On our Makino's, ( S56's & V56's ) there are 3 different modes that can be used for tolerance control ( HPCC ) or SuperGI. We control what mode we want using misc. integers. The 3 modes are as follows. M250, M251 & M252 M251 is the high performance mode which lowers the accuracy of the tolerance algorithms and is primarily used for roughing. Makino says this mode is roughly 30% faster than M250 which is the standard mode. M250 as I just said is the standard mode and gives the machine much more defined accel/decel values and is very accurate. Almost all finishing jobs would use this mode. M252 is the ultra precision mode. This mode is said to add roughly 30% more to the cycle time, however, gives you the most resolution and tolerance control. We use all 3 modes at different times depending on what we are machining, but it is used at all times. We had In-House Solutions modify our post to output this code. The way we select it is by inputting a value of either 0, 1, 2 in the misc. integers field In-House created for us. 0= M250 mode 1= M251 mode 2= M252 mode

I use google search using the images tab at the top. Try to find large scale images ( preferably in black and white as they tend to work the best ) and use the raster to vector c-hook. The quality of the geometry you get will be determined by the quality of the original image. The X4 version of raster to vector seems to work the best. I just created one of the Ottawa Senators as a test and it came out pretty good.

Kind of off topic, but you might want to add a check valve into your coolant line to prevent drain-back to the tank.

I would think using blend would work very well. High speed spiral may be another option.

I've been using negative stock to leave for electrode making for the last 15 years or so. I have not had any problems whatsoever. The only time you need to fool Mastercam is when using flat bottom endmills and negative stock on a surface toolpath. You either need to program a corner rad that is the same or slightly greater than the spark gap, or, lie about the diameter of the tool and adjust the length offset of the tool by the spark gap.

This "no projections found" issue has been around for a while. The only fix I have come up with is to close Mastercam and re-open. This usually fixes the problem.

I sent this one into In-house to take a look at. The only thing they could figure out was that it was caused by my tool library that I imported from the previous version. I have since created a new tool library and have not experieneced any problems since.

I find it hard to believe people still use Iges files. It must work well with their computers that still have Windows 3.1 At any rate, the OP states he works for an engineering company of some sort. Ya better step into the 21st century and get updated. ProE files can be imported into Mastercam with the use a converter which doesn't cost very much. We have ours on our server so it can be accessed by onyone in the company that has Mastercam installed on their computer. Why would your engineers waste their time ( and accuracy ) converting files into Iges. Just use the native file and everyone will be happy. If this is seriously how your "Engineering company" handles things, I'm sure we will be reading about your company closing soon. I'm not trying to be a jack-xxxx, I'm just pointing out to you that their are much superior choices to make than using Iges.

Click on the Help tab at the top. It is in the dropdown menu.

Tapered d-bit on a 30K Makino....Mmmmmmmmm good. No problem.

It's the same thing. Uncheck the box that says "rapid retracts" and put in a feed rate in the box that says retract rates.

Sidelock holders on an S56. Please tell me that I did not read that. First thing I would do is knock the sharp corners off the endmill. A small chamfer will suffice. I would be inclined to just use 2D contour on that one with a step down around .004 and a feedrate of about 20ipm @ 7000rpm. You have a bunch of factors working against you there. The only positive is the machine itself.

This is kind of a sloppy way to do it, but generate a simple raster or parallel toolpath across your model using a 1/4" ballnose endmill( doesn't matter what size cutter ) leaving .5 for stock to leave. Now verify this toolpath using your original block size in your stock set-up and then save this verify as your STL file. This is now the CAD file that you will generate the rest roughing toolpaths from.

If you are using high speed toolpaths, use a high value for your retract feedrate rather than using rapid retracts. When you use a feedrate for retracts, you will get a G01 movement with the feedrate value you have entered. We use 1500ipm on our Makino's. This makes sure your movement from one position to another is a linear move, rather than a dog-leg move which is what you would get using G00.

Anyone that wants the file, just let me know. The resolution is excellent as it came from an Adobe Illustrator file. email me at: [email protected]

You mean something like this?

More info is needed to answer your question. Lets take a rectangular planer surface tilted at 10 degrees. If you are cutting to the centre of a boundary which is the outside perimeter of the surface, then the area on the low side of the surface will not be cut. A way to cure this is to set "only between surfaces" under the advanced settings tab. Keep in mind that there is a chance of gouging adjoining surfaces if they are not chosen as check surfaces. You would also not use any boundaries. Another option is to use the c-hook " create boundary" and make a cutter contact boundary. There are many ways to accomplish what you are trying to achieve.

Without question, Makino is the way to go. Take a look at the S56 ( either 13K or 20K spindle ). You should be able to get one of these machines for around $150K. We have both versions of the S56 as well as two V56's. They are unbelievably fast ( scary ) and super accurate. If I was spending my own money, it would be on an S56.

One "aw sh%t" wipes out dozens of "atta boys." That's a good one for sure.

Call up your local Millstar rep and I'm sure they will hook you up with a sample. We use their 3/8 4-flute solid carbide feedmills in P20 or even hardened H13. How fast you go will be based on your machine dynamics, not the tool. I can run 7000rpm and 350 ipm on P20 with our Makino's and it cuts ( and lasts ) like a dream. Solid carbide feedmills have come a long way in the last couple of years. HST toolpath with a feedmill is fun to watch on the right equipment.

Do yourself a favor and take the high speed machining course at Makino in Auburn Hills, MI or Mason, OH. They will help you to understand why a linear code file WILL run faster on the machine. The RISC processor has a 1000 block look ahead to calculate acc/dec times, etc. Part of the problem is the way in which Mastercam outputs its points. Powermill has a point distribution function that allows a machine like Makino to perform at its best. I believe Mastercam will have a function similar to this with the release of X4 which should help cycle times as well as surface finish. If you want your Makino to perform better during roughing operations, use M251 ( high performance mode ) and the machine will be much more responsive. I would only use this mode for roughing. M250 and M252 should be used for finishing. I still have some text books from Makino that illustrate why a linear code file is better. Most new Makino's come with 2 free training credits at Makino's die/molds locations. Trust me.....take the 4 day course. You will learn a lot.

Our engineering dept. experimented with a product called Transmagic to see if it could assist on cleaning up some of the files we used to import from the auto industry. I think they got some fairly good results but this was a while ago as we no longer deal with the auto industry. http://www.caddit.net/store/index.php?main...&products_id=50

Oh yes, the bugs in X2 and X3 are much more technically advanced. Now it only takes a year or two of maintenance dollars to get things right. Tell him to make the switch and be as frustrated as the rest of us.

OSG, Mitsubishi, Pokolm Voha,

Pete, Yes I have 'Import Pro/E Datum entities' turned off. I'm well aware of the previous version issue. The junk that gets imported seems to be related to the geometry that was utilized in ProE to create the solid and saved in the ProE history tree.