Solids is so the ticket. I am sure Mat will mention it. Get him to show you during break or something.

Don't forget the solids class. If I remember right 3d class is mostly surfaces then there is a 1 day Solids class. Tell Mat (your teacher) Fred said "HI". I don't think Phil teachs there anymore.

"Even if we put the hasp on the laptop we still have the same problem."

If the laptop does it all the time and the workstation does not what makes you think its the Nethasp? Did the laptop work ok before? I had 2 laptop with mastercam using Nethasp over a wireless network with no problems.

If you are all ready getting your files in Solidworks and you have people using Soildwork onsite you should look into Soildworks. 2 reasons. One, it is all around a much better drawing/assembly package. Two, looks good on a Resume.

Just my 2 cents

Could be heat. Add a fan to the case. Course thats my answer to all PC problems. I currently have 12 in my system

I am currently self training to get started with Vericut. I can say (like Mastercam) there is a big differnts between using and configuring Vericut. Once your machine is all set up its a snap. But also like Mastercam if the post aint right (AKA Machine and controler config)then the software becomes usless.

+1 on the turnkey from Vericut on the first machine.

OMG this board has sooo mellowed out.

What program is your designer working with? I think os a STL as a 3d graphics file. Is he trying to machine a 3d image of Bugs Bunny? Tell him to get a "CAD system" and put away the miya-whatever 3D rendering program.

True computer geeks are found here:

http://www.sharkyforums.com/

You could use the Cad out to output true DXF info into a Cad system and review it there. But you need a sampling not just one cut.

If you have a decent CMM you can program in basic or C++ right in your CMM program. Why hand input all the info?

You have a CMM operator telling you that giving you magnatude and vector of a feature (any feature) from nominal is hard? You need either a new operator or a new CMM.

All above should be doable in a wizard for your CMM tho you may have to do a program for each number on the BC.

I am looking for the downside. If I create a part in Solidworks and use the direct transfer to MC lathe I get a solid and my original sketch on level one plus I now have a solids tree in Mastercam. If I define my stock and use the solids option when chaining I have effectively made a parametric program. I can edit the sketch, regen the solids tree edit stock and regen the ops manager, post and I have a program. Simple families all programmed the same. Sure I will need some changes as diameters get bigger or smaller. Is there a downside? Anyone doing this now?

Do they have/or had any Camaix software installed or the free demos? Text looks like German?

Mastercam generates a ton of heat do to the 100% CPU usage glitch. I works like a stress test on your cooling system. The PC could run any other software and run fine but overheat with Mastercam. I had to even upgrade a new dell dimension with a extra case fan so the programmer could get thru a day without a crash.

If your PC is stable with all other programs its either corrupt data (bad install) video driver issue or a CPU heat. If it is a video driver or install issue the errors should be repeatable. If errors are all over the place its most likely the CPU temp. I saw no change over the 6 PCs when I upgraded to the latest MR. The rocksolid PCs where still rock solid and the others (mostly dells) where not.

Just my 2 cents

Inplot software will converter Gcode to a DXF. You have to config it abit. Its pretty simple. You could DXF each tool and bring each tool in on a differnt layer. They have a 30 day trial.

http://www.i-logic.com/inplot.htm

That one training website has a training course in Mastercam art for free. They make you sign up and enter a CC but under bill it shows as $0.00

WWW.Streamingteacher.com

Hope that helps.

I took their Solidworks training and it was decent.

We are looking into a pre-setter for tools. I wanted to see if anyone was doing this.

With this pre-setter and a good setup sheet a tool crib attendant could built all the tools for a given job. He then presets the tool and enters the tool number and tags it. When all tools are set he runs the output program that uses a post processor to writes a program to load all the offsets into a machine. Setup guy puts the tools in the RIGHT pocket and runs the offset program. I can not find any fault in the logic, it should work. That sounds too easy.

That combined with a pallet system and programming from machine zero or known pallet zero should make for a very fast setup. At least that is the idea.

Comments?

Machine plus skilled person = $65/hour

20% increase in speed = $13/hour

2 shifts run @ 75% eff. $780 per week

$780 x 4 weeks = $3120 per month

$3120 per month will pay for a new haas every four years.

Everything over 20% is gravy

Just my 2 cents

The site you listed is down and I really wanted to try this. Could you post the 3 files "multirun.dll, menu.dll and mmouse.dll" on the FTP? install tips for us Morons?

Thanks in advance.

Just to add to the good information here. If you are finishing a pocket with a ball endmill your step over amount could be causing the problem. Think of that like a turning insert. Smaller step over = better finish. Also If the finish area you are worried about is a flat bottom of a pocket that means your finishing with the center point of the ball. I don't know the application but you could improve the finish by tilting the part and finishing with the true ball part of the end mill.(may require 4th axis).

What version Mastercam are you running? I was under the impression that most of those bugs where already squashed with MR0105. At my last job we started getting wildfire files while it was still beta (2003). Most of the bugs where fixxed with MR03. Maybe one in 15 models would not open with the Mastercams Pro converter. Most of the files we had problems with where the multi-config files.

I had three systems running this way. They have been running for about two years. I only had one problem and that was when one of my base units died and I had a weak card.

Are you running G wireless? You problem could be EM fields like a EDM or a large hp motor winding down. Anything before G would have a tuff time getting thru all the EM fields in a machine shop.

Did you mean other then the Pro E mastercam converter by CNC software? The Pro E converter has a few bugs in it but nothing compaired to the problems you will have with a igs converter.

If you see errors in Mastercam converter is most likly one of two things. One its the latest builds of Wildfire or its a file with multi configuration.

Mastercam does license its converter thru Granite who makes ProEngineer's graphic engine. I am told that is the reason for the price.

MC direct seems to work fine for me. The read me file address the menu not showing up and I to have the problem with the saving of the file. The work around is hit cancel then do a manual file save. No biggy.

Windos XP Pro SP2

Mastercam MR0105

Solidworks 2005 SP3.0

Edit: sig check

Did anyone ever get the CMMworks? No support here on the east coast for Verisurf.

Since I have been doing networks and CNC for years I figured no real problem. I could not get our VF2 to see the network. I tried everything and I called Haas and tried a few things that made no sense. I had the Haas service guy come out and he could not see his laptop either. They replaced the IO board. I typed in the Domain and I had instant peer to peer. Worked great just like it was suppost to. Whole thing took 5 minutes. I even made folders on 5ax and my desk top. It was a new machine and had a couple of other problems. A week later they said we needed a software upgrade. After they did the upgrade I could no longer see the networks. I was back where I started and nothing seemed to work but now the haas guy can still see his lap top so now its all my problem.

I really think Haas is clueless on the networks.