A tool change to the same tool? Sounds like what you want is the spinde to return to Z-0 and M00 allowing the operater to remove chips, tap the part down or something like that. I modified my posts to use a miscellaneous integer to perform this fuction. I called the button "home before". Which sends the machine to an X,Y,Z home, M00, and then get the spindle running again. I like it when I can post-and go:)

I had a customer once who threatened to take me to court claiming that he paid for the parts, geometry and toolpath. In reality, he paid for my programing time, but to apease him, I created special geometry and wrote special programs which I gave to him. I don't think he could use the information i supplied, since each surface was its own file and everything was cut using a 1/16 endmill, but as long as he is happy:) The customer is always right

Changing my post to output a rapid feedrate rather than a G00 may make the machine run smoother and faster. Has anyone else tried this (with success)? If not, I will give it a try and report my findings back to the forum. It is worth the try.

I am contemplating purchasing a boring head for my machining center (CAT 40). I have a job with some 1.025 dia holes and a tolerance, which my machine can no longer hold via circular interpolation. I also have an old 3” offset boring head with an R8 shank. I am now faced with the question whether to purchase a straight or CAT 40 shank to make this head work in the machine, or to purchase one of the newer heads available from Iscar, Parlec or similar. Either way, I know this is going to cost me some hard earned cash. It's just a matter of deciding how much. My question to the forum is what other shops use for boring and what they may recommend.

I am updating from V8.0 to 8.1. I have invested time and effort into my tool, material, cfg and toolpath defalts. My question is what is the best way to install the newer version so that I maintain my current defalts. Can I install 8.1 into a new directory and overwrite the existing tool, matl, cfg, ect files with my 8.0 files? Should I install 8.1 over the 8.0? Should I forget about 8.0 alltogether and start fresh defaults? Thanks in advance

Wow, I have been using 8.0 and this STL button of which you speak is not an option. I gotta get me the newer version. Thanks for the lead.

currently using V8 with Windows 2000

I have an STL file which I would like to machine. Adding surfaces to each prism creates a huge file. Re-creating the part is not easy. I don't have the money for a surfacer-program. V7 had a C-hook, stlmch72, which crashes my computer. Any sugestions.

One thing I would like is "Machine finish pass with final depth" in pocket and contour. This could save an intire pass on every rough/finish.

If you are having a lot of difficulties, Email your post to me and I will make the nessasary changes for you. [email protected]

Main Menu, Modify, Break, Spl to arcs. The help file says this utility is for "Breaking 2D splines into arc and line segments" and yet regardless of the tolerance, I cannot create one single arc segment. I can create arcs by using the command Create, Curve, One edge, but have been trying to use the All egdes command on a different face. Contouring splines creates larger files, and inaccuracys. Choosing Edge curve, One Edge, is a pain. Does anyone have any experence with this function?

I have experienced a simular problem which was easily solved by changeing the way the post outputs the arc. Many controls can accept arcs in diferent ways. It is my guess that the post outputs the information in an arc-rad format. The failsafe change is to change the output to an I,J format.

when using pocket or contour, with an entry arc (just arc,no line), cutter comp in computer and control; MC outputs a G41 like one would expect. Now employ filter and post again. No cutter comp. Is this a bug or an undocumented feature?

Try Castrol's "Molly Dee" tapping fluid. Without question the best tapping fluid for hard to tap materials like 17-4, and I am sure that will solve your problems

It may also be advisable to use G98 rather than G99 if posible

Does anyone know of a freeware site where I could download common assembly elements. I would think that someone has already contructed many common hardware items (nuts, bolts, bearings....), which I could import into a 3D CAD drawing.