Oops! forgot to mention I would project either geometry (splines) or write a 2d contour using the surface boundaries (no tool offset). It does take some monkeying around but it does cut nice.

The multi-surf flowline is a nice path...when it works! The uv lines have to flow together (in a row). I usually will end up using project. It is an old path but in certain situations it works like a charm. I even prefer that over scallop because you can really control cutter movement. Good luck.

We are off of Gratiot south of M59.

Sorry Frank, my supervisor reads in all the files thru Pro-E then sends them to us in an IGES format. Where is it that you work? I am at Omega.

Are you trying to cut multiple cavities from rough to finish in various ops? If so, I would suggest cutting a single cavity rough thru finish using boundaries around that specific cavity and you can use all surface data. Then drag and copy those ops under themselves and change the boundaries as applicable per cavity by picking the geometry "tag" on the ops and regenerate. Maybe this isn't what you mean but I don't know. Good luck.

As far as the setup sheets, the mill.set works you can modify it to meet your needs, but even with multiple ops and the same tool # you have to edit. I tend to cut and paste if I use the same tool # all into one document.

I use software called SnagIt. It is a screen capture that outputs gif, jpeg, bmp and some others. It works pretty good and if you output a jpeg or a gif it stays relatively small (in size) for email purposes. You used to be able to output thru shading a bmp but the files are quite large to email.

First , how much ram are you allocating to MC8, and second, are you running your files off of a server? I have noticed working on files off of our server sometimes it can lag. I dedicate about 200 megs of ram to MC8 but I think that may be overkill. The reason I have it set that high is some files when reading in an IGES have thousands of entities and I would end up with it locking up. If your are working from a file server try bringing the file local and see if that helps.

Try modify x-nurbs . This will convert any parametric splines to nurbs curves and it may help. Also if you run filter on in your toolpath parameters it may shorten the cycle times.

Remember when using groups and alt-e try not to delete entities. I have found more entities deleted that were "supposedly" hidden. Ouch! that hurts if you don't notice in time.

I had the same problem sometimes three or more crashes a day, but sine I've updated to 8.1.1 I have yet to have a crash Several days now.

Mbowling make sure you try to run the file while it is in the Mc8 working directory. I recieved the same error when I tried to run it from my temp.

Try and check in your screen config under nc settings open default8.ops and go to the pocket program and check the parameter settings there. Maybe you'll be able to click it off. I don't know what else you could try. Mine is not greyed out so other than that I don't know what to tell you.

I work for moldmaking company and we run thru a win2k server. Our file management usually consist of Main job number and date and sub directories under that for each additional part for the tool i.e. slides and cores what we have found though is a character limit under a directory that will cause the server to crash. I believe this is a win2k problem. We tend to have E_C 's during the tool development and subsequently end up with numerous folders with the outdated data. It would be wise to contact Windows and find the exact character amount. Once that amount is hit workstations will no longer be able to grab the data and if they try to move the folder all hell breaks loose in the IT.

Has anyone found a way to modify the html.set so that you can have your geometry show up on the page or added as an extra page? I tried snagging the geometry and outputting it as a gif but you can't or I should say I can't change where the browser wants to go. In house solutions is where it goes for that corner Icon.

You have to have the exe in the MC8 folder.Put it in the working directory where you have Mastercam running from and it will work.

I am mapped to the server, but so far this morning I haven't crashed. So possibly, the repair disk worked.

I was getting the files from a server but with the consistent crashing I moved my files to get locally. This didn't make it very much better. Yesterday I crashed three times. Two of the times it was the mmc.exe and once it was mc8.exe which appeared in the app error window that popped up. I ran the repair off of the MC8 install disk and as of yet I haven't crashed but I am working on a large tool and I have only needed to do a file get a couple times since.

No I haven't yet. I am going to now. I am presently getting blown out now. Thanks . [This message has been edited by Bill (edited 05-03-2001).]

I work for Omega Plastics here in Clinton Twp. Mi. I am a moldmaker who decided to learn the software on my own 10 years ago. Since then I have faded into the cad cam world now and do tool designs and cutter paths only. I have run AutoCad, CimLinc, and some Pro E and I have found MC is for me. I have done alot of surface creation and manipulation and it is far the easiest to work with and it only seems to get better every version.

I seem to be having more frequent crashes lately. I am running Win2K and MC8.1. Has anyone else had a problem in the file get area. If I try to get a file ,in certain situations, I get an application error mmc.exe, and it blows me out. MMC is Microsoft Mangement Console and there seems to be some conflict. Anyone else with this problem?

I am running an Oxygen GVX210 64mb card on Windows Pro2000 with 256 meg-ram and when I first updated the card I found the surface (display back) would not work correctly. My surfaces were in technicolor. I contacted 3D Labs and told them the problem and they quickly gave me a driver update specifically for a Mastercam setting. That was pretty cool. The same configuration runs Quake III like nothing you could imagine.