I want to know if there is a easy way to convert a Router RMD/control/post set-up to a Mill MMD/control/post set-up. I have developed Router machine def files, control def, and post files for all of our machines but I sometimes have a customer who is running Mill. I have both router and mill on my machine here. Mastercam X2 MR2 SP1 Router Pro & Mill Pro All the goodies added as well.

Thanks. I think I have the customer talked into upgrading to X2. I put a little extra jam on the bread. I did not like X for a long time because it slowed me down and I had to hunt for things that I knew like the back of my hand in V9. After trying to do some parts for the customer today in V8, I finally said screw this you need to upgrade to X2. I then drug out my laptop and did their part in X2. I sure would hate to go back now.

My memory is a little foggy right now. Might be the Michelob Light, I don't know. When was the router product introduced? Was it V8 or V9. I got a customer running Mill8 and I have a V8 post to give him, but I can't remember when router came out.

I have 2 post associated with machine and control def. My select post icon is greyed out. Why? Running X2 MR1 Thanks

Yee Haw and Happy Birthday. This is a priceless place. I've been hanging around for going on 6 years. I feel as though I know some of you personally although I have never met you. A special thanks to Inhouse Solutions and Cadcam for all their efforts.

Thank you Bob, Ok I found it. There was 2 axis combos in the list for that machine def. Table 1 and Table 2. I repaired the one that was incorrect. For some reason is would default to list one when picking this machine def origionally but would default to list two when try to replace another machine with this one.

Let me go into this a little deeper. I created the above drawing then loaded 3-axis machine (A) def and did the toolpaths, posted the code and ran the part. I then decided to make some changes to the part and post it to another 3-axis machine (. I was allowed to replace the machine (A) def with machine ( def and post the code. I also wanted to post code for machine (A) as well but it would not let me replace the machine def back to the origional (A) machine. Should this not work? This is contour and pocket only. There is no toolpath that either machine can not do. We manufactor 2 basic models, moving gantry and fixed bridge cnc routers, and support 3 different control packages. We also offer 5-axis as either fixed bridge or moving gantry. This gives me a combination of 8 different machine defs, (we only offer one control package with 5-axis). I can understand that you can't replace a 5-axis toolpathed part's machine def with a 3-axis machine def. But I need to be able to swap 3 for 3.

Control def is different. One machine might use Absolute I&J while another uses incremental strt-cntr. I need to swap out the entire machine def.

I just figured out the chaining issue. Only, Only, Only.

1st let me say I am one of Mastercams biggest fans, been an addict since V6 but this machine def & control def is driving me crazy. These 2 machine defs are the same. X,Y,Z, machine base, aggregates, drillblocks. Why can't I replace the machine def? . . Also lets say I do a program on a 5-axis machine that is only 3-axis machining. A month later I pull up the file and try to replace the machine def with a 3-axis machine. No such luck. One more question. Where can I get full chain control like in V9 (plane mask, color mask, etc.) while trying to move or mirror geometery? Running X2 SP1 with all the bells and whistles.

Anyone ever heard of the cartesian coordinate system?

Anyone is welcome to tug on our spindles....no pun intended.... ..... with the indicator test. We build very rigid cnc routers. Even at 41" of Z stroke on our 5-axis machines.

Hey Mike, Ya got 200+ post where is your avatar. Maybe a big ole' Grizzly Bear?

Crazy^Millman wrote...... quote: This comment will problay be disagreed with, but I never use anything other that TOP WCS for all 5 axis programming. I ONLY use C-planes for my axis or vector control for my 5 axis machining.Is there another way?

Are you using solids? If so maybe select from back was active. Did it backplot correctly?

If I am think correct, teh crazy millman isn't talking about subroutines but is talking about axis subsitution. A set of virtual axis must be created and processed by the control to do a circular interpolation 5-axis. But why would you want to do that? Is it memory problems?

You can analyze a spline and then click edit. You can filter the control points there. You also might want to try curve 5-axis and use surface edge.

Have a look at our machines.

Maybe "Hide Pointer When Typing" has finally kicked in and started working. It has never worked for me before.

Ron, Cut is not normal to the surface on the one side. So I don't think surface edge will work. Colin, That I did not know. Thanks for the infro. I actually broke a spline at a point. Creating what I thought were 2 splines. Do the 2 splines act the same as a trimmed spline? I did however manage to get the vector control I wanted. Jim, I tried this method but got alot of lead and lag of the tool (result = collet nut rubbing stock). I will give this another shot tommorow.

Another good one is Surface/Finish/Project/Blend then save backploted chain and curve 5-ax that, using the surface as the vectoring source. Great for whittlin' out some pretty solid wood parts

OK I have tried sync by point with no luck. So if you ever have this type of problem here is a fix. Do it as a swarf full 5-ax. Backplot with save as geometery then do a curve 5-ax on the backploted geometery using the backplotted vector lines as your vector lines. Lock to 4-axis and you got it. I think the 4-axis button is broke on swarf. Using save as geometery feature in backplot has come in handy for many things in the past as well.

I will give it a shot as soon as I get my computer back, I only have V9 Level II installed on this machine here. Thanks for your help and I will let you know.

I really need to get a good grasp on swarf. I have one part that I did with curve 5-axis/lines and I had so many vector lines on it it looked like hair growing on the part. Also one part I did would only let you select x number of vector lines. For the most part I agree with you Ron that curve 5-ax is THE toolpath for 5-ax but swarf has it's place. The problem with curve 5-ax/lines is the tool vector change is linear between vector lines. Alot of parts would need tons of vector lines to accomplish desired movement. Imagine a twisted curved spiral hand rail on a spiral stair case. Travis - back at my machine during lunch.

I posted the mcx file to the ftp as swarf-4axis, under the mcx folder. Toolpath 1 is 5-axis, toolpath 2 is same thing locked to 4-axis. This works well with curve 5-axis.