Well thanks for the info. So even though I bought the machine with software already on it, I have to buy the software again? Even though the guy before me did? I assume to transfer the license there is a fee? I am not using for a business, just a hobbyist that bought a used machine and was told I was "good to go" and wouldn't need anything else except normal wear and tear stuff like tooling. Thanks again guys!

Hello, I am new to CNC and to this forum, although a long time engineer and CAD designer (solidworks mostly). I am excited to have found such a resource! I bought a used CNC router that came with mastercam X4 on the computer and I have a few issues I need help resolving. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I "think" I understand a little about how the post works and that you can some how alter the post and customize it. However I have no clue how to do that or fix these issues, even after reading many documents about post processors. The issues I have are: 1) When I am using a single tool, I must go into the code every single time and create a G54 Z.25 right before the line where the gantry / tool starts movement. If I dont do this, then the tool will move to the X,Y it needs to, but without raising the tool up in +Z, which means the work piece gets trashed. So the stock processor I have is not telling the tool to raise before it travels in x,y 2) If I am using multiple tools, the same thing occurs after the M01. I must manually go in and change the code every time using 'G54 Z.25' to raise the tool prior to the X,Y movement. 3) At the end of the code I always have to go back in and manually raise the tool again after it finishes the last operation. Otherwise, the tool stays at z=0 and the work piece is ruined. 4) at the end of the code; I have to change; 'G54 X0 Y0 Z0 ' In to 'G54 X0 Y0 G54 Z0' Otherwise, the tool / gantry travels in the negative z direction as it travels in negative x and y. If the tool is far form the origin, this results in the work piece bring ruined because it reaches z=0 before x=y=0 4) This is more of a Mach3 question I think, but if the tool is at X,Y,0 (where x and y are any value other than zero) and I click "go to zero" the tool doesn't raise before moving in the x,y direction. Is there a way to change this setting in Mach 3 so the tool always raises prior to moving to home? Thank you again for any help! J