Hey Justin, Good to hear your busy too. I"m not sure exactly where the setting is in the config file or how to change it. It appears to be set for mill.set but I don't see anything that says gui. I know I went thru this before about a year and a half ago but can't remember how I changed it. Good hearing from you!

Can't seem to get x3 to print the tool list in the format that shows the graphic of the tool as well as all the speeds and feeds etc. I think it might be mpmaster over riding my configuration file. Is this possible? Any ideas?

It takes me about 10 min to do this for the average job that has 2 to 3 ops. Sounds like allot of detail but after you get used to it and have a basic template made it's a breeze.

I make a process book for each production part I program. I use MS Word. 1st page has company logo at the top with a graphic of the part followed by the part #, rev level and op number. Below would be a graphic of the setup with detailed info on where the WCS is as well as any other pertinent info using arrows and notes. The following pages will be the graphics showing the part going through it's various stages of machining captured from the MCX screen during verify using a program called Hijaak Pro. In between op1 and op2 would be the tool list for op1 printed from MCX and then op2's tool list in the back of the book. I put all this in a transparent 3 tab binder and it goes to the shop with the traveler. If the operator/cnc machinist follows my instructions correctly all he/she has to do is load the program set x,y,z and the tool lengths and go. When the job is done I get the book back and file it. Next time the job comes up the process is in place and it's pretty much smooth sailing from there. Oh BTW, I don't have to use Hijaak to capture my screen shots. I've just been using it for so long that it's just what I like. HTH!

Doesn't matter where I put the insert arrow. MC still puts the new toolpath at the end of the list with a new tool path group. I then have to drag the new toolpath to where I want and then delete the new unwanted red headed step child of a tool path group that I didn't ask for in the first place.

Definiatly strange what's going on. I always insert ops where I want to or move ops around and never get a new tool path group added automatically. Every once in a while this will happen and the only thing that stops it is Ram Saver or shutting down MC and re starting. Even that doesn't always fix it. This morning I purged the PC of all the temp files and junk that was clogging up my hard drive. So far I have not had any more issues. Fingers crossed.

I'm sure this issue has been raised before. I'm trying to insert operations and I'm getting a new tool path group with the new op at the end of the list instead of where I would like to insert it.

Me too! I use the bluish green color for my edge curves. Model on level one, all edge curves from the imported solid on level 2 then all drive geometry using yellow on separate levels. I'm a bit anal about organizing my files. Even the simple ones.

Flame cut? I like to conventional mill to get under the crap and not drag it thru then climb to finish.

The right speeds and feeds on 304 with coolant will work just fine. The heat should go to the chip and the chip evacutaed by the coolant. Watch the wear and change inserts before the edge breaks down and starts to generates more heat. Try to maximize d.o.c. both linear and radial to get the most out of your insert while your in the cut. I only rough with the insert tool and go back and finish with solid carbide. HTH!

Maybe a system upgrade will help?

But seriously, How do you mean drag? To change the solid by dragging it's construction geometry?

Just made 60 nitro clutch levers out of CPM M4. Not sure what rockwell but it came from the blanchard grinder after sawcut from 6" bar stock. They do go out for HT and come back 58-60 rockwell. Carbide e.m's ,drills and taps running speeds and feeds for A2 Tool steel. Cuts fine. Very stable before and after HT. We make some levers out of pre-hardened CPM but they are a PITA to cut. Good luck!

Thanks John!

Hey John, Did you get a chance to open the files I sent and have a look? No hurry. Just looking forward to your opinion.

Heavy, Is this a thread your trying to mill? Like midwest said, Use contour/ramp and turn wear comp on. you might have to tweak the % of tool to lead in by so you don't hit the other side of the hole if it's an internal feature. I do this all the time. I use like 20% of the tool dia. with it set to tangent and maybe a 5% radial lead in and it works fine. HTH!

John, You got mail. Thanks!

Thanks John. If I sent you a model, Could you look at it and tell me at a glance what you think it would take to program both sides. I make these parts from 14" x 14" x 1" 7075 Alum. Plate. I face one side and flip it before I start. We make one and only one when we get an order. I program a 1/4" x 45 deg. chamfer tool to put a .015 edge break on every feature I can reach including any 3d contours. The part comes out of the machine from the 2nd op complete aside from some hand polishing with scotch brite to make all the finishes look uniform. We use to turn these parts 2 ops then mill 2 ops then hand deburr. I designed a "one Off" fixture that is used on all our Alum. Clutch components and now it's 2 mill ops and done. I can't put this model or my fixture on the FTP because of my NDA with the company but I can share the model with you personally. It's a racing industry standard part anyway and I trust you wouldn't go right into the Clutch business and start mass producing copies of our flywheel. Let me know if you feel like taking a look at it. Thanks in advance!

Hey Turk your nervous and that's normal. Just be up front with them and you will be fine. Their programmer is leaving anyway so they should allow you the time you need to get up to speed. Listen to the guys on the floor and be as diplomatic with them as you can. You will learn what the company expects from you through them. The last thing you want to do is go in half cocked and xxxx people off. Good luck!

Got your message Justin. Thanks! I was taking a Saturday afternoon snooze when you called. I do the same thing with my files. I open a similar part, rename it in another folder then blow away the solid and edge curves. When I bring in the new solid I turn all levels on and make an assessment on what to keep or throw away. Works great for similar parts. I really hope that FBM is going to help in the future. I'm going to explore it a little next week. I also have a tool library I set up for different materials. Speeds and feeds are setup so when I start a new part I just pull from the library and usually don't have to change much at all. Depends on the setup and the feature I'm machining. I don't know if you read my post on Feature cam but this is what the boss wants. He want's fast and good and he thought Feature cam was the answer. I'm getting so backed up with programming and am dedicated to our "One Off" machine that I can't keep up with the other production jobs in the shop. Can't get any help either. No way would they hire another programmer. Anyway thanks for responding and calling today. I'll give you a call back soon.

I was wondering how most of you guys are programming in X3 Mill level 3. I know I could be faster if I took advantage of some of the features I haven't bothered to get familiar with. I guess I still do most things the old school way. I bring in my model on level 1, put all the edge curves on level 2 and keep all my operations drive geometry on separate levels. I use one color (yellow) for drive geo, one color for the part model (gray) and one color (green) for my stock. When I need to create an operation I turn on level 2 and grab the curves I need and copy to the respective level I decided to use for that operation. All levels are named to easily identify which op they belong to. I'm sure there are thinks I can do to speed my programming up. I still create points to drill to rather than mask on arc. I just like seeing those points. I'm a point addict. I do use the point tool path often and they help then even though that tool path creates the points again automatically. I know I could snap to arc or centers at a z level instead but I just can't break myself of old habits. So maybe I need some training to become more efficient. Last version I was trained on was 7. I do pick up most on my own but I'd like to learn some speed tricks to help me with some of the tedious and repetitive types of parts I do. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We have mazacam here too. Haven't converted a file for real use yet but if you want, I'll give it a try for you. Put the file up on the FTP and I'll take a crack at it.

We use heat shrink up to Ø.500. Collets work fine for Aluminum provided your not roughing. It depends on your D.O.C. If my only option was a solid weldon type holder I'd grind a flat. Nothing more embarassing then explaining to the boss that the tool pulled out of the holder and scrapped a part while cutting Aluminum. I like to rough everything with a flat e.m. when the geometry permits and finish with a ball e.m. if I'm surfacing that is. Justin, When I worked at you sister company we used those three flute powder e.m.'s that had the weldon style flats on them for roughing. Those e.m.'s were awesome for roughing Aluminum and lasted forever. I forget who makes them. Good luck!

Works now that I do everything in the right sequence and not click on the green check button as previously suggested. Just had to pull my head out of my arse I guess. Thanks again!

Thanks John, I'll try it again tomorrow. Maybe I just assumed that the apply button was for keeping the current function active like in other functions. I don't use create slice very often. Usually use it to create a stock model for a turned part to use in verify when I do the milling ops on the turned part. Bet I just missed a step. Still got the curves I needed to revolve into a solid and that was my ultimate goal. I could have just asked our solidworks guy to suppress all the mill and hole features on the part and give me a parasolid of that and save myself some grief but I like to build things myself whenever I can.

Yes I do. Clicking on the check mark does not complete the task and the blue plus sign button is dimmed. Pressing enter twice is the only thing that completes the task of creating the slice. I don't have X3 here at home so I can't try anything right now but I'll mess with it some more tomorrow. What text comes up when you hover over the green check button? Does it say OK or APPLY?