Is there a chance I can get some info also? Thanks.

We have a ABB Robot at the College, Have taken the Basic Programming course and just got back from the Welding Course in Flint MI. They showed me a Software called "Robot Studio" It's a Offline programming system,I do not know a whole lot about it but they told me most of the Contractors use it or some type of offline software.

That's what I meant by when you shut the power down, It will not remember what tool is in the spindle.We used the common variable #505 to store the current tool number that's in the spindle. We called Makino and they could not help.

I have Experience with this type of machine. Had a 6T Fanuc on it.It would not remember what tool was in the spindle when it was shut off. We rewote the Tool change Macro (program #9000) set-up a variable to record what tool was in the spindle all the time so it would skip tool changes if the tool was already in the spindle(even when the power was turned off).

Started in 76' right out of high school. Ran mannual's for 4 years, Moved to NC's been there ever since. Still like creating something out of raw Stock.

I teach a CNC Mill and CNC lathe class. I also Instruct onsite in Industry. This is a issue that is kicked back and forth. 90% of the people I have worked with use neg Z Number in the offset. One of the draw backs of this system is you are using your machine tool to measure tool distance from some reference point to another,and the machine is not producing chips.By setting offline,you can have the next set of tools for the next job(if they are not already in the machine)measured ready to load. Mazak has a great on line measuring system and I belive it uses neg numbers in to tool register. I teach both ways and do not lean one way or the other. The person will have to adapt to the shop's culture where ever that person goes. In the Lab we use, I set tools offline maining because I use a dial indicator to find the highest point of the tool and tools blend very well when using a Pencil trace or left over toolpath. When I was Managing the shop before I became an Instructor, we ran 24-7 on 11 highspeed machining Center's I had a person setting spare tools and that's all he ever did, nobody waited to find a sharp tool.Again each shop will be different.

Am I way off by saying you need to Click on "Create", "Curve", "All","Edges"? I go to the Options and set the tolerance very low(.0002) Some times when I have trouble, I create Solids out of the Imported model and everything seems to chain better. But this process is not always sure fire. Working with IGES files has been very smooth and very rough at times.

Put on your Fire suit

I know this is not Mastercam related,but how many of you member's are still using Custom Macro's? Not including Probing Routines.

I use the same set-up in "custom drill cycles" in my posts to pick up custom Macro's I have wrote for the lathe and the mill. Pick up the 81/100 points in the NCI for what to run and then the 82 for the rest of the pos.If you have been using Custom Macro's for while and do not want to give them up, that's one way to have the Software output what you want where you want it. Works great! Hat's off to the people in Tolland.

James, I think he is talking about how to figure chip load,sfm,rpm based on size of the tool and flute length etc. I think?

Define "disconnect" You mean the end points are not touching?

Brillant answer

Mark, the 4 axis on the Fadal we have at the college is the same way.I took the fadal2 post and changed it the way I liked the output. The post out of the box works great on the 4 axis movements.

When I set up posts for people, I ask for good "G" code file and a .MC9 file thats pretty close to what the "G" code does and start changing from there.If they can not provide the "G" code program, I go out to the Company or where the Machine is and get it running from there. Most programmer's like their code in a certain order, tool changes,Coolant on, etc. Most Posts for Millturn MachinesI have worked with Polar interpolation is handled thru the post,using Misc reals and Inter. Keep trying, you get there.

What I did was defined my own canned text as some speed, went into toolpath editor, found my point(at the bottom of my floor or what ever), edit that point, use canned text, picked my choices of different speeds(which can use a mr value if you like)used the "add with"in the canned text and it added my speed at the end off that line. As far as depth of cut, the way I explained, you will have to go in and edit the proper points. If you want to add logic you can. What ever blows you hair back.

You can go into the post and modify it and add Canned text for different speed's, and that is correct, I did not read the post right, I thought we where on a contour. My Mistake.

It was not directed to you Machine SMMC in any way. I thought I would jog other members memory on this subject so they can decribe it better than I can.

In the operations manager, left click on the geo icon, then right click, it opens up a dialog and it should show you "change at point", if you high light it, it will show all end points, click on the end point you want to change and it will go into another dialog box, spindle speed should be an option that can be changed along with other otions. This is a basic command learned in my Level one class. I will not be drawn into a insulting match between members.

Edit at point

I heard Desk top is going away and Inventor will take it's place. I do not know if there is any truth to this or not.

That's an Old one

Do it through the Post

If you are wanting to load tool length offsets from the program and have Mastercam do that, there are a couple of different ways. Is this what you are wanting to do?

I Belive this is control specfic,I seen some Fanuc 6TC's have a work shift and use G50 commands. As far as Geometry offsets, the values in the offset are taken from machine zero to the face of the part or where ever you want to claim zero. Each tool has it's own values and must be set in advance before the program is run. The beauty of this is as long as the tool is not removed from the turret it can be used from one program to another(diameter wise).I you have work shift function you can shift all geomerty offsets a specfic amount on top of that.