its a digitizer. u trace out a pattern on paper then digitize it by plotting point or lines that recreat the same tracing on paper to mastercam.

I am using a drawingboard II digitizer from Calcomp and I cant seem to get it to work with mastercam. Mastercam keeps telling me that there is error initializing com1 and/or com2. any one have any ideas?

Well I tried but was not succesful. I have saved my toolpath and operation so if you have a minute, take a look. I still cant seem to get it to ramp in to the part. I'm not sure, but I think it might have something to do with when I use the wear in compensation type and have to select the plung and retract which is under the lead in/out tab. I hope you can understand what I am getting at.

The file is under the mcam9 folder.

Okay, but the ramp has to be a straight line ramp because we have other parts that are nested right next to each other. I will put a sample in the ftp site called 3351-000 sample. mike

I am trying to creat a toolpath that will ramp into the part as it follows the contour of the part while using tabs to hold it to the rest of the sheet. I understand that I can select the ramp method under the contour type but when I do that, it turns off the tab button on me. Do you have the same problem and do you know how I can creat the toolpath without using the ramp contour type? Mike

Anyone here use the Router version of MasterCAM?

but the bit plunges down thru the part.

Does any one know what to do to get a tool to ramp straight in at the part with using tabs. I know that you can use the ramp under the contour type but it the grays out the tab button. I have tried to use the the lead in and lead outs but I dont want a arc as my lead in/out. please help. thanks mike

Thanks guys. I will give it a try. Mike

well drag works to move the whole arc but to move just the stat and end points thats were it fails. Is there a way to manual enter in a new start point under analyze, edit without trying to pick a new point?

What I am trying to do is match a mold from a piece of wood to creat a template. What has happend in most cases the knife that formed the mold was ground out by hand. so to match it exactly I need to be able to pick, say the intersection of the two arcs and move them around in any direction. Mike

thanks but still difficult.

This is the first time in my carrer that I started to use master cam. I have always used Autocad for many years and I find the transition from Autocad to Mastercam to be very difficult. Is there any way to adjust a series of arcs and line segments by picking on pick points and draging them around like you can in Autocad. I am have no luck in finding an easier way to do it. Thanks, Mike

THANKS THAT WAS TOO SIMPLE.