Most excellent!!! ...what's your price for the VB script there, Ron?

Most excellent!!! You gents have a good weekend!! Dan

Well, I tried to figure this out on my own but I only got it to output 'N0' on the tool change lines. So, I started over. Here's what I have to start with: . . G00 G17 G20 G40 G49 G80 G90 (INTERP FACE FOR DRILL B-10.145) T31 M06 (.250 X .5 X SC 3FLT CARB EM) . . I need the toolchange line like this: N31 T31 M06 (.250 X .5 X SC 3FLT CARB EM) ...so the 'N' number matches the tool number. Many thanks for any help!! Dan

Ok I got it. Just had to tweek my Gap Setting....had it cranked way high. Thanks guys for the responses!! D

I need to use Surface-Finish-Countour and get a zigzag toolpath. There is a switch for it but it doesn't seem to have any affect. What am I missing? Many thanks for any and all replies!! Dan

Verry cool there CAMmando. Thanks. I'll keep my fingers crossed that X has some sheel metal friendly features. BTW: Is there a web resource with these kinds of goodies...like flat pattern math for different geometric shapes (cone, frustum, etc) Dan

I need to make a male cylinder that will be pushed into some stainless wire mesh to form a cup. I need to draw up the flat diameter of mesh required to accomodate the set diameter, height, and corner radius after forming. Can MCAM help me with this kind of thing? Many thanks!! Dan

Alan, buddy!! That did it. Friggin chaining tolerance was spoofing the whole thing even though the same chain was fine on the other side of the surface (just mirrored). ...pisses me off. Thanks! Dan

..this one's killing me. I've uploaded the file: SURFACE PROJECT ERROR .MC9 to the FTP (MC9 files). I've never seen this error before. First, MCAM says this: then it says this: ...funny thing is that I do the EXACT same thing on the other side of the same surface....kind of like a mirror image of the pocket-profile, and it works fine!!! I'm stumped and I don't really want to screw around with another surface toolpath unless I have too. BTW: Is this sort of unpredictable behavior typical of MasterCAM. Thanks for any input!! Dan

Thanks alot for all the killer input. Looks like I'll be going alot faster than I would have ever guessed...500sfm -wow- and a Tailn coating. BTW this is a Boeing part 15-5 stainless. Only about 6" x 3" x .75" envelope in size and it's function is to guide a moving assembly along it's .500" wide track which is basically a 's' shape about 5" long. Thanks again! Dan

Happy Friday to the group!! I'm going to have to skim cut (.005") from a case-hardened track. The stuff is 15-5. Do I treat it like inconel? Is there any tricks? I'll be using a 4flute solid carbide em (coated?). Many thanks for any and all replies!! Dan

...turns out that these guys are out of business. They're called MicroBore: Does anyone know where I can find a similar or 'aftermarket' brand of these things? Many thanks for any and all replies!!! M

This place rocks. M

Thanks James. Now how do I get a G54.2? M

Greets from Boeing central (Everett,WA). We are trying out the Dynamic Fixture Offset feature on our new Makino. I need to get my post to output a G54.2 P1 throughout the program. Right now I'm setup to get G54 with 0 in the work offset field of the Tool Plane / Construction Plane window. Many thanks for any help. M

Anyone know where I can find Bell shaped cutters with standard angles just like you would find for Draft cutters? Many thanks and a good weekend to all (who aren't working it like me). MF

Update... Looks like I'm going to profile the thickness dims and not face like I thought. May not even use DB tape now. We'll see. Thanks to you all for the quick responses!! MF

I have a 200" long by 4" wide by .250" thick alum strap that I need to play with. I need to deck off about .100 from the middle and then face .050" thick tabs along the long edges...so it makes a squatty T shape. Whats worse is I only have a 120" bed. If I could double back this sucker and get rid of all or most of the clamps it would save lots of hassles. Can anyone testify as to the strength of double back tape? I'm talking about the yellow stuff with the green checker-board backing that is .004" thick and made by 3M (I think). I need to get this thing going quick so the more info I can get the better. Many thanks!! MF

Thad, Thats what I ended up doing. Worked fine for me too. Thanks too all for the help. MF

I have a long part that I scale from a mylar print. I don't have a plotter so I'm trying to plot on 11 x 8.5 paper to check critical areas. I'm networked to the printer and I have Windriver set to Yes. The plots show lines that are not even on the part....ie not part of my mcam geometry. I've had this problem before but never posted a question. Is there any fix for this? Thanks!! MF

Preferably west coast. MF

Is there a switch for this in the post? MF

Thanks to all for the helpful responses. Looks like the Iskar multi master may be the ticket. YESSSS! MF

Mold100, I did use all garr cutters and they worked fine just that they are all straight shank. So a .3125dia hanging out 4.8" is quite the noodle and the run time is higher than the owner wants to see. Maybe I'm trying to work a miracle here I don't know. Idealy, a tapered shank I think would get me closer but I cant find anthng off the shelf that is near long enough. Actually Mitsubishi has some but they're all Japanese stock that will take 6 weeks to get here --bummer.

Its all alum d00d. It starts out as plate. I should mention that the profile is tapered in 2 planes....so it kinda makes a conical taper and gets tighter as it moves to the right (in this case) and down.