok, ok, its' a candy box with a 3 jaw in it. Anyway, how do I go about making these seperate solid entities one part? Thanks!!!!!! Mike R.

Thanks Charles, that's what I thought. Mike R.

Does anyone design assemblies in mastercam? If you do, how do you link the files together? Seems like a lot of work to manipulate levels to do this. Thanks all!!!! Mike R.

Hi Rob! Do you plan on remelting (recycling) the wax? If you do, you could have your students design and machine a mold that has reversed letters, so that when you take the recycled blanks out of the mold, it has your school name (or something) on it. JM2C Mike R.

Hi Barry, I'm not sure it's a post question.. If you do a tool path, in the tool parameters, one of the buttons is "change NCI", hit it and check the "force tool change" box. Hope that helps!! Mike R.

Thanks Jay! But how do you get the lines above and below the quotes? Remember, you, sir are my hero... Mike R.

James, for future reference, MasterCAM has no dirt to "troll" for. Only gold to mine. How's that for suckin' up? (it's true, though!!) Very respectfully, Mike R.

Hi! What I did was to sit with a few different programmers at a few different companies in our service area. Then I did what you said you didn't want to. I wrote my own course. As for text, to date I haven't used any. Just gave the students a copy of the demo version and then I do my own "books" in the form of tutorials. If you'd like, I can send you my mcam class syllabus, just let me know! Hope this helps! Mike R.