Is there a USB/parallel adapter so that you can go back and forth?

Does anyone know of a way to use a SIM key on laptop with no parallel port? We want to be able to run Mastercam on our new laptop, but it does not have a parallel port, only serial and USB. Thanks

In Texas. I was using it when it didn't even have surfaces. In fact, that was the DOS version. That was when you used wireframe geometry to create 3D toolpaths. Cadkey and Mastercam were cutting edge; one got left behind. Although, really, Mastercam and the current Cadkey version are about equivalent when it comes to geometry creation. But Mastercams CAM technology and ease of use have kept it popular.

The post CD? I've been using and installing Mastercam for more than 10 years and I don't recall ever seeing a "post CD" or disk. Is this distributed with every installation kit or do you only get it if you ask for it?

Does anyone know where one can find documentation on Mastercam post-processors? I would like to do some customization and need to know available commands, parameters, etc.

You can transfer the license if you pay the re-licensing fee. That is the legal way to re-sell your license.

quote: quote:That's not illegal Wrong answer. Only CNC Software can do this. What about it is illegal? Why do they have a 50% re-licensing fee if you can't sell it at a price you choose to whomever you will?

That's not illegal. The fee to re-license is 50% of retail.

Excellent, thanks, Bullines!

I looked briefly at the Mastercam VB script help file and couldn't find any Mastercam objects and methods. Are there any? How do you access, say, tool parameters?

Merlin, I have never run one set that high. That is VERY high. I don't know what kind of results it may give, but I am surprised you are getting a decent finish, unless your parts have little curvature. I think .005 is the factory default. This is only too much if you are getting gouges, but at this setting it will overshoot actual coordinates on abrupt changes in direction. I became aware of this setting when I was running up to a wall with a cutter and then going away in the opposite direction. It was gouging the wall, and it wasn't in the program. The setting of .005 was not forcing the machine to actually stop when it reached the given coordinate. I set it to .0005 and it stopped gouging. Also I have a fax of a technical paper from Haas that says: quote: When operating at feed rates above 150 IPMm there is a parameter which will cause a pause at the end of each stroke. If you have a large number o very short strokes, this may be a problem. THe pause is to insure that the tool is wihtin a preset distance of the desired endpoint and is used to guarantee square corners. This default parameter value corresponds to 0.118 inches. If you operate faster that 100 inches per minute and do not need better accuracy or the strokes are well-blended (no sharp corners), this parameter (101..104) can be changed.There is more, but I don't have time to type it in.

The smaller your Setting 85 is, the slower the machine will run. We leave ours set at .001 in the control, and then use G187 (a post misc setting in Mastercam) to set it at .0001 when we are finishing mold surfaces. With the HSM option we max out at 90-95 IPM with it set this tight, but we get excellent finishes when surfacing with a ball nose. With it set at .001 we can run up around 150 (when roughing or semi-finishing).