I use inverse time feed for 5 axis feedrates.

( inverse time feed sounds like something outa Doctor Who, but there you go )

With regards to the helix toolpath with control, try start at centre and set start angle and arc sweep to zero. This gives you a G1 G41 to apply cutter comp, but no arc approach. As long as you start above the material it will be fine.

Works for me.

I would threadmill it with wear comp, its ultimately more controlable than anything else. The Mastercam threadmill toolpath makes it simple.

This happens when you upgrade or use a config from an earlier version.

In the settings/configuration page make sure the path is correct for the custom add-in(DLL) section of the files page eg C:MCAMXCHOOKS

If you define a tap in inches then the pitch is threads per inch.

If you define in metric then it is a pitch distance.

In the first parameter page of your toolpath press the misc values button and if you have " Default Angle for Rotating Axis " then set that to what you want.

I'm not sure if that will work, but try it.

We are now looking at the MAM72-35V, following the failure of our Mazak/Erowa robot combo. Can you give me an insight on these machines??

We were looking at a MAM72-63V but a MAM 72-35v will do about 2/3rds of our workload, with an inbuilt robot.

ah V9.1

I used to get that, from what I can remember I used to set the memory for toolpaths to approx one half of your total pysical memory. 1024000 should do it.

Its got to be Vericut all the way for me. Its expensive, but when you compare that to the cost of a new trunnion/spindle it puts it into prospective. The support is second to none, they are always accessable and very knowledgable on their own product.

Our enquiries to Predator failed to provoke a reply. We looked at that because we only had one Vericut licence and were looking at another more cost effective alternative.

We were looking at a Matsuura MAM72 last summer and they were using CAMplete to postprocess/verify my Mastercam NCI files for a trial on a Airbus fuel pipe machined from solid. They struggled quite a bit because the product was still new to them in the UK, and in the end CGtech Vericut came to the rescue.

Metric file in 4min 12secs

Inch file in 6min 34secs

Dell Precision pws390

Intel QX6700 @ 2.66GHz

4mb Ram

Quadro FX3500

If the metric file runs a lot faster then surely this is time for you Yanks to adopt the metric system?

( Runs for cover!! )

Yes QMP,

but if that was the problem how would sending to toolchange or running in single block prevent it "losing its position"

Does this machine have the new matrix control?

In addition, I phoned my mastercam reseller and he said someone else had reported it as well......

We are getting this with 2 workstations running MR2 in our office. Loads 2/3 of the blue title bar at the top, then part of the ops manager, then the rest follows.

Also if you resize the ops manager to show more of the ops page, there is a 1 second delay before the display updates. Again this is on both workstations of completely different specs.

Yeah I did in the post above. Quardo 3500, it has standard settings

Also when you resize the ops manager window there is a noticable pause before it re-displays the new viewable area.

First impressions are that its a bit wierd/slow loading in. I get 2/3 of the title bar, then the ops manager and then the rest. This is on a brand new PC 4 gig ram fast HD Quad core processor and quadro 3500. Anyone else get this?

I can't see why you would want to use a fly cutter when a decent face mill with a wiper insert would out perform it.

We use the R590 Century facemill fron Sandvik.

you might want to concider ceritizit as well. They came in a frequency tested our spindle/tool combo with good results.

Do you have a prefered tilt angle and default angle for rotating axis in the misc vales page?

You can set the tilt angle to -1 and it sometimes gets you what you want, ie A-17 instead of A+17. You could also set the default angle for the rotating axis to 0,90,180,270 until you get what you want.

I use filter ratio of 2-1 total tolerance of 0.015mm all gouge checking off. Do not tick the arc filters. Decent trade off between finish and file size.

Not that old chestnut again.

If you rotate a WCS it is my understanding that you will always need to rename it. This is because Mastercam uses a matrix to define its world position including angles.

If you go to the WCS manager right click on any WCS and select info, then you see the information.

For example Top view is....

Name : TOP

Comment :

Origin : X0. Y0. Z0.

Number : 1

Matrix : X1. Y0. Z0.

: X-0. Y1. Z0.

: X0. Y-0. Z1.

Associative : No

Color : 12

Used in toolpath : Yes

Top view at 45 degrees would be

Name : TOP @ 45

Comment :

Origin : X0. Y0. Z0.

Number : 38

Matrix : X0. Y-1. Z0.

: X0.70710678 Y0. Z-0.70710678

: X0.70710678 Y0. Z0.70710678

Associative : No

Color : 69

Used in toolpath : Yes

0.70710678 is the sine of 45 degrees so gather that Mastercam uses the infomation to trig out its world position.

I use these........

http://www.big-daishowa.com/

Taper and face contact - its the mutts nutts.