Being that your machine adjusts feed outside program, there is no way to get backplots exact. However, I'm certain you can get them MUCH CLOSER than you have them now. Fool it in your post (as Michael described) by giving it slower than normal rapid speeds, longer average tool change time, etc. I played with mine and it is so accurate now we use it often for quoting, it is within two minutes an hour at 100% feed! Jim

Just downloaded the detenator 3 drivers. Better performance in all applications. I would suggest anyone with an Elsa erazorX (Yes it is based on the GeForce 256) to do the same with the exception of Mr. black cursor. Thanks Bullines- Jim

K Maynard- I did some checking and transform toolpath was an added feature in the upgrade from 7.0 to 7.1. I bought 7.0 the day it was officially released and remember making calls to Wixom asking the question " If associativity, then why not transform and copy toolpaths?", having an immediate and ideal application for such a routine. Haven't needed it since. Jim

I guess it does help to take the class, I missed that one. That wasn't an option in V7, was it? I seem to remember asking about transforming toolpaths in the V7 days, and getting a negative response. Jim- Evidently still a rookie

It's a good idea to create all the geometry you are aware of before starting toolpaths. I don't know of a way to transform multiple operations without re chaining. It would be nice to be able to drag or translate geometry and copy toolpaths as well as the geometry. Anyone else have a suggestion? Something I've missed? Jim

Welcome to the forum. Having to assume you are using Mcam v7 or higher, the easiest way in my opinion is to simply add the second pocket by clicking on the geometry icon in the operation manager window,right click in the resulting window, and select "add chain". Chain the second pocket, close the window and regenerate the path. Hope that is what you are looking for- Jim

Win2k pro, sp2, NTFS, at least 256M ram runs mastercam and multiple aps faster than anything I have used. I hear gamers have some issues with win2k but I'm not a gamer. NT has been replaced by win2k in every box I have touched. Configuration is 10 times esier. Jim

You can break arcs in a gazillion pieces, just try not to let the post do it. Good luck with wood. I'm doing stone!I have done without the branching labels, and I wouldn't trust comp in controller on an 8601. I saw "incompatible profile" messages too many times. I do like the (UAO,X) call and use it to make all my machines tables match heights. I don't have an 8601 left but the S10 uses similar code. Jim

Bullines, I'm using 2 elsa erazorx cards at work and eventhough the Mastercam performance is good I'm disappointed otherwise. Of course I was told to get the latest drivers from Elsa which I have bookmarked because I'm constantly looking for a better driver from them.Which driver is the ticket for win2k sp1 and elsa erazorx?

I am using a variation of an 8600 post on my machines. Please make sure "break arcs" is set to "no". I scrapped 2 parts before I cought this. On an arc just over the 90 deg. mark, it will send the tool all the way around. It is the controllers interpretation of the extra line of code and will not show up in a back plot. I have a strange tool call also, tool 26 would output "M6T26.26". I am assuming this is some sort of a mill you have................

If your machines are capable of having an ethernet card installed- this is the ticket. I communicate drag and drop style with all four of my machines, if I had 100 it would work the same. From both seats of my mastercam stations I can drop programs into the machines, read and backup files and drives remotely,transfer or edit programs in the controller in seconds from either workstation. There is simply no comparison unless machine memory constraints necessitate a drip feed. Networking is one of my closet passions. Jim

If skiing, snowmobiling and hunting sounds great to you, P-town is the place. tell your friend to e-mail me personally. I hate cold weather and would trade my fireplace in for central air any day. Some people like 15-20 inches of snow. Jim

I had a similar problem and it turned out my post was set to use canned cycles. Once I turned that off, I had much more control over the drill. I ended up using chip break incremental retract instead of peck. Jim

How about someone looking for employees? I NEED A PROGRAMMER. 2D contouring mostly. Mastercam enthusiast a must. 2 openings in the next year or so. Where do I go? Jim

Mr Bilt, What controller is it that needs an X Y in every line even if it is the same as the previous? Which post are you using? Jim

Got it! First make sure there is no other needed display set to color 14. Set your color pallet to 14. While still in the pallet click "customize..." and slide all 3 controls to the left effectively turning yellow to black. Just tried it. Works great. Jim

John, I believe there is a "keep tool down" option somewhere but I am at home now and can't check it out till I get to work at 3:00.(it's 1:30 now) If no one posts an answer by then I will shortly after 3. Jim

Right on. You can associate any file extension with any program this way, whether it will actually open it or not. Works similar in win98 also- highlight the file and hold down either the shift or control key (I forgot which but it is one of them!) and right click to get the "open with" option. You will have the chance to permanantly associate the file extension highlited with a program if you like. Bullines is quickly becoming my hero........ Jim

After reviewing all these posts, I have decided to get out of machining all together. Maybe cleaning or sales. Actually I find opinion arguments interesting and harmless. Kind of like the "Ford" or "chevy" stuff.(notice the capitol on Ford only) How about stone grinding? Should I buy a fifth Intermac or jump to Bavelloni or Brembana? Any takers? Mellow Jim

I have 2 fans on each processor, 2fans in the back,one in the front, one on the power supply (300W) and one on the video card. My best results have been with one side of the case open. All the newer motherboards have some way to tell you cpu temprature in the bios. Overclocking is good and safe in my opinion, if you know what you are doing. Jim

UHH... OK. Mine is more of a grinding ap than milling; multiple outside contours with form tools on granite slabs. What I would like to do is use the "adjust feed on arc moves" feature to keep from having to do dozens of "change at's". Some of my tools are really close to the size of the inside radius they have to cut. All my form tools are right side of line, comp in computer only. I have no need to alter the feed on entry and exit radii and would like it to ignore ccw arcs on the contour and only adjust the cw arcs. I sent the post to my dealer(who I really really like BTW) and the output was right as long as there was a line between a cw and ccw arc. If the arcs were filleted together, it would adjust before the cw then keep the slower feed rate throughout the rest of the profile unless it saw an other cw arc with a line after it. Took me a week to catch it doing it and I didn't know what they changed so I reverted to the last backup of my post and continued to "change at". ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR POST AND STORE IT ON MULTIPLE COMPUTERS. Can this be done? It would save me a couple hours a month. Jim

GO HERE.CanTek I have bought 6 systems from Bill at CanTek in the last 2 years or so. Custom systems, good prices, support is incredible. He gaurentees overclocked systems for a year, same as his regular systems. My personal system here at work is dual overclocked P3650's running at 865 each stable as a rock with win2k. Jim

Looks like a glorified text file on the outside. I have received a personal e-mail from one of you (you know who you are) and will see if he can help. If not I will post (no punn intended) my specific problem and see if anyone has come across it before. Thank you all for your replies. Jim

With all due respect CTC, I tried this and the code looks dangerous. It works in the fact that it doesn't output a g40 till the end of the passes, but it eliminates all entry and exit radii except for the first entry and the last exit. this would scrap any part I'm working on. I think the answer lies in his post. I still don't see any reason you can't G40 at each end and 41 or 42 each beginning. I don't use controller comp as a rule but I have before and it didn't cause any problems like that. J.

I work in metric. I think it is easier. The other way is outdated. Nothing is idiot proof, there is one Italian guy that works here that still has me move the decimal over for him because he is used to working in CM and not MM. Go figure. Jim