Thanks for your reply Colin. I have another question. Can there be more than one configuration for the same machine. I ask this because I have a machine model of a variaxis type machine with A rotating in X and C rotates about Z. After a lot of fiddling I finally got the machine to cut my part model on 5 sides successfully in vericut. However the part is roatated in A so it faces away from the operator. I was happy to see it finally work but not the way I want. Maybe I have something configured backwards. Even still I was quite happy to see it work. So I guess I answered my own question there is another configuration or can I adjust rotary limits? Which is the best way to get the part rotated towards the operator? I have a lot to learn and I'm eager to learn as much as I can. This is why I'm trying to understand the basics of the generic post, not too interested in all the bells and whistles right now. Thanks again for your reply

Is anyone able to explain what the line str_n_a_axis: "B" is referring to in the Generic Haas 5X post? How is this related to str_pri_axis "B" in the previous section. I understand the primary and secondary rotary axis but the other I can't get my head around. Can you really dumb down your explanation , this stuff makes my head hurt. Thanks for any help

Question: I am using X8 and we no longer have maintenance with MC. I am trying to post a simultaneous 5 axis program for our Mazak Variaxis with the Fanuc post supplied with MC. The A axis is posting out as B. I have been manually editing for any positional work but now I need simultaneous and that would be pretty spooky to edit. What would I need to change in post or machine definition to have this axis post correctly. Thanks for any help

I've been using Mastercam on and off for many years now. (since around v5). I thought this stuff was amazing once I had learned enough to start making chips. As my machining experience and programming started to growI was offered a job as Cnc trainer for McDonnel Douglas Canada. These guys had MC but did the majority of the work with Catia. This was my first exposure to it and at first it seemed quite daunting as all new software does. After a while I was comfortable and very capable with Catia. MDCAN would keep MC up to date for the few that used it. I began to see all that was lacking in MC compared to the abilities of Catia. Their mill, lathe and mill/turn were miles ahead of MC at that time and still today with V5-6-2015. From MDCAN I was offered a similar position at Bombardier in Montreal. There Catia and UGS-NX were the the big guns. When I asked about MC I was told that it had been quickly eliminated as a needed tool. I was told that this software that I had loved so much in my early years was completely inadequate for this type of work. I began to dabble with NX7.5 which had just been released. It had a similar workflow to catia but a much better layout in general. Things were right there these things were as powerful as Catia. Over the years I knew this was the ultimate stuff. This software made using MC like playing space invaders on Atari in a play station world. I now operate my own CNC consulting and programming service. I get to trot the globe and see a range of industry that today still blows my mind. Some of the new machines in use run themselves. 20-40 MT machines that only need a couple of people to keep an eye on things. A team of programmers to keep up with the demand for the products. Mastercam does not belong here. I've seen nothing spectacular come out of this software in the last 12 years. Really the turning side has been stagnant since v9, mill/turn looks to be totally useless in the real world where workarounds just become too time consuming. I've had the chance to use some less expensive stuff like Camworks. You know what, for a price that's about a third of MC, this stuff is pretty good. Leaps ahead of MC in turning and MT. I currently have it in my arsenal along with solidworks and NX. Come on CNC Software get you crap together before your just known as CAM.

After roughing use Surface High Speed Hybrid. This should transition nicely between the gradual and high banked surfaces.