Currently I program for 18 machines with different interfaces. I also write various machine and software code for other software manufacturers. I have found a way (Maybe this isn't new to you folks?)to run a version of VB(..or something like VB depending on the controller and interface) right on the machine interface. You can load, manipulate, post and run a program without ever manually re-programming and re-posting a part file in mastercam. This is a VERY powerful tool in the wood industry. Maybe it has the same value to a metal guy?

Fresh Start Please? I've heard rumor that X will contain the ability to work through C-hook & VB to better program solids parametrically? If this is so...I would like to find out if others have interest (when X is released), in interfaces for machine controls to create Mastercam programs and NC files without manually running & opening Mastercam? Is anyone else doing this currently out there? If others out there read through the mess of the "other" posts that got ugly..... This will be my 1st approach to address a slew of issues (One at a time) I see and currently have problems with in programming with Mastercam. If we can all get along (Including Myself..apologies to all....) I would like to contribute my knowledge as well and learn from fellow programmers. Thanks

How do you get pictures to appear in this forum? All pictues in replies are "x" out.

James: 3 Billy Goats Gruff Old Childrens Tale about the troll that lived under a bridge....

Billy Goat Billy Goat get off my bridge.... Bullines: I guess this troll is too much for this forum to handle. Your fellow forum mates - veteran or not need to grow up instead of acting like pre-schoolers in a grown up world. James: I appologize, I'll be man enough to admit it first. It was a simple frustration turned into childsplay. To the rest: Best wishes - I'll find a forum that can both take and receive critiscm.

End Reply to Little Boy Boo Hoo's temper trip: Rewind and Re-read uneducated Cali-Hic! I never said that my programs did not work OR did I ever say that I had problems learning this childs toy of software. The problem lies in Mastercam Inability to keep up with the day to day programming load that other software packages ace. The main culprit is Mastercam Router, I hope that this gets a major revisit in version X. I have nothing to hide in my abilities or my education as others may, I personally invite you Mr. Meyette to come and learn from someone who needs to definetly put you in your place. Sit in my chair, and I promise to send you packing back across the country. Better yet I'm looking for a few good programmers, send your resume, if you have one, so I can enjoy a good laugh. Good Day and Grow Up All!

LOSER quote of the day: "I notice your title in your profile says "Engineer". That speaks volumes." Imagine your world if the world as you know it was never "engineered" Every Engineer, no matter the type or degree, should be highly proud of his or her acheivement in life. Engineers and many other types of degrees are what make this country such a great place to live. I would love to take Mr. James Meyette and drop him in some 3rd world nation where his tiny little world would not be "engineered" for him. I would guarantee he would just sit in the corner and cry just as he would without his PC and Mastercam to fill his time. So what is your degree in Mr. Meyette? For some reason I could not find that information proudly diplayed in your profile. Have a nice Day!

I feel Sorry for you James if you can't take or handle a little heat or if I stomped on your precious software a little. I Love It! HA! Somehow I knew you would be the first to respond! And for your info Sir James, I'm not feeling big or bad as you may feel that YOU are, I'm actually speaking from a long line of experience my friend. So, like I said, if you can't handle some negative input, PLEASE put your little childs hat back on,that I may have knocked off, crawl back into your bedroom at your Mom and Dad's house, turn your PC back on and study a little harder before you want to step into the ring with me and make "personal" ("Perhaps your skills are the glitch in the system???") comments again you small time weasel. I don't spend my life in a forum board, as you may, maybe you need a little more experience in a real working environment so you can see and learn what "Actually" works and what doesn't .

OH MAN Don't get me started! Why the heck do any of us need to pay to have software "Maintained"? This is just a fancy term used to describe a companies way to say "Pay us more money to fix mistakes that we should have never had from the beginning". My company is the worlds largest company for the high end products that it produces. We know what software works and what doesn't. Mastercam does not perform for a company that needs a very high amount of programming output and consistant performance time and time again. This is one of the first software packages that needs more money from its users to basically keep it growing continually in it's childlike beta form! And all of this fuss over screenshots is sickening! Software can "look" as pretty or as ugly as you want it to, but it doesn't mean it will perform. COME ON MASTERCAM PROVE ME WRONG. Otherwise why would there be sooooo many people looking for help and support in this forum for this software. Glich, Glich, Glitch, Patch, Patch, Patch. Pay me more Pay Me more. BULL SH*T!

Thus far, the amount that my company has spent to purchase Maintenance has not gotten us anything AT ALL worth the money. Guess version X will be released right about the time our maintenance agreement runs out. Mastercam still has a lot to show me, your still towards the back of the line in CAM software as far as I'm concerned. I sure hope X comes with some MAJOR improvements, otherwise good riddens Mastercam!!

Thanks for the Code re-fresher. I'm really new at VB usage in Mcam. Wish I new more. But I'm getting there. Thanks

Thanks Mick. I was replying to Bullines. I think your on the right track.

NOT "repaint" screen, it needs SCREEN-FIT to regen the screen to its extents before it takes the screen-shot

After the screenshot is taken, the file can be resized as much as you want, but it does not change what is included in the screenshot. What you are suggesting to do would be the same as trying to resize a photo that you would have taken with a camera. If you over-zoom and cut the head off someone in a photo, you can't resize the picture in order to put the head back on. It's not going to happen. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, I suggest trying it yourself. The result is a screenshot of the center of the sheet, not the overall sheet, which is what you should get with the screenshot. The "screen-fit" command needs to happen before the screenshot is taken in the VB script. I can't believe that I'm the only individual who ran into this programming glich.

Thanks for the quick reply. If I rotate the bmp (of a 48 x 96" sheet for instance), the bmp which was screen dumped is still in the chopped image size. I beleive that the size of the screen shot needs to be increased in the VB script? ATP works great, cuts my work time dramatically. Let me know if I can get a patch for the VB if this is where the problem lies.

Can the bitmap on reports using ATP nesting be changed to reflect opposite X,Y orientation? My Onsrud CNC has the Y axis set with the gantry. I need to set my sheet orientation "vertically" in the sheet setup. When I post, the bitmap is cut short on reports. Called CNC Software about this issue 2 months ago. Never got a reponse from Mick.