My company uses inventor extensively and what I do is import the solid directly. Yes you are right it is a "dumb" solid. But I when it comes over I usually turn off the "rendering" and then I am left with the wireframe and base my tool paths on that wire frame. I agree by all means purchase the solids package from MC it saves a whole lot of time. But if you have to modify the solid in MC then it becomes a challenge because it has not history tree. So there have been times where I have to import the solid and re-position the model a few times in row. Is there any way to get around this??

I am a long time Inventor user dating back to release 3 of the that program. My company is running Inventor 9 and it seems that I am able to open Inventor 8 files with out too much problem. Although it does get confused when it comes to converting the large assemblies from Version8 to version 9. The only thing I have been told is if one has the inventor package and installed on their computer that also houses MC, it shouldn't be a problem. And to that degree/scenario I would say is true I haven't had any conversion problems. I wish I could be of more help. But I thought I would add my humble two cents.

Well to add my two cents to the topic. Basically my engineering dept does all the design/drafting in Inventor. What I do ( so as to not waste to much time redoing things) is to go ahead and import their models to MC. I then proceed to manipulate the part to the correct work holding configurations. Doing this ensures a few things: 1)Elimates errors if one had to redraw the part in nn MC. 2)places liability on the Engineering dept to ensure that the models correctly modeled up. Since they are already doing the hard work. =)(although I do verify myself that this is the case) 3) It also helps out being able to swtich between views to see tool/jig/fixtrue clearances. The whole goal, like so many of you has already stated is to get good code and get the part to the machine as fast as possible. I also agree MC is not really intended to be used as a full fleged 3D CAD program. It certianly has the ability to do that. However one must realize that this is a CAM program. In the most simplist cases I would personally use a few geometry lines to get the code I need to. Leave the pretty pictures to the under/over paid drafters. But if any one has questions about the Inventor to MC interface please don't hesitate to hit me up.

Thanks for your help Dan

Thanks Tim, I am going to try that in the aluminum I am running.

Thanks Tim, If my equation is right this is the result I get for a 10-24 tap. 250SFM)*3.82/.190 (Tap OD)=5000 rpm 5000/24= 208 feed rate. I think this is a little excessive considering I have a fadal with 7500 max spindle rpm and also the fact that In Rigid tapping mode, In low gear it won't let me run that fast.

Thanks Joel, But I was just wondering what the speed and feed would be for a #10-24 tap

Hey everyone, This may seem really basic, but I am aware in MC9 (when doing rigid tapping) all you have to do is put in the proper RPM and the program will calculate the feed rate. My question is there a master formula to figure out the spindle speed for rigid tapping. Not sure the one I have is correct. The one I have is as follows Tap RPM= SFM x 3.82/Tap O.D. Tap Feed= Calculated Tap RPM/TPI (threads per inch) Please help Thanks

Greetings all, I am currently building up a shop. We have been using MC for about a month now. Just wondering if anyone has any luck/experince/tips on how to use or customize the set-up sheet in MC. What my end goal is to be able to take the program I have generated and be able to print out the set up sheet (which I know you can select from the "Ops Manager")and also print out a picture of the drawing illustrating to my setup guys where "zero" is for th part. Thanks

I am running the most current version of MC which is v9.1 mr0304 and the post I am using to post programs is labeled as MFadal2 (which came standard with the program.

Greetings all, Currently I am running a Fadal 15xt and using MC to drive it. However I am running the post processor MFadal2 and for what ever reason it doesn't seem to call out the code for cutter comp in the program. Is there some way of modifying the post to call it out. Also in the same area is there anyway in MC to call out fixture offsets. Because everytime I go to create a program I have to manual change offest vaules manually. Please advise Thanks

Greetings all, Currently I am running a Fadal 15xt and using MC to drive it. However I am running the post processor MFadal2 and for what ever reason it doesn't seem to call out the code for cutter comp in the program. Is there some way of modifying the post to call it out. Also in the same area is there anyway in MC to call out fixture offsets. Because everytime I go to create a program I have to manual change offest vaules manually. Please advise Thanks

I talked to my distributor and he told me that MasterCam will adjust feed rate automatically according to spindle RPM. Just wondering why is a G8 called out? The book says its for Acceleration. My new question is how does one determine spindle speeds for a tap. I know it many sound basic but I am so used to do things conventionally. Oh here is my new code by the way. % N5 O0000 ( CA-216-8 ) N10 ( CREATED ON 07-14-04 AT 7:53 AM ) N15G20 N20G0G17G40G80G90 N25 ( #8-32 TAP ) N30T6M6 N35G0G90S200.2M5M90E1X.2Y-.604 N40H6Z.1M8 N45G84.1G99X.2Y-.604Z-.312R0.1S200.2F6.25 N50X3.568S200 N55G80 N60M5M9 N65G90H0Z0. N70E0X0Y0 N75M30 %

Greetings all, I am a new user to the Fadal 15XT. I am stil trying to get mastercam to post a correct rigid tap cycle. Was wondering if someone can take a look at this post and see if I am missing something. What I am planning to run is a #8-32 tap on two holes at the same depth. What is listed below is what my post proccessor has spat out. I don't think the Rpm's and feeds are correct. Thanks Joe % N5 O0000 ( CA-216-8 ) N10 ( CREATED ON 07-13-04 AT 3:39 PM ) N15G20 N20G0G17G40G80G90 N25 ( #8-32 TAPRH TOOL - 6 DIA. OFF. - 6 LEN. - 6 DIA - .164 ) N30T6M6 N35G0G90S5000.2M5M90E1X.2Y-.604 N40H6Z.1M8 N45G84.1G99X.2Y-.604Z-.312R0.1S5000.2F156.25 N50X3.568S5000 N55G80 N60M5M9 N65G90H0Z0. N70E0X0Y0 N75M30 % %

Thanks All I will try to incorporate your suggestions/advice.