When I was first learning to set up -n- run cnc lathes, I was setting up a reverse-work piece job, and forgot about the second workshift. 900 inches/minute, 5000 revs straight into the spindle. Brand new machine, first (attempted) set up. Sooo, I single handedly turned a NEW Hardinge Conquest SP (super precision) into a normal, everyday Hardinge conquest. How's that? Mike R.

Thanks all, really appreciate your help on this one. Yup I'm a teacher, but it's not often that I have to calculate volumes -n- stuff, cuz I teach cnc machining/programming. Thanks again!! Mike R.

so, like not to be 'pid, but what's the density of water? Thanks, Mike R.

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of...I guess it's not a perfect world?! Thanks again, Mike R.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks Gcode!! Mike R.

Is there a way to edit lettering text without re doing it? Like when you edit drafting entities...? Thanks! Mike R.

When I analyze a solid to, say, determine the volume it will hold (like a bottle), it gives me a volume, but what are the units it gives them to me in? Are they litters (sp)? If so, how can I change them to quarts, or gallons? Thanks all! Hope everyone is having a good 4th! I'm working, myself, but having fun at the same time! (Today I can play on Mcam -n- have a beer at the same time!!!!! Thanks again! Mike R.

Can't you just do a File, Next menu, Ram saver? That should work.. Hope that helps! Mike R.

Steve, Thanks fer gitten back to me. I'd LOVE to check out your car! My e mail is [email protected] Thanks, man! Mike R.

I'm still working on my dog and pony show, and I (first of all), can't figger out why the run times are so high. I tried doing a set up sheet on Trevor's head (so to speak), and still come up with about 78 hours of run time. I tried several different posts, including the fadal 2 post. I'm IN NO WAY saying that Trevor's run time is incorect, just that I'm coming up with this excessive run time on MY machine. I'm also starting to get a "shut down" message that says "mill 8 has caused an error (msvcrt.dll) and will be shut down". I tried unistalling mcam and reinstalling it, to no avail. On a related note, I downloaded the "car" .mc8, and couldn't do better than 3 hours of run time. I KNOW that this part wouldn't take that long to run. Any ideas what my problem could be? (the mastercam problem, not my other one. My therapist is workin' on THAT one... Thanks all! Mike R.

Sorry all! What I did was to search something, and just replied to it, without regard to the date it was first posted. Sorry again!!!! MIke R.

Ok, I've been following this thread, and here is my 2C: I'm not a designer, but more of a programmer with a need to do some of my own drawing/design. I also am a teacher at a community college who wants to know IF mastercam is widely used in industry as a DESIGN tool. I posted a message and got the general feeling that it was used mailny as a CAM tool, with folks importing files origannaly (SP) created on other cad packages. So here goes: I know acad, and it works GREAT for 3d work, but there is a wide learning curve to it. I know UG, and there is a HUGE learning curve to it, but parametrics is THERE if you need it (with respect to creating assemblies & linking them to a master cad file for later updates), and the cam package associated with it (IMHO) is very cumbersome. Mastercam is very easy to learn & use, but there is no doubt that these other cad packages offer a MUCH more diverse set of drawing/designing tools. But mcam IS making strides into the design/dimensioning realm, with the advent of solids and the new c hook (layout), where you can place views (conventional/sectional) wherever you want. Granted these new conventions have thier problems, but their gittin' there! What was my point??? Hmmmm...... Mabye you CAN'T have the BEST of both worlds, (CAE vs CAM)... But I'm stickin' with mcam for both, since I don't have to design 3D parametric assemblies... Thanks for listening! Mike R.

Jay, Are you saying that easy draw will NOT work with V8, and to reinstall V7 and try to use it? If that's the only way, then thats the only way, but I hate to go backerds... Thanks!! Mike R.

Jay, I used Trevor's tools, and am using nylatron (sp) stock, and mpfanpost. Thanks Jay!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike R.

Hi all, Has anyone used the easy draw dll with mcam 8? I tried downloading it and couldn't get it to work in 8...I'm probably doin' sumpin wrong... Mike R.

Trevor, I'm using the mpfan post. I got the cycle time by doin' an nc utilities, set up sheet, and clicking on the icon on the left of the screen. I just did it and it's still coming up with 78 hours. Now I'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong...(2 sec tool change, 300 rapid rate) Thanks! Mike R.

Thanks Jay, I'll check it out this afternoon.. Mike R.

Beartau, I used nc, setup sheet to get the run time, is that not accurate? (I'm backploting is as we type...) Thanks! Mike R.

Trevor, That's definately a cool model, but when I checked the run time, it was 78 hours..So I redid the tool path with just surface rouph pocket and surface parallel, and it still was 17 hours. Am I doing something wrong? I'd like to get it down to about 1 hour. (Using Nylatron) Thanks!! Mike R.

Thanks all!! (I won't forget yall at christmas time...) Thanks again! Mike R.

thanks Jay! I'm looking forward to it.. Mike R.

Hi all! I have to do a dog and pony show in a week or so, in which I set up and run cnc's for the general public's viewing pleasure. I saw a cnc demonstration at Eastech a month or so ago, where a company was doing a 3d surface of a face. Does anyone have a cool mcam model I could use for one of my demonstrations? Would need to be relatively small (12x12x2) or so. I really appreciate your help, as I'm not much into surfacing. If I can teach students to be competely compenent in 2d manual/cnc machining I'm happy, but marketing is marketing... Thanks everyone! Mike R.

Thanks to all of you for your help with this problem...I think I learned my lesson! (I'm installing win2000 next week, and will use all of your advice) Thanks again! Mike R.

when you say "crash" do you mean that nasty screen that comes up (more often than we'd like) that says "this program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down"? Thanks! Mike R.

No problem gcode, I've been thinking of upgrading to 2000 anyway...& I've heard since I installed me that it sucked, it's just now that I'm see'n it... Take care! Mike R.