I found the problem.   There was a rotary calculation switch in the post. 

Okuma 5axis trunnion. Custom post. All 5axis move are very slow. I tried changing to inverse time in machine Def and still does not post. 5axis and rotary I choose inverse. 3axis normal feed. It is making no difference. Any comments?

Thanks again, Steve austin

When I set misc values at at "edit common parameters", it seems they are always reset to 0 when opening.  When I try to edit them in the control file, they sometimes have no effect.  How does this work?  And then there is the choice "Initialize toolpath operation: from post text settings, or from default operations.  If there is a pdf that explains this I would love to read it.  Thank you.

Programing a 5axis part for a table table trunnion using new swarf.  When making multiple passes the tool pulls up, back, over, forward, down in a u shape pattern instead of just straight over.  The tool gets close the the vise as the trunnion is at 90 degrees.  Is there a way to contain the rapids with some geometry?  Thanks.

Steve

Like this:

_____
|         |

|         |

|         |

Are you changing planes?

Yes.  Just indexing in 5 axis.  No real 5axis moves.  Could that be a cause?

Forgot to add that my gcode is just as it should be.  No problems there.

Post Haas 5axis trunnion.  Using the machine sim 5_5AXGEN_VMCTTAB which is most similar to our machine. When I run all the toolpaths together, which consists of multiple tools, the spindle hits the part at the start and end of some of the paths.  But not all.   But when I run them separately, they run exactly as they should.  Almost like it is changing tools down at the part, instead of up where it should.  I have set Rectract in Linking that is well above the part.  Altering the Home/Approach/Retract Reference Positions seem to have not effect.  I have seen this over multiple programs, so it is not exclusive to a single program. 

***So to be clear:

Head starts low in the part,

Head then rises to start position,

Machines as it should,

Head rises to retract position,

Head then falls down to part again.

***When running a single path

Head starts at start position,

Machines as it should,

Head rises to retract position.

:o  Never mind.

To expand on the idea I have been thinking how to set n sequence to match tool number and leave sequence on.

Example

N1

N2

N0016 T16 M6

N3

N4

N0216 T16 M6 (WITH A TOOL COUNTER IF A TOOL IS CALLED UP TWICE- COMMON AT OUR SHOP)

N5

N6

N0022 T22 M6

etc.

Are you trying to keep from rotation to the A- in the machine sim . just like when you set Misc as shown?

Yes and I just found it under machine sim - machine definition.  Works just like I want it.  Thanks guys.

We run a Haas trunnion vmc 5 axis and limit a axis rotation to only positive using misc values.   I am trying to get the machine simulation to work in the same manner.  Is this possible?

Thanks,

steve

Likely not the correct way but search for "sm05" then paste this on the next line:

  n$, *sg49, *scc0, e$

Then save and try to repost.

We had that problem when we went from a 4th to a 5th haas trunnion.  I don't remember the fix because that was before I began learning the post language and CD/MD purposes. etc.  I do remember that our re-seller got us straightened out pretty quick.

Is it a common need to update the documentation?  I would think not too much would change from year to year.

Which version of Mastercam? With the release of X8 or X9, they added some great new options for the 2D High Speed Dynamic Tool Paths.

 

The option I'm thinking of is "Air Chaining". You basically select a single closed chain as the "area" you want to machine out. Set the option to "outside" in the chaining selection dialog for the toolpath, and then use the "air chain" to select a "partial" chain. This tells the algorithm that the "air chain" is an "open area".

 

By having the path set to "outside" approach, and telling the operation "where the open end is", the toolpath should always start on the "air" side, and work its way into the pocket. I've had great results just by using those options, and sometimes modifying the wireframe geometry to keep the tool from "wrapping" around an edge where I don't want it to go...

 

 

Say for example, you have a chain that looks like the following. You want to pocket out the material, but only the "red" area is the "Air" chain area. If you just chain it "as is", sometimes it will "wrap" up past the "non Air" edges while machining its way in.

               _________

               |                |

               |                |

               |                |

               |                |

               |________|

 

 

Now, if you modify the chains a little bit, to extend the "walls" past the "air chain", it will only enter where the red partial chain is. Obviously this is very crude ASCII art, but I'm just using it to demonstrate the thought process here...

 

        ____________

        |___                 |

               |                |

               |                |

          __|                 |

         |___________|

Crude maybe, but very smart Colin.

I looked at the Haas 4th post and did not see any rotational limits.  If I can find this logic in the Haas 5th post could I rename to 4th and use that?  I guess other modifications would need to be made... Or, is it not that simple?

This would only be used for indexing.    This is likely beyond my ability and knowledge at this point. 

Edit:  I just realized what I really need it to get Mcam to post in signed incremental.  Right now when the trunion goes from 90 to 270 it is going positive and rolls under.  I need Mcam to post in incremental from 90 to -180.   I feel like a dummy for asking the wrong question. 

We have a 4th trunnion with a vice on either side. It rotates 360 empty but with parts in vice +-150 is the limit so part won't hit table. We set different offset for either side. Can I set Mp to post with these limits? I have searched and found nothing just like this. I am learning the Mp language so don't want my homework done for me, just point me in the right direction. I also have Mp docs. Could the answer be in there?

Thank you,

Steve austin

Colin since reading your write up several times through I am understanding my reading more and more. But I will be back with more questions soon.  Thanks again.

Steve A

Colin, I appreciate your patients.  Thank you for taking the time to lay this out.  It does help a great deal.  I see now your class will benefit me.

I want to say that I have come here only after doing much homework, watching every video on the subject.  Including the ones Colin has starred in. When  reading the MP docs I dont completely understand what I am reading.  If I had some perspective I would get much more out of my reading.  I plane to take the coursed Eapprentice provides in the near future.

For example, what is this excerpt from a Fanuc Mill 3x doing here.  I understand some of the individual components but how do they work together?  Which is a function, a variable, and a string? Why do some lines start with a P and some dont.

if mi1$ <= one, #Work coordinate system
        [
        absinc$ = one
        pfbld, n$, sgabsinc, *sg28ref, "Z0.", e$
        pfbld, n$, *sg28ref, "X0.", "Y0.", e$
        pfbld, n$, sg92, *xh$, *yh$, *zh$, e$
        absinc$ = sav_absinc
        ]

Things I think I know here:

pfbld = force block delete? Why or how does this work

n$ = output block number to nc file

e$ = end of block

More questions come.
 

I am half way through vol 1 of MP post reference documentation.  While catching on there seems to be a great deal of the basics I am not understanding. This documentation seems to me to be written for advanced users.  I tool a generic programming class in college and learn Adobe's Flash when it was popular but that has been a few years ago, and I have forgot much of that.   I am looking for a source to help me learn the basics of this language.  Is the MP language based on something else with more information such as C+ or Java, etc., or even CNC macro B?  How did you learn this work?  If not, I will likely just post here with specific questions.

Thanks,

Steve

Is your part visible on the screen before you launch Machine Simulation? It must be displayed on your Mastercam Screen to show up in MachSim.

 

In addition, there is a "Workpiece" check box that can be enabled or disabled, in the Mach Sim interface...

Colin, that was it: Workpiece>Hide was checked in Machine Sim, somehow.  Thanks very much!

I am taking the multi axis mastercamu course and trying to get part to machine sim.  The machine is there and it runs the toolpath but no part.  Using x8. Ever seen this?