Yes, please Jayson. I would like it. I'm still learning 3D. I do it so infrequently that I kinda have to relearn it every time I do it. It will be useful to see other ways of doing something. I've found other problems with the goemetry on this part. It came as a solid from our customer and I imported it as an IPT file. Thanks again Mark

I put it on the FTP site in the MC9 folder as surface_prob.mc9 Thanks for all your time Mark

Charles Near as I can tell I have write priveliges for that folder. I just upgraded to Win 2000 Pro so I'm kinda unfamiliar with it. I have a flowit.tmp sized 0kb in that directory but not a flowit2.tmp Thanks

I'm getting an error while trying to machine a surface, "Warning, error opening C:mcam9tempflowit2.tmp" Looked in the temp folder and sure enough, there is no such file. Anybody got any idea what this error means and how to fix it? V9 sp1 level 3 Thanks

I tried it with the MPFan post and it output the staged tool for all tools. If you e-mail me your post I can try it out & see what I get. Sorry about the late posting, but it's Friday and I wanted to get out of the office. I figure you're probably gone for the weekend . Send it to me at: [email protected] Later [ 01-31-2003, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: Mark C ]

you're using the out of the box MPFan? Which version MasterCam? I'll play around and see what I can see.

Before changing your post, make sure you save it somewhere where you can get it if you do a boo boo. I know, it's obvious, but it's bit me a couple of times. Find ptap in your post. here's what mine looks like: ptap #Canned Tap Cycle pdrlcommonb #tool_typ = 4 - RH, 5 - LH "M29" , *speed , e pcan1, pbld, n, *sgdrlref, *sgdrill, pxout, pyout, pfzout, pcout, prdrlout, *feed, strcantext, e pcom_movea tapflg = 1 this is from the MPMaster post I don't understand the part about T1 not staging. Do you mean if it repeats there is no ready-tool(staged tool) in previous tool change or do you want staged it at the end of program? [ 01-31-2003, 07:07 PM: Message edited by: Mark C ]

Which model and vintage? I ran some back in the 80's and 90's. 10VC, 15HC, 30HC, 720 all with the "Big Blue" Acramatic control

thanks everyone for your thoughts. I agree that getting all the machines to work consistently would be the obvious answer, but we're stuck with things the way they are. Nobody wants to be bothered but it becomes my problem when something goes wrong. But, such is the life of the programmer. I will try your suggestion, Dave Thanks again

basically, something simple. like: if (rotations are used), n, "(CHECK ROTATIONS BEFORE RUNNING AND INVERT A AXIS IF NECESSARY)",e thanks for your help

It's not the rotation of the spindle. I should have been a little more clear. It's the A axis. And believe me I would rather have them all consistent. It's kind of a sore subject with me. it was to have been taken care of a while ago, but it never happened. Now they just rely on the operators to check for proper rotation

Hello all, Is it possible to scan the file when post processing and detect if a axis rotations are used and if so trigger an event? What I have in mind is outputting a note after the tooltable to check a axis rotation direction and invert it if not correct. We have several verticals and some go one way and others the other. I don't know which when posting. We have a fairly new operator who didn't know to check and scrapped a part. I nornally add this note myself but have been swamped and forgot to this time. I like to make things as automatic as possible. I'm using a post based on the MPMaster V8.1.1 but will be upgrading to V9 as soon as I get a chance Thanks in advance [ 01-20-2003, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Mark C ]

Save what you have now as Haas_rotary. Then make changes as James said deleting pcout and or pfcout , or as Dogfartz said set rot_on_x to zero and save it as Haas. When posting just call out the proper post. Saves any problems you might get from constantly editing posts. Just remember to create a .txt file and possibly a .set file to match to retain full functionality Actually, thinking about it, you can ask a question when posting whether to use rotations or not. I have a horizontal post that I have set up do that cuz we do some parts that are too big for our biggest vertical that we have to put on one of our horizontals. No need to output: M11 B0 M10 every tool change. If you want I can look at my post when I get back to work Monday ( two weeks off!!!!) and give you some pointers. Just can't remember what I did off the top of my head [ 01-01-2003, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: Mark C ]

Rick I'd be interested in that spreadsheet. I too have a super killer TI programmable calculator, but I don't take it out on the floor much. The spreadsheet sounds neat. Sounds like other people would be interested too. let me know if you upload it to the FTP site or elsewhere Thanks

Hello everyone, My wife got me a PDA for Christmas, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any machining freeware or shareware available for download for the Palm OS. Thanks and Happy New Year to all

On the contour or pocket parameters at the bottom left there is a dropdown menu. pressing this allows you to select remachining. Open this window and you can set the parameters to clean up stock from previous operation or a specified size tool. Works great!!

which version of MasterCam?

This sounds like the same problem I had Check out this link: http://www.emastercam.com/ubb/ultimatebb.p...ic;f=1;t=004693

Thank you Dave, I didn't understand your first post, but now I understand whats going on. I had tried all sorts of things and no luck. I will try it later Thanks again Mark Coates

Yeah Iguess I could try a different offset. Or I could even try drilling the hole at +90 deg and engrave at the zero area, but the setup will more difficult (ie: more chances to make a mistake) MasterCam should do what I want it to. Sometimes I just get kinda anal about letting the technology do the work

Thanks for your reply Dave I put it on the FTP site in the mc8 folder. It is called Rotary. I did remove the part# cuz of our non-disclosure agreement with this company, but there are still 3 lines of text there. Thanks again

Good morning all, My problem is: I need to drill and tap a hole in a .63 dia part in an A axis inn a Haas vmc at 0 deg and do some engraving centered at what would be minus 90 deg. The engraving comes out centered at the 0 deg area. I have tried changing tool planes (top and front) and doing the engraving then transform/rotate the toolpath + and - 90 deg. Nothing. The a axis is about +50 deg to about -50 deg when I need it at -40 t0 -140. Bucause of the location of the part in the a axis I need to start it at 0 where the hole is Sorry for the long winded post Thanks in advance Oh yeah V8.1.1 MPMaster post [ 12-18-2002, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: Mark C ]

where can one find said c-hook stlxform.dll? I can't find it on either of our V8.1.1 or V9 sp1 machines. I tried importing the stl file to MasterCam and manipulating it but something I'm doing must be wrong. When I import the file into verify it locks up and good old Dr.Watson gives me that message that MasterCam is gonna close. Thanks

Congratulations on your early Christmas present

Thanks for the answers guys I found where he kept the lathe manual and lathe tutorial, so I've started to ,as they say, "begin at the beginning" and learn it from scratch. Things are easy when you know how. By the way, the hot part with the dovetail that I was asking about. I found out Friday the job was cancelled!! Thanks again