I have a Catia Solid that I am trying to import into X8 for an HSM class project. I have saved the Catia file to multiple files extentions (step, igs, dfx, dwg, 3dm) trying to get something I can use in X8. When I open the various files in X8, I get the solid most times but I cannot get any line that I can manipulate or select for chains. I am at a loss. Any help? Thanks in advance, Rick

Sorry for the late reply all, had to get my knee scoped and have been off the 'puter for a bit. Material is 6061, though it will be mating to steel exhaust parts. It will be right before the exhaust can so combustion heat won't be much of an issue. The bike manufacturer set the cans so they splay out from the from the tailpiece in the Y and also don't match the seat sub-frame angle in the Z. Everybody hates the look so these would be used to "correct" the angles. My thoughts are to make a profiling fixture to do the outside in the second operation, a flat plate with the bolt holes as pins and a bolt down cap to hold the piece with the center hole. For the third OP, make another fixture to cut the the compound face with the angle set and pins to orient for the compound angle on the piece. I though about locating with three bolt holes that would remain "fat" and using the gas hole for some kind of hold down strategy that would be below finished surface. I sort of dreamed up some kind of sharp edged eccentric that would bite into the gas hole but didn't think that would be robust enough. Flying parts are never a good thing! But sometimes I tend to make things complicated and wonderful so I was hoping for a better thought.

Hello All, Trying to change the angle on the exhaust cans on a motorcycle. Solution is to cut some "Wedges" that will be inserted between the pipe and the can. First setup will be in a vice to face and get the center and bolt holes. Second will be a fixture holding the center hole and locating with the bolt holes to cut the profile. The third setup will require a compound angle facing and a gasket slot at an angle yet to be determined. The last operation will be done in mirrored pairs. Not sure how to hold for the last operation. Something REASONABLY robust will be warranted as I'm not sure how many of these things I am going to have to make. Maybe 1, maybe 1000. Attached please find a screen dump of the part. Dimensions are for reference as we have not finalized the design, (waiting customer input). Thanks in advance, Rick

Hi All, Very new to Mastercam X8 and I am taking a class at a local Community Collage to learn the software. The instructor basically turned us loose with the book and asked us to complete the 8 detailed exercises, submitting the results. No lecture, raise your hand if you need help, go forth and be fruitful. I have a CAD background so the geometry creation was pretty easy, the Toolpaths I am understanding and I hope to round out that knowledge here. One question I do have is about HST related geometry. My instructor doesn't like us to translate geometry. He says that although the book has us do it, he wants it all in a flat plane. In doing one of my exercises with a hexagon "island" in the middle of a machined pocket that is lower than stock height but higher than the floor of the pocket, he commented that he didn't like that I had dropped the top face of the island down to it's proper Z height. He said that I should bring that up to stock height where "it belongs". I complied although I knew that this move would confuse my Dynamic Milling toolpath. Sure enough, the tool path blew up and wiped out my island. Am I missing something in the tool path definitions that would allow all the geometry to be on the same plane but set an avoidance chain that somehow cuts the top off the island at the proper height but also maintains the geometry so I don't P off my instructor? Thanks for your time, Rick