Good enough.

Thanks

I haven't been able to find the Mcam 2017 equivalent of this.
Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Is this possible in X9?

I've looked at the xml file and haven't found a setting in it for this.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks

Do you really need to work with an STL?

As Mick pointed out, the file size is increased when working with stock models. It's not particularly difficult to do this with either stl files or stock models. The file size does get quite large though when working with stock models.

Wire edm that bad boy.

Something I've been wanting to do for some time but never figured out how is to blank or hide an entity when creating a viewsheet and have the viewsheet recalled later with those same entities blanked or hidden. Is there a way to do this? It would be helpful when creating setup sheets.

 

What does the process currently look like? I'm sure everyone has a system but it would be easier to make recommendations for your case as you describe it. Some companies use PDM software, others might have a mess of a 'file server' that is just a folder on a windows machine, and others are still using paper and folders. You have a lot of options but what you implement will probably depend on your level of competence with computers.

 

 

 

Here is a file system convention i've seen used successfully

/
	$user
		/work-in-process
			...
	//shared
		/customer
			/part number
				/revision level
					/docs
					/models
					/programs

+1

It's very helpful to have a standardized folder structure, especially as your programming department grows.

I've been getting a consistent crash in X9. If I go to the right view, create a dimension, then go to the iso view, then click on "Analyze", "Entity Properties", select that dimension and click on "Quick Edit", I get a dialog box that says "Warning - cannot calculate dimension". If I click on "OK", the dialog box reappears and I'm forced to close Mastercam through the task manager. Warning, if you try this, save your work first. It will quite likely crash on you. I'm currently working the night shift so I may not be able to reply to any questions regarding this until I return to work tomorrow (Tuesday).    Thanks.

I'm not struggling with this.

I use the xform function to translate the stl files and it works fine.

MAS58 is struggling with the stock models.

Try using the xform function with stl files as suggested by jparis. Works great and is similar to using xform stl.

Now about those mysterious collisions I'm still seeing in "Verify" ...

Ok, that works for me.

The only issue I have with this now is that when I run "Verify", it shows collisions where there aren's any.

The "Move List" shows the drill feeding into the part at 15 i.p.m., but it considers it a collision.

I've not seen this function in X9.

It's not shown in the drop down and if I go into "Settings", "Customize", "Category", "Xform", it doesn't appear there either.

It's been a function in Mastercam for as long as I can remember and I use it regularly.

Thanks

Thanks for the response Jay, but I'd really like to see the "classic" backplot show the "Retract" moves like it used to. If you step thru backplot, you'll see the vcr scroll bar moving while doing the retract moves, but it doesn't display it in the graphics window. Seems like a bug that needs to be fixed.

Recently upgraded from X6 to X8. I'm not seeing the tool rapid from the clearance plane to the retract plane in backplot but when I post the program, it posts with the correct "R" value in the G81 drill cycle. Anyone else having this happen?

Thanks

Sometimes, the good old coons tool path is your best option. Someone did a great job on the algorithm years ago and it's really a shame this tool path option hasn't been further developed. On-the-fly filtering and approach and retract options would be an excellent addition. Here's a screen shot of coons using 8 along patches and 1 across patch. It looks great in Verify.

I've had some luck in the past offsetting the surfaces by the diameter of the lollipop cutter and driving that using flowline.

You'll need to pay attention to your approach move so as not to violate the part.

I just programmed a channel similar to this in titanium, but on a 5" radius.

I capped the ends of the channel with a 1/4 sphere,

then roughed and finished it with "Surface High Speed Scallop".

Use the top of the channel as your containment boundary.

Started the toolpath from the bottom and worked it up the channel with a .0003 scallop.

The tool never retracts and repositions.

I haven't had any luck with this in either X6 or X7. (can't remember if it worked in X5)

My work-around has been to add "Planes = Gview" to my right-click menu.

The line in our "pheader$" is coded somewhat differently, as this:

*progno$,"(", sprogname$,".NC)", e$

It's not been commented out in the post and it appears it should function ok.

Hmmm ...

I've done all of the above suggestions with the exception of Brewsters'.

None have worked.

Way back in v9, I can remember "change program #" as an option in edit common parameters but I don't see it in X6.

Doing this will only change the program name.

Not the program number.

The "as shown" program number I've posted to is 1801.

I'm trying to get the mirrored program to post to program number 1804.

When posting, the first two lines, read

%

O1801

It's the program number I'm trying to change, not the program name.

When posting, I'm getting the same program number after the %.

When mirroring a program for an opposite hand part, I've not seen a way to get it to post to a different program number. I've tried to assign a new program number to the mirrored program by right clicking on the toolpath group and clicking on "Edit Selected Operations" and "Change Program #", but when posting, it still wants to use the program number of the original toolpaths.

Hmmmm, make sure you get yourself a second monitor before X7 comes out.

Done.

What I'd like to see in X7 is for Verify to open in a seperate window, allowing you to continue on with your work as it's processing.