It's not ready for prime time; doesn't sort and outputs tool info for every op.

Colin, I created the post. I will dig up some post documentation for those file manipulation variables. Goetz, Makino is set up to have a separate file. You only have one part program that can be run on a plurality of pallets/fixtures. Makes life easy. Like their H1 D2 std, it actually does work quite well. I believe the separate offset file came from the automotive industry where they have a large presence.

no. The makino cell requires a separate G10 offset file. My post currently "formats" a complete offset file in the header of my code file. I then cut/paste that section into a notepad doc and save that as my offset file. I want a macro that I can execute once that will code and save the offsets as one file, then code and save my program file. Different post will be needed and perhaps a different control might be needed as the file extension of the offset file is different than the .nc program file.

I'm wanting to automate Mastercam with a macro that will post my G10's to a separate file then continue on and post my std .nc file. I haven't seen any documentation that mentions a macro language for mastercam that would allow me to create this macro. Is there such a thing?

On another note, I would get rid of the M6 tool change call and replace it with the Okuma tool change macro and use a G code macro for tool changes. Gets rid of the IF[VATOL] statements. The code shown above is older.

You can also use Q to repeat the sub call. Example below uses VC1 to hold work offset, starting at H1. Safe lines are in the sub. ///////////// (NOTES:) G15 H1 VC1=1 IF [VATOL EQ 8] NATA T8 M06 (2.500 DIA. FACE MILL) (SANDVICK) NATA G00 G90 M01 T1 X7.125 Y0.0 CALL OSUBA Q2 G15 H1 VC1=1 IF [VATOL EQ 1] NATB .............. OSUBA (TOOL 8; 2.500 DIA. FACE MILL) (SANDVICK) NSA G15 H=VC1 IF [VC1 LE 0] NDA IF [VC1 GT 2] NDA G00 X7.125 Y0.0 S764 M12 G56 H8 D8 Z0.5 M03 Z0.1 G01 Z0.0 F22.9 X-7.125 G00 Z0.5 M09 VC1=VC1+1 NDA RTS OSUBB (TOOL 1; 1.000 DIA. END MILL)

HardMill is spot on. I just sold my NV5000 APC after 5 years. I fed it aluminum, washed down with coolant. Never touched it. Had a service guy check it all out just before I sold it and it speced out better than when it first hit the floor. I'm surprised to hear others had problems.

Harveytool.com double angle cutters. I use them all day long for back side chamfering. The depth below the part will depend on the dia. of the cutter. .187 dia. @45 deg is .070" below the btm of the part for a .01" chamfer on my setup, as an example. Just use a contour toolpath and make sure your lead in/out gets the tool out of the way.

Bowtech Archery in Eugene has at least 2 new mori nv horizontal cells and 2 more on the way. call John Strasheim and see if you can look them over (without Ellison tagging along). 541-284-4711

If I knew you were working yesterday I would have bought you lunch.

A lot of times they don't know any better. They finish a part, output it in pdf and save to the company public folder so it can be used by the shop. They just grab the pdf because the "real" files are hidden away on the engineers box so nobody can get to them. If purchasing sends the prints out, pdf's are generally the only format thay have access to.

FireFox 1.5.x. 2.0 limits the number of tabs available. (1.5 just shrinks them down. Any Firefox is better than IE

The ONLY reason you have control in smartcam is because you are working directly with the element database. If the database is external you will never have full control and nobody is going to start over. Certainly not mastercam. You're pissing up a rope Jon. Stirring up the sheet just to spend time on the pc.

So to answer his question you send him to a link where he can BUY a 1995 era book for close to $80. "I'm sure I could also get a hold of a seat of SmartCAM and install it on my PC and post step by step screen shots for you." AND you have no problem pirating software.

Kunfuzed: As pointed out earlier, in smartcam you "draw" the toolpath as well as any layer geometry you may want. It is the "beauty" of the software as well as the "curse". The database is internal so manipulation of toolpath geometry is just like manipulating any "layer" geometry. There is no external "nc" file holding the various toolpath parameters for each element, ie: level, feed, speed, end point, start pont, etc. To resequence the alphabet letters you simply "resequence" by picking the chains in the order you want them cut. That resequences the database. I suspect Mcam does something along the same lines. I hope that answers you question. You can pm me if you want. I don't want to contribute to JB's mastercam -vs- the world rantings nor am I trying to stir the pot. Just trying to answer your question.