I don't think it was pirated software. Older gentleman in a job shop who was not that proficient with a PC.

Where would that file be? Also, could could there be a button along the top that corresponds to the dxf conversion?

Strange. Maybe it has been so long that I just wasn't looking in the right place. I know that V9 won't just open the file like X will. Seems like I have to tell it to specifically go through the converter option.

I ran into an old pc (windows XP) running V9 the other day that did not have the dxf option under the converters list. It has been a long time since I've run version 9 or 9.1, but I remember there being a dxf option in there. I was just curious if this was something that should have been added at installation or if it is some sort of option.

A friend of mine experienced in surfacing was telling me that 2 flute endmills are the only ones that really cut all the way down to the center. I was looking at some 3 and 4 flute ball endmills, and sure enough, I see the relief. Can a 3 or 4 flute be used in the rough surfacing (or any op for that matter) at all, and how do I know the limits for speeds and feeds because of the small section of flute that is essentially not cutting?

Can you elaborate on what exactly radial chip thinning is?

I don't know much about 3d surfacing, or optimizing feeds at the moment. I'm still trying to learn. Please excuse my ignorance. I have used two online speed calculators, and trying to decide how to go further on them. I use FSwizard for the most part because it is free, but I have downloaded the trial of Gwizard. Gwizard seems to give a lot faster feed. I just redid my toolpaths by double checking all my inputs. I am not exactly sure why I was getting such a low number, but I suspect it could have been the input of length. I thought that meant the length of the whole entire tool, not just the stickout from the holder. That changes things considerably. Now I am getting this at 100% on FSWizard: S10K F27.5 for roughing - max axial .067", stepover (radial) .012" S10k F30.38 for finishing. max axial .003", Stepover .006"

The new feeds at 100% are S10K F5.7 for roughing - max axial .067", stepover (radial) .012" S10k F17 for finishing. max axial .003", Stepover .006"

I'm running at 70% on speeds and feeds. Maybe should kick it up to 100%. changing to 100% knocked of another hour or so. Down to 1hr 33min.

It is just a test, but the way the cut works is it initially starts off taking 0(zero) in the Z. It then progressively works down to a final depth of about .067". That would mean that the most axial engagement the tool will see is .067", but the radial will never exceed the max stepover - currently .006" I am cutting aluminum at the moment for the test, and the way I have my speeds figured are at S8350 / F4.2 on the rough pass, and S10K F12. on the finish. 10K is all I have at spindle. If I double the rough stepover, that makes the axial cut .012", and the speeds I'm getting for that are S8350 / F3.3 --Changing from .006" to .012" brought my machining time down from 3hr 31min to 2hr 28min.

Doing more surfacing stuff. Let's say I'm using a 1/8" ball to rough. I was wondering what stepover would be about the max I can leave that a finish pass won't choke on. Initially I was going to use a 1/16" ball to finish, but if I can do it with that same (size) 1/8", I feel like i can push it faster and it would eliminate a tool change. Assuming I do just use one size of tool (1/8"), the way I have it programmed now is to do a .006" stepover and leave .003 on the drive surface for the rough pass. The finish pass is programmed with the same .006" stepover, but no zero material left on the drive surface. Should I open up the stepover on the rough pass?

Ok points taken. I actually have a half inch ball to use as well, and this might be better for the roughing. As far as the bull, I don't really have any endmills that have corner radius at the moment, but I'm just thinking of how the compensation would work. Would I run on left or right cutter comp vs Center or off? I was using the .125" tool because I have a feature that needs it, but it amounts to about 5% of the overall surface operation. I may split that off into its own little surface, and then use the .125" tool there. I need a .065" internal radius and that's why I'm using that tool. I had it finishing the whole op though, and that was taking forty forevers with a .002" stepover. I may go back with the same .25" ball tool that I did the roughing with, and try to make a finish pass with it on the 95% of the surface that remains.

I had a thread here a few months about trying to understand the 3D surfacing side of X9 if I was on mill level one. I have gotten all that straightened out now and have my bearings. It turns out, level one will do surfacing, but only on one surface at a time. That is perfectly fine for what I am doing at the moment. I am able to use the feature just fine and have already created a few tool paths. I have never done any 3D surfacing stuff, and the first thing that stands out is the machining time, especially with small stepover. The only thing I can figure on this is that since the stepover is so small, the tool should be able to withstand significantly faster speeds and feeds. Is this something that the typical speed and feed calculators have provisions for? I have never looked at that side before. Also, I guess that larger stepover is ok for roughing type operations, and then save the small stepover for final finish passes. What I'm doing will be roughing with a .25" ball, and then finishing with a .125" ball. I have a 10K spindle.

I guess I'll just have to wait. My reseller is working on another project at the moment. Appreciate you all's help.

Ok, I have a solid model open in x9. It is a Solidworks file, and I assume it is now a Mastercam file. Where would I start on doing this? For what it is worth, if there is a video or a tutorial somewhere, I'd be glad to go there instead of pester you all. lol I can send the file and also talk with someone on the phone if need be as well.

Sorry to bring up an old post, but I did not think I should start a new thread. I'm still trying to grasp the concept of exactly how 3D stuff works, so bear with me. I do have Mill level 1, which has limited tool paths. If there is a way for me to do single surfaces or one area at a time, I am willing to try it. Problem is, I need to know where to start. I know that most of these parts are based on 3D geometry or solid models. If I am only in Mill level 1, I don't think I can actually draw things in 3D. But if i have a solid model, will Mastercam open the file? Like say a file from Solidworks? I guess this will be a starting point.

That may be it. I have no idea what I'm doing. Like I said, I have never done any 3d milling or solids work in mastercam.

Well...I may not have it. Just tried ot use one of the surface functions and I get the dialog box that says "Operation is incompatible with your current mastercam product level"

I seem to have all the same toolpaths like yours in your drop down. I guess that means I'm full 3D? I'm trying my best to customize my workspace and get it back to the way I had my X5 setup. Unfortunately, I'm not the best at remembering all the technical steps of setting up the machine definitions and control definitions. I will have to wait until monday to talk to the reseller about getting it set up. I normally don't have but about 15 buttons in the top bar. I access anything else I need by the drop downs. Right now, I'm still on the default, which is like 100 buttons up there.

I just got my new 64bit machine at work yesterday with X9 installed. I am looking through the software trying to familiarize myself with it. I came from X5, so obviously a big jump. I was talking with someone at my reseller a few months ago, and if I understood him correctly, he said that that X9 is all new and most basic 3D milling can be done in it. I was asking because I don't think my version of X5 was capabale of it, or that was a feature that was not purchased or somehting. Excuse my ignornance of the software. I have never done any 3D milling and I'd really like to try. I searched for 3D threads here but could not get results to come up, although I'm sure there are plenty here. Just curious how I might tell exactly what level my X9 is at (if it has levels) or if someone can explain this to me. I appreciate it.

I'm trying to program am open contour for a wire edm, and when I chain my geometry and hit done I get the message "lead-out not successful-check cut position" The wire will enter the part in a certain place and then exit the part and run for a little bit - maybe .100" past the part and stop. I have my geometry drawn like that. It is basically an incomplete chain. just a line I want the wire to follow that goes through a part and out the other side. What is causing me to get this error message, and what can I do to make it take the chain? I'm running and older version of 8.1 on this pc just for a specific machine.

Just tried the bolt in a bicycle crank arm and it worked. Thanks again for the help.

Thank you. My thread looked about halfway when I dialed in .024, so I am assuming it is radial? Or diametrical? I can't remember the differnce between the two. I turned my max (OD) to .449 (.002" under .551"). I then went in .048" (.024" x 2) with my threading tool, which should have gotten me a min dia of .501". I then dialed in another .002" for extra and made a final pass. It looks correct, but you never can tell without the nut / inside thread to check it with. We will try this. If it doesn't work I'll spin another one down. Didn't take but 10 minutes to make it. I really appreciate the help guys.

Thanks. I have been looking in the handbook, 27th edition but all I see is 14 x 1.5 and 14 x 2.. Am I missing something??

I do not have the wires. Thanks.