SO uh....that looks pretty advanced. Forgive me for not knowing but what language did you code that in? Is that like a Chook you custom created or... Im not necessarily a coder, but this would be interesting for me to attempt some work on. It looks like an amazing feature you have created! Thanks

Okay, so every year I upgrade, I end up losing my Machine Definitions to a black hole that doesn't allow them to be backward compatible with previous versions. I would like to use both versions simultaneously until I am confident in the new release. Can anyone explain to me how to do this and create a duplicate MD/CD file that allows me to run both concurrently? I will be installing today. Thank you

Well dang, Thad, I had never even thought of that! That is a great productivity tip. I will probably save 80% in productivity just by implementing that technique. The legwork will be there, but this summer I should have time to work through it. Cheers

Yea pretty much what I expected. Next time I mess with a post I will use Code Expert

What do you guys use/prefer and why? I know for editing post processors CodeExpert is probably the first choice....but are there any really big reasons to use one or the other? Keep in mind I am not referring to backplotting, etc. Just for code editing/posts. Thanks!

X+ is a C-Hook that allows you to create libraries of fixtures and also does setup sheets. I dont really know much about the setup sheet side but I use it for fixtures. Very helpful add-in. EDIT: Apparently not free as i said before https://www.gmccs.de/downloads_x+.php

Scott, which verification software did you end up going with?

I had a similar thought a couple years back. I spent about a week customizing my Operation Defaults, setting up my tool libraries with speeds and feeds, and creating every single holder we use in my shop (some tooling assemblies as well). It was a gradual process improvement, I didn't just stop programming to do it, but I would say about 35 hours or so of work is how long it took. Customizing my Post Processors took a good while as well, working with the reseller as well as Postability. I save SO MUCH TIME not having to change every damn parameter in my operation manager for each Op. Like, a lot of time. Also a lot less air cutting. I save so much time not having to modify speeds and feeds for high-speed operations, or any operation, really. So while there is a good bit of legwork up front, the dividends start to pay off almost immediately. Do you use X+ for fixtures, etc? There are many many tools to help the Mastercam programmer's job easier and more fluid.

Yes, thank you!

I use stock models as necessary for certain things, but I posted a topic awhile back that discussed how some of my solid models simply do not work with the Stock Model function. I am not sure as to why that is the case, but since then I have been using STL for multiple machine groups as the stock for when I have simulations that take 10+ minutes to run. Just create a new machine group and use the STL as your stock, then you dont have to wait that much time for the Simulator to crunch. Not a perfect solution, but it works. I use the Stock Model for smaller parts and it usually works flawlessly. Hope that 2020 has some nice enhancements!

haha, so! Ive used this hotkey like 4,000 times and I cannot remember it for the life of me for some reason. What is the hotkey combination for toggling between Solid and Wireframe views? Thanks in advance

As a new-ish 3D mouse user I have to agree. There are situations where using my zoom wheel is easier, but less and less so...definitely a game changer for CADCAM work, especially complex stuff where you need to pivot all sorts of features around. I even use it for scrolling browser and Adobe Reader

I never understood why the UMC series doesnt use a more traditional trunnion-style setup. It just isnt rigid. WIth that being said, I am glad as hell I havent crashed my 5 axis hurco yet. Vericut comes in handy with that. The three-axis on the other hand, well I had to replace the spindle on that one

might consider using a different mouse like the Logitech Proteus G502 that has a free spinning zoom wheel. Unless you already have one similar

I always thought that forced motion on 5 axis was controlled at the post level with switches?

As Leon said, I was using my "Thread Pitch" in the operation manager instead of in the tool dialogue window. As a previous poster said....what if I wanted to use a single point threadmill to cut two separate thread pitches in the same program? In mastercam 2019 Who should I forward this file to? Wheel_Nut.ZIP

I work in a similar lab and we run Xeon processors w/ 16gb. Unless youre doing crazy long toolpaths, they tend to handle quite well. Probably core i9 would be the best option with 64gb RAM if you had unlimited money

how does slotting solve this problem? adjusting the ramp pitch?

So it seems maybe in 2020 some of these bugs will be worked out? I hope so. Is it worth it to draw the helix?

Hey all. So I just scrapped a critical part on my machine because of a crazy threadmilling quirk. Something Ive never seen happen. I use my Harvey thread mill. I copy/paste the operation and copy/paste the tool in order to change the diameter (new tool number as well), but keep the original tool unchanged in case i need to come back to it. BUT. Mastercam CHANGED THE PITCH back to the default 0.05 for no reason. I just recreated the issue, simply by changing to a different diameter tool, Mastercam has changed the pitch back to default 0.05. I changed no other parameters. Anyone ever had this happen before? Or am I missing something? Thanks!

turning off depth cuts works for me most of the time as well, as long as the tool isnt close to the same size as the geometry. I am glad there will be a 2020 fix.

I have also been having coolant issues with my particular 3 axis mill/machine def...I still don't quite understand how it works overall, but it was working for quite awhile. This is the thread I started. Maybe it will help, but yea, X style coolant trips me up.

Thanks all for the replies, I think I have figured out a method to deal with it. Ill post a pic of the final product if/when we can get it machined.

The number of STL surfaces to select for this would be so cumbersome. Is that what youre suggesting?

Can you explain this a little further? I spent the time to use the Solidworks Scanto3D add in to get a really un-detailed surface model. I will modify it and get one that is more refined, but it looks like this: