Hi All, MasterCam Mill Ver 8.1 Is there a way to rearrange the Icons at the top of the screen into a different order. I would like to place the ones that I use frequently on the first row???

Hello all, I wish to gray out a range of input fields in one particular canned cycle, which is not in use. I edited the fields in the Mill8 and the post text files for that corresponding cycle but it has only grayed out some fields. FROM [bore2] 1. "Boring - not in use" 2. "Feed rate" 3. "Dwell" 4. "Initial height" 5. "Reference height" 6. "Depth" 7. "" 8. "" 9. "" 10. "" 11. "" TO [bore2] 1. "Boring - not in use" 2. "" 3. "" 4. "t" 5. "" 6. "" 7. "" 8. "" 9. "" 10. "" 11. "" The "Depth, Reference height and the Top of stock" are still active. Is it possible to grey out these fields or even better remove any reference to that particular cycle in MC?

Ok, At present I am running MC Ver 8.1 but will upgrade to Ver 9.1 when it comes out?? At present I only run with one seat but would like to increase this to two. We do NOT have a server but the PC’s can see each other with our network system. I want to be able to run MC from two desktop PC’s but only use the Tool, Material, Setup Sheets & Post information etc from one of the two PC's. Can this be setup as an option. I thought of buying a third PC to use as a server but I am not sure weather if it would any better or faster. So how does everybody else do it.

Hello all once again, MC Version 8.11 Mill How does one start to write a “boring” cycle using long code. My controller does not support this canned cycle. I have selected long code for that cycle in the post and you can see the result below but I want to stop the spindle before I rapid out of the bore and then reset the spindle for the next hole. Where does the post get the instructions from, to use the postblocks below and not the canned cycle instructions. 6 ;BORING psof 7 L X200.00 Y144.00 R0 FMAX M3 prapid pstartabs 8 L Z5.00 FMAX Prapid pstartabs 9 L Z-12.00 F250 plin 10 L Z5.00 FMAX pzrapid 11 L X150.00 Y94.00 R0 FMAX prapid 12 L Z-12.00 F250 plin 13 L Z5.00 FMAX pzrapid 14 L X200.00 Y44.00 R0 FMAX prapid 15 L Z-12.00 F250 plin 16 L Z5.00 FMAX pzrapid 17 M25 peof

Hello all, What are the pros and cons of using either ISO or Conversational programming. I have two machine one uses both the other only takes conversational. However I have only programmed in conversational. Some machine builders offer a range of controls others only one. I am considering of upgrading both machines but first must decide;  On which language to use and why one is better than the other.  If I choose ISO how hard it will be to learn from scratch. Regards Bruce

Hi once again, This is a great group with a lot of smart people involved. Are any of you using a program call "WinDNC by Camline", I am thinking of purchasing this to manage all our programs not just MC programs. The brochure looks good and the sales rep is 100%sure ?? that it will do every thing I want.I know there are other programs about and MC have one as well, but if any one who has used this software can give me some feed back on this software that would be good.

BerTau, Your method worked fine but I was unable to regen the toolpath to make it work.I had to delete that toolpath opperation and redo it with the boundry containment. It looks fine now.

Hi all, MC 8.1 mill. I have a Surface toolpath-finishing problem. The pocket has vertical sides, the base is V shaped and all corners have been blended/filleted · I have created the pocket using ruled surfaces for the vertical sides · Flat boundary surfaces for the base · Fillets/blends for all corners When I rough the pocket with the "rough pocket toolpath" no problem, but when I try to finish the pocket with any of the surface finishing toolpaths I encounter problems. When the toolpath get to the corner areas of the pockets it machines the inside but also the outside surface. This is not constant at each corner and tends to be only a few tool path lines. Any suggestions on what is causing this. PS- Can you attach a picture file to a topic as a picture can make to problem much clearer.

Christian The first two sample programs show the output from two different posts as seen in the text editor, the third program is what they both look like, once downloaded to the machine. Note the comment marks " ; " in line 7 & 8 of the third progam. It is these that I can only remove by deleting the whole line, which kills the drill cycle. 0 BEGIN PGM PTEST MM 1 BLK FORM 0.1 Z X.00 Y.00 Z-25.00 2 BLK FORM 0.2 X300.00 Y200.00 Z.00 3 TOOL DEF 3 L+0 R6.00 4 TOOL CALL 3 Z S1909 5 L M6 6 ;12. DRILL 7 CYCL DEF 203 UNIVERSL DRILLNG Q200=-5 Q201=-28.605 Q206=458.16 Q202=10 Q210=25 Q203=0 Q204=5 Q212=3 Q213=2 Q205=3 Q211=25 Q208=0 8 L X200.00 Y144.00 R0 FMAX M3 9 L Z5.00 FMAX 10 L Z5.00 FMAX M99 11 L X150.00 Y94.00 FMAX M99 12 L X200.00 Y44.00 FMAX M99 13 L Z5.00 FMAX 14 M25 15 END PGM PTEST MM 0 BEGIN PGM PTEST MM 1 BLK FORM 0.1 Z X.00 Y.00 Z-25.00 2 BLK FORM 0.2 X300.00 Y200.00 Z.00 3 TOOL DEF 3 L+0 R6.00 4 TOOL CALL 3 Z S1909 5 L M6 6 ;12. DRILL 7 CYCL DEF 203 UNIVERSL DRILLNG Q200=-5 Q201=-28.605 Q206=458.16 Q202=10 Q210=25 Q203=0 Q204=5 Q212=3 Q213=2 Q205=3 Q211=25 Q208=0 8 L X200.00 Y144.00 R0 FMAX M3 9 L Z5.00 FMAX 10 L Z5.00 FMAX M99 11 L X150.00 Y94.00 FMAX M99 12 L X200.00 Y44.00 FMAX M99 13 L Z5.00 FMAX 14 M25 15 END PGM PTEST MM 0 BEGIN PGM PTEST MM 1 BLK FORM 0.1 Z X+0 Y+0 Z-25 2 BLK FORM 0.2 X+300 Y+200 Z+0 3 TOOL DEF 3 L+0 R+6 4 TOOL CALL 3 Z S1909 5 L M6 6 ;12. DRILL 7 ; CYCLDEF203UNIVERSLDRILLNG 8 ; Q200=-5Q201=-28.605Q206=458.16Q202=10Q210=25Q203=0Q204= 9 L X+200 Y+144 R0 FMAX M3 10 L Z+5 FMAX 11 L Z+5 FMAX M99 12 L X+150 Y+94 FMAX M99 13 L X+200 Y+44 FMAX M99 14 L Z+5 FMAX 15 M25 16 END PGM PTEST MM

Thanks for all the replies but as yet no success. I ran the original post and got the same result, therefore this error has always been in the post, or the controller is unable accept the 203 drilling cycle, other than if you program via the machine. I hadn’t noticed this fault/error before, as I had not run that cycle with this post before. Are there any “post editors” on this forum operating out of Brisbane Australia? If so it might time to make contact.

Millturn No, this is the first time. However I have only started to mofify this post to do some of the more unusal canned cycles that the TNC370 controller is capable of. Bruce

MC ver8.1 Machine - Bridgeport Mill Controller - Heidenhain TNC370 Programming - Conversational Have any of you come across this problem. What would cause a program to change its format while being downloaded to a machine? The universal drilling cycle (203) looks fine in the CIMCO editor (as it would, if I programmed it on the machine) but once it is downloaded to the machine it is not being recognized as a drill cycle but as separate lines of comments with the ; symbol in front. I am unable to delete this symbol, as it seems linked to the line number. The only why to remove it to delete to whole line and this is not what I want. Is there something in the post that would cause this or is it more likely to be in the controller??? Thanks in advance Bruce

Sorry people, It sounded clear to me when I wrote that message but upon reading it again today I am not so sure. I hope this is clearer. I forgot to include that apart from managing files the sofware also up and downloads progams to the CNC machines (minor detail). Camlink "Griffobrothers" have data transfer software (GBData Tranfer) that does all this but it is only suitable for Mazatrol systems. In summary this is what I am looking for all in one package; Up and download programs between PC & CNC Ability to select a workgroup number and then select the program/programs within that workgroup to tranfer. Renaming of programs and workgroup numbers and allow comment information. Allows the saving of progams that have the same name in different work groups. Back up program files to a suitable media. Sotware is viewed in a database format so that you can see the workgroup numbers,program names, comments etc in one view and it allows selection from this view.

I started going down this track so time ago but the project was put on the back burner. I require software that allows the following. Save multiple NC files under a singular group work number Track/find your inventory by NC file names or group work numbers. Rename NC files and add comment information. Remame/sort group work numbers with different NC files into a new work number file Back up data files to your hard drive or onto a floppy for a more permanent "hard" copy. Thanks once again folks

Hi All I have been using MC since Ver6 now on Ver8.11. I only class myself as a beginner as I dont get to use MC as much as I would like. I work for Griffith University in Australia and our work is all R&D. How many other Aus users are out there ?

Dave I tried this and still had problems. I solved the problem by forcing a M03 ( I dont run the machine in reverse so it's not a problem) at the program start and at tool changes. I then introduced "smcool" in the line before for the coolant & mist control.

Hello Luc Sorry in the delay in getting back to you. I am after a post to suit Heidenhain conversational. I did manage to get one but it needs a bit of work. I will have another look on the CD. Thanks for your help. Bruce

Dave Yes you are right, I do have a combined spindle/coolant string and yes the post is V6 era. I tried Jim's idea and it turned the mist on in the line before but I still got the same error message in the next line. What's mist callout, sorry still learning. I will play around with it over the next few days and see how I go.

I am running mill 8.11 and using a MPHEI370.pst. Ever time I try to use the mist and run the post this error message appears. Selector variable Spdlsel = 8.0 out of range for string select. I can't find a M function to turn on the mist & spindle at the same time but is it possible to output code to turn on the mist on a line before or after the spindle starts. Bruce

Hi All I am running mill version 8.11 and looking for a Post to suit a Heidenhein TNC 370 control system running on a "Bridgeport Interact 1 mill". I am no post editor or a daily user of MC so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Bruce

Hi all This is a great forum, especially for someone like me who only uses MasterCam mill ver8.11 from time to time. I am in the process of setting up a tool library for the ones I use.The speeds & feeds quoted in the parameters section of the "define tool area" (default tool library) seem very odd to me. I am using the metric default library as a base to start from. Are the feeds quoted here meant to be in mm/rev or mm/min? The feed rates in my metric default library look more like inches/min. Thanks in advance Bruce

James I have tried everything you have suggested and it still reverts back to original MC tool library. I can change other things in the screen configure area no problems and save them. The opperating system is windows 95 but this should make no differance. To solve the problem I can rename my tool libray to the defaut libray name and save the default libray as something different but I should'nt have to do this.

James Thanks for the info on books I will check with my MC reseller. On the other topic of setting a different default tool library I have tried what you suggested but it still loads the MC default library on start up. Your right, it does get frustrating when you are only trying to simple litte things and it won't work. Bruce

I have three questions on the topic of tooling and material definitions Mastercam Ver 8.1.1. First up can someone suggest a book that explains Mastercam mill Ver 8.1.1 in great detail as this may stop what seems to be simple questions. Books are my only option as Mastercam courses down my way a very few and far between. Why when I select a new tool library in the "screen configure section" and save it as the default library it only stays active during that section of Mastercam, next time I load up Mastercam it has reverted back to the original Mastercam library. I am running Mastercam in the metric mode and using the metric tool and material definitions but the feed rates given in the "define tool area" make no sense at all (to me anyway). I assume the figures given are meant to be in mm/min. If this is the case they are too slow, if they are mm/rev then they are too fast?? It looks like to me, that they are actually inches/min but deselecting the inch button makes no difference.(why mm/min or in/min why not mm/rev or in/rev as per the material definition section) I also assume they are only used when a job setup sheet and material selection are not used. Thanks Bruce

Version 8 When I use the "Job setup" section in "Toolpaths" and select a material from the library, this automatically inputs that data in to the contour tool path. My problem is however, why does it only change the feed rate but not the plunge rate or retract rate feeds (they remain the same as set in the "define tool parameters section"). Regard Bruce