Thanks for all the replies!! Jay, I didn't think about the design seat being an issue. But I agree with you, mcam would certainly loose money (that is, if sell many seats of design). My bad. Have a good one!! Respectfully, Mike R.

Hi Jay! So, what would the harm be in creating a version that you can do everything in BUT post? Would it be an easy thing to hack? I'd be more than happy with what the previous poster said, just a simple 2 1/2d with no posting abilities, but able to save geo and toolpaths, so they can post it at school on the educational seats. Whadaya think? Mike R.

You got that right James! I teach mcam 5 hours per week for 15 weeks. Some students get pretty dam good at it, and some are just starting to catch on by the end. The reason I keep bringing this up is that if I require the student version, the student is responsible for it. That works well for students who are going to school in a federal program (if you are laid off, program 599 pays both unemployment and college tuition, book, etc.) Those students (80% of my population) would have no problem. The other 20% may not be able to afford it. But if they could everything BUT post the program, life would be much easier, and it would still be useless to everyone else. JM2C, Mike R.

Thanks Jay! I know about the availability of mcam for students, but most of my students (community college), can't afford it. I think it's $300.? Do you require your students to purchase it? I've thought about it, and maybe it's time for me to have my students bite the bullet and buy it. What do you think? Yer pale, Mike R.

Just a thought, would it be possible to have a version of MCam that students could have that would allow them to create geometry and toolpaths, then save them? BUT not be able to postprocess them? That would be VERY nice for us teachers out there. I'm probably missing a big part of why it's not already there, but it's just a though I had. I would have posted this on the instructor's forum, but there doesn't seem to be much trafic there. Thanks fer listnin', Mike R. Humble MasterCAM Instructor

Thanks for the reply Jack! No smart mouth here, either! I haven't used the mazatrol yet, so I'm only used to programming fanuc or fanuc clones. But I see your point! Thanks again, Mike R.

Hi Jack! Just curious here. Outside of a few circumstances, why would you use IPR instead of IPM if you're programming for a mill? Thanks! Mike R.

I have to ring in here. I agree with both of you that you have to be productive, BUT integration of systems would be NICE. As I've stated before, I use both Mcam and UG, and all arguments to date regarding both are valid. I'd much rather design in UG, but program in Mcam. Having said that, we have UG V19 (NX) now, but I haven't played with it at all. But since SDRC was gobbled up by EDS, I'm very curious to see what the cam side of UG is now. But still, MasterCam is WAY easier to learn and use on the design side as well as the cam side. JMHO, Mike R.

Thanks again for all your help and suggestions on this machine! James, my address is: 31 Sand Bank Rd Erin, New York 14838 Ground would be ducky! Does UPS do "collect" shipping? I certainly don't want you to pay for the shipping! It's really nice to have all of your support right now. My wife's health is RAPIDLY declining, and I don't know if she's going to pull out of it this time.. Respectfully, Mike R.

Glad to help! I made the students design and program thier own caps to the salt shakers. I'm now requiring them to design the shaker bodies too, using it as a "final exam" component. Really precludes students from cheating! Respectfully, Mike R.

Thats bad news for CT, but good news for Elmira, which is part of my service area (I also used to work there). They make, in my opinion, the BEST toolroom lathes in the WORLD. I love Hardinge!!!!!!! Mike R.

Thanks again Mark! I'm still working on it... Respectfully, Mike R.

I want to again thank you for all your help! This is the most helpful forum on the PLANET!!! Sav, while I really appreciate the offer of copying the manual, I can't ask you to do that. Thats WAY too much work! James, I really appreciate it! On the subject of both the terrorist attacks in Bali and the sniper in Maryland, those people (if you can call them that) need to be taken out and shot. No, maybe SLOWLY dipped in boiling oil. Maybe take a day to fully immerse them. I just hope politicians don't use this as an excuse to take our guns away... MHO Again, thank you ALL for your help! (The above comment about the murderers CANNOT be construed as being negative to PEOPLE in any way. Thereby not tarnishing my reputation as a nice guy...) Respectfully & Gratefully, Mike R.

As far as I know, the "original" geometry that was chained to create your toolpath is associated TO the toolpath, so I don't think you can change the toolpath without editing the geometry associated to it. HTH, Mike R.

texasmillhand, Hope this link helps, it's to the mcam reseller in texas. http://www.mlc-cad.com/ Mike R.

Thanks again Mark! But I don't want either g28 or g30 posted. What can I do? Thanks again for you help, all else worked GREAT!! Mike R.

Thanks Mark!!!!!! I'll try that later tonight. Really appreciate the help! Mike R.

I got my aerotech up and running today, but programing is wierd in this monster. I've contacted our local mastercam reseller (industrial, Chris Parish - all around nice guy) and he said he'd write one for me. But first, I want to try to do what I can so I can learn a little more about posts. Here is the first battery of questions: How do I suppress the "O" in the program #, so it only posts out the # (no O). How do I get the output in NON decimal point programming? How do I suppress all G28's? Thats enouph for now. I don't want to bug anyone. (Using MPEZ post) Thanks for all your help!!! Mike R. Faithful Mcam user

Didn't smartcam get bought out by UG? Or was that surfcam. One of them anyway. Mike R.

Thanks for all your replies! Sav, could you please email me the posts (if no one has a problem with it)? As far as scanning the manuals, it seems like an awful lot of work for you, but I'd appreciate it! By the way Sav, where are you located? Thanks again all!!! Mike R [ 10-16-2002, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: Michael Reynolds ]

Thanks Peter! My bad. It's a VQC with a CAMM-2 controller. I was wondering if there were any post in mastercam that would work with it. Also, I need copies of manuals. I know this is a bad thing to ask, so if I could buy a copy of the programming (or any) of the manuals, I'd be a happy boy! (I've asked Mazak about buying the manuals, and they're about 1000 bucks. We're a poor school, and can't afford that kind of money... Thanks! Mike R. [ 10-15-2002, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: Michael Reynolds ]

Anyone have one of these machines? I'm looking for any information I can get on them. A company just donated it to us, and we didn't get any manuals on it, so any information would be great. I asked Mazak, and they want almost a 1000 dollars for manuals. Anyone?? Mike R.

I teach (and use) both UG and MasterCAM at a community college. There are two issues here. Design and Manufacture. For the design side for SINGLE parts, I'd take MasterCam any day of the week. For designing assemblies, UG would be my pick (..."he respectfully said"..) For Manufacturing (nc programming), MasterCAM SMOKES UG. It's (in my opinoin) as or MORE powerful than UG, and MUCH easier to learn. However, we just put in UGNX (V19), and I've got to say, UG has made major imporvements. Oh ya, UG is also real, real expensive... Hope that helps! "So a skelaton walks into a bar and says 'I'll have a pitcher of beer and a mop'".. Mike R.

Hi Jack (and All), I'd like to vote for people in this award thing, but I'm afraid I'd hurt the feelings of those who I did not mention.. Not kidding... But I'd like to thank EVERYONE on this forum for all of the help I've recieved over the past few years. Thanks again to all! Mike R.

Hi OlympiaHS! What a co inky dink! I just posted a message on this forum requesting about the same information. I have since found the following web pages to be very informative! See below. http://www.cablingdirectory.com/glossary.htm http://www.nfrpartners.com/nfrcomm1.htm Hope this helps! Mike R.