Just wanted to follow this up with with a potential solution for others. It turns out this was caused by the display driver somehow, once I re-installed the driver the problem is gone.

I have encountered a strange issue this morning where Mastercam 2018 crashes when trying to open the machine definition manager. Has anyone encountered this his before? Any ideas on what might be the culprit? A fresh install did not resolve the issue. Thanks!

altamontmfg is correct, please see below:

Hello, Today I decided to try and define some NPT threadmills using the "threadmill" option in Mastercam 2018. Previously I have defined my NPT threadmills as a "taper mill". This allowed me to define the tool in the exact shape as real life. I have been doing it this way for about two years with great success, everything makes sense and the code is good. When I tried to define the same tool as an actual "threadmill" in Mastercam things started getting funny. I was able to define the tool to match exactly so everything looked good, When I toggle the toolpath display on I would expect both the old and new toolpaths to be identical. In reality when I use the tool defined as an actual "threadmill" the toolpath cuts undersize, by a lot. If anyone could have a look and provide some suggestions that would be great. - Colton NPT THREADMILL TEST.ZIP

Hello, I am setting up a lathe tool library, hoping someone can help with a problem I have encountered: I am trying to define a Seco 35 degree turning tool (SVLBR-16-3). The problem I encounter is when I define the holder. Under style I want to select > L (-5 deg. side clr.) However when I click this, the holder geometry variables update so I can't input a back clearance angle "E". If I pick L (-3 deg. side clr.) I can input the correct back clearance angle to match my holder, but then the front clearance is wrong. I am familiar with creating custom tools and can use that to get what I want, however it would be nice to skip drawing every single tool. I use four different radius inserts in this holder and would like to avoid drawing so many custom tools. This same problem goes for some boring bars I have. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hoping someone with more knowledge of solids in Mastercam 2017 / 2018 can help. I have attached a file where my solid model appears to have some redundant faces on the top and bottom. I have tried using the model prep optimization and simplify solid functions but it doesn't find any simplifications. If anyone has a fix for this, or a better way to draw this solid from scratch so I don't get the problem faces that would be great, Thanks, Colton solid problem.mcam

Hi everyone, I was wondering if there is a way to get mastercam to recognize regions inside a pocket where material has already been removed? I have attached a file to give a better idea of what I'm after. How should I chain this pocket so it will recognize the material inside the red lines is already gone? Dynamic core mill works great for scenarios like this on the exterior of parts, but I'm stumped on the internal stuff. Thanks. DYNAMIC AREA TEST.MCX-7

The steep / shallow tab seems to only be used for setting depth limits. Under cut parameters there are 3 boxes under "step". I made some changes in there are was able to get the stepover on the floors to look a lot better. It seems that the machining times are a lot quicker using hybrid because there is no overlap between steep and shallow like I had when using two finishing paths. Hybrid - 118mins Finish contour and then finish shallow - 152mins Any recommendations on finishing feed rates?

170ipm @ 8000rpm and 250ipm @ 12000rpm both give the same feed per tooth at a .100" step over, so I have high hopes for that. Do you know if there's a way to add shallow cuts to the Hybrid finishing toolpath? It seems to be leaving a large step over in the bottom of the cavity and on the fillets at the top of the pocket.

Thanks for the comment. I updated the file to use a 1/2" 3F .06" CR endmill on the roughing OP. Do you think an ER25 collet would be sufficient for these speeds: .006" FPT at a .100" step over would be 170ipm 1000sfm, 1/2" tool = 8000rpm Depth of cut is at .875" right now Might consider getting a 1/2" sleeve for my 3/4" hydraulic tool holder.

Hello, I'm new to surfacing and would like to get some suggestions from those with more experience. I have a cavity I would like to machine, about 5" wide, 3.5" deep with drafted walls and large fillets in the corners. Mastercam: X7 Machine: 2015 Haas VF3-SS (has HSM turned on and 12,000 spindle) Material: 6061 Aluminum Available Tools: - 1/2", 3/8", 1/4" ball or bull endmills. - 1" or .75" sandvik 390 cutters. I have attached a sample file with the roughing and two different finishing strategies I came up with, Could anyone have a look and make some suggestions? The finish needs to be very nice, so I'm not 100% sure that my step-down, speeds-feeds and filtering settings will give me what I need. Thanks! CAVITY SURFACING TEST.MCX-7