Pc Dmis was creating a package a couple of years ago to write the macros I believe to work with fanuc controls. Haven't heard much lately though.

Camman, make sure your using the most current drivers from your vid card manufacturer, NOT WINDOWS UPDATED DRIVER! Been burnt there before just like you maybe that after and update to my pc I couldn't even get cam to start. One call to our reseller and I felt like a fool, that's all it took. Good Luck and welcome to the forum!

I was of the belief that it was a windows file share issue. Even if the file is read only, Solidworks and windows recognizes that it is being accessed by someone else. I'm no guru but I have made it a practice to copy the file out to another folder and work from it. If the designer is working with the file yet why risk the chance of corrupting the file either is working with. I've had this happen from Solidworks 2001 to 2004, haven't installed 2005 yet.

Mick, biggest thing I would be concerned about is what you need and how both softwares can benefit you. Not necessarily all the bells and whistles. We compared both systems not to long ago and Gibbs was trying to do a big sell on the user interface (mainly graphical). There was nothing honestly that Cam couldn't do that Gibbs could do. The main reason we were looking into gibbs was the fact it supposedly came with a post ready for our older swiss machine. With cam we would have had to customize one, well at demo day we found out that Gibbs did not have the post we needed and we would have to have one customized. I personally voiced an opinion to stick with what we had because we had it the best, Mastercam. Good Luck

Iskander I've been using this software since tech school back in 87. I have never even seen that option before and totally bypassed it always looking for a way to analyze it. Thanks a million, I feel quite like Eeyore.

Is there a way to measure the closet distance between two entities? Say like two arcs or spline curves that you would want to find the minimum distance between them? Sorry to hijack Joel

Threept82: Download Solidworks free viewer for a quick reference. If you can't get it post back and I'll see if I can place it on the ftp site. This is the link to their page: http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/f...dfm_submit.html Sorry this isn't the answer your looking for but It's a neat idea your trying if it can be done.

Micromoldmaker, just some quick suggestions for you. 1) (roughing) multisurf rough pocket 2) (semi finish) multisurf parallel 45 deg twice at a + & then - angle cut. here comes the twist: 3) (finish upper walls with a coons patch top to bottom, to the bottom of the fillet) Coons patch. 4) (finish floor) multisurf parallel the floor using a direction that is either parallel to the length of the part or perpendicular. If you can, containg the floor with a boundary and offset it to .002-3" inside to keep the tool from hitting the corner fillet. The small gap could be pick out later if you feel it's needed with a 3-d contour. There are otherways to get the walls to finish down but it would at more steps in the program (not a bad thing just more to explain). Coons works nice if you know how to use it and filter it correctly. Leave stock accordingly as you deem it necessary for your tooling and machine to get a good finish. p.s. I hope you know what a coons patch is, not really used nowadays but I've cut mannnnyyy a trodes in my time with it. I think it's still very usefull. If your not carefull in defining your geometry, your tool will deviate from the norm. Best Regards, Hope this helps

John, thanks for all that you and the others are doing. My brother in law is in Texas right now training to go over in January or February. Your words and efforts are encouraging to me and my beliefs that we are doing the right thing! I tell my boys (8yrs, 6yrs, 4yrs) old all about what's going on over there and I show them the Army's press releases, NOT cnn's! Your statement is testimony alone: quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't like being here, but sometimes the right thing to do isn't the most popular thing to do. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our fore father's had this vision and courage as you are showing and doing today. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL WITH YOU, COME HOME SAFE

Tim, you can use notepad or word. Your just limited to the tools you can use such as the file editors would have. If your really desperate, just open up two files (one the original and the other your new temporary) tile them side by side and start copy and pasting or changing what you need. If I remember right, I believe you can get one of the file editors free to take home and still use. You should be able to get it off the web. Hope this helps

When doing tools or molds, it was always nice to suppress the hardware before export and only keep the parts you wanted shown. That was the beauty of XT to cam, you got an assembly in solids in relation to each other on different levels. BUT, that works nice when you have a seat of Solidworks or a source that can do that for you.

It does bring them in on different levels. Especially each bolt and dowel..... then you get to delete or move what you wish to retain. Thanks for the tip Jay, I'll try that next time!

Bill, unfortunately I don't believe you can. If the sender can send the complete Solidworks file in one folder (all the individual part files also) you can use the free viewer to see the solids assembly or prints to associate which parts are which item #. Another choice is to request a parasolid XT of the assembly. Upon converting turn on only solids with no edge curves and then move the solid blocks to any desired level you may want. HTH

Bill, may I ask what kind of cmm your using and interface. Are you doing DCC with the cmm and working from a cad model? The way I understood how it works is as you say. You generate the program in Mastercam and then you have to export the program out and then into your current CMM software. It's comforting that you are having good results with it.

I'll gladly try Mike, I was informed when I last talked to Verisurf they were working on getting a direct control version. With Mastercams surfacing history I wouldn't hesitate to make the switch to their software. Right now though it concerns me with PcDmis that why but one software and then have to filter it thru another that isn't as good. I'll wait for the good stuff.

It does output Dmis code, but I looked into it for online use which at the time it was not capable of(just last December). It will only create the code to be run on another software or machine. You can contact them for a demo cd. Here is their web site if you don't have it already. http://www.verisurf.com. Just curious, what kind of machine do you have? I'm running a B&S microexcel pfx with PcDmis 3.5 mr2. Issues with bugs in PcDmis has me looking for options.

I know Ben ladin is around here somewhere.

MetalFlake, I used a custom grinder in Wi for all my special needs. They were great to work with especially if you stay within the normal parameters of tool tolerances. The name was TJ Grinding in Waukesha, Wi. phone # 1-800-866-6885. I haven't talked to them in about a year but if their in business they should be able to do what you need. Good Luck

Thad, I'm not sure what Steve has for machines or if this is what he need's. I was just looking to see if this was the direction he wanted to go with the part or not. I take it you saw the part, are you familiar with what he's asking for? I'm not quite sure but just looking to help. Lot's of great people and advice here I've taken advantage of just looking to return the favor.

Steven, please check the ftp folder and take a look at Q2.MC9. Would this be something along the lines of what your looking for possibly.

Steve, can you post the file on the ftp site please. I'm not totally sure what you need but have a good idea. Would you be looking for just an offset curve from what's there and a ruled surface between the two curves?

Are you looking for a coordinate system? Do you want to orientate the part to a specific point on the curve?

Thanks Jammer!

Read the article and see what you think, I wouldn't have wanted to be this lady. NEWS ARTICLE IN LOCAL PAPER p.s. no offense intended, thought the story was kinda neat.

Thanks Steve, I appreciate the help. Roger at Prototek has been very helpfull (great guy to work with) but due to the nature of our parts I can't release them. Kind of a nice catch 22. Need help but can't release the files for disclosure reasons. As I stated in my first post I was just looking to get some feedback on how it's was working for somebody else. I'll gladly use your advice Steve, I've been so intent on getting the tree in that I've forgotten the other options also. Thanks Much!