Greyman, Machine is a Mazak VCN510C with the removable fourth axis. The post I started with was a post originally supplied by my vendor for my Haas VF with the fourth (it is not Mpmaster). I have been modifying it to work for my Mazak. Chris, 2D highspeed DOES NOT output any G93 (inverse) code at all? What are you thinking?

I am putting the finishing touches on a post modification for a new machine (VMC with 4th axis). This machine has inverse time capability and I am trying to take advantage of it. Thanks to a lot research here on the forum I have been able to incorporate inverse time into the CD, MD and post to get code out and it is running on the machine as I type. The last little issue I’m getting is an anomaly on the “Lead In/out” portions; the feed does not change over to inverse (G93) until it is past the Lead in/out. <snip> T27 M6 N100 G0 G90 G54 X-.7859 Y0. A39.247 S10000 M3 G43 H27 Z6. Z4.2 G94 G1 Z3.75 F80. (IPM down in Z ) X-.641 A39.803 (NO change to inverse yet even though we have A output) X-.6188 A39.916 X-.5981 A40.077 X-.5795 A40.282 X-.5633 A40.527 X-.55 A40.805 X-.5398 A41.109 X-.5331 A41.432 X-.5301 A41.766 X-.5307 A42.103 X-.535 A42.434 G93 X-1.3114 A83.942 F28.3 (begins Inverse here, although this is a fairly long move at a slow rate) X-1.321 A84.353 F1000. X-1.3339 A84.744 F1000. X-1.35 A85.109 F1000. X-1.3691 A85.444 F1000. X-1.3909 A85.744 F1000. X-1.415 A86.003 F1000. ( F1000. I may end up bumping my max allowable inverse time feed in the CD) <snip> To get this I am creating basically a cam track (slot) using contour (with a lead in/out line/arc at 90°) then using axis substitution. I am getting good results off the machine but the really slow in and out is aggravating. I’m not really sure where to look to track this down? In addition, I was running one yesterday with very small radius on an inside bend and was getting some really slow feed around the radius compared to rest of the path. _______________________ Still on X5

All I can say is you are not alone. I also see Verify Stock settings not sticking or reverting for no reason that I can determine. The one I see most often is when I define a cylinder off center, the center on axis box needs to be un-checked again half the time.

Thanks Greyman That's the the help I was looking for, closing the contours and getting the shape the same over the bottom edges was the key. I had gotten close but the "Boundary" I was trying to use was outside the finish shape and was not giving me good results. Thanks again

I am missing something simple here, I just cannot find it. Attached is an example of a Standard Core Mill shape I have been working. It is basically what I want. However due to cutter load issues in the corner and the crazy Z axis plunge on entry I would like to try the Dynamic Core Mill but I cannot seem to create or pick the correct driving geometry to give me the same basic shape with the new Dynamic path. Can anyone help me get going in the right direction? Thanks CORE_MILL.MCX-5

You could try to set a Safety zone and force all ops to regenerate and see what you get.

Anybody using the IP address method without a VPN and using a basic routers port forwarding?

I like the idea of having the prompt at posting. I incorporated the changes discussed in the other post that Jparis linked (thanks by the way). The first problem was the prompt only got rid of the -A- at program start. It then posted A's at every tool change, so I added the code to the tool change section, see below. ptlchg$ #Tool change pcuttype toolchng = one q1 # ADDING ROTARY QUESTION if rot_enable = 1, rot_on_x = 1 else, rot_on_x = 0 save_rot_axis = rot_on_x # END ROTARY QUESTION Now I get a prompt for every tool change. Is this the way it should work? Or is there a cleaner way to get this done with only one prompt at the beginning?

I have a VMC with a removable 4th axis and I usually run the same post regardless and manually delete the "A's" in the editor. I would like to know how others handle this scenario. I'm assuming a could copy and modify my post to not use the 4th and post that way or is there a post edit that would not output the " A " unless it is needed for indexing or full fourth milling?

Matt, You are not alone; I had trouble here since X with network/server file access. Our solution was to keep the working files on the local machine using Mastercam and have a batch file backup every night to server (where they are backed up with everything else). Since then we added a second seat with the network hasp so we needed to access across the network constantly. As an experiment we mapped a network drive from the new stations to the original workstation and accessed the files that way (instead of the server). I think we have had only one freeze/crash since setting up this way. The backup still happens as normal. The original workstation also manages the nethasp so it is on all the time anyway. John Mastercam X5

Can anyone tell me if X5 machine simulation will show the Haas dogleg move at rapid? I have not set up machine simulation yet.

Thanks André, That seems to fix the 360 problem. I need to do some further testing to see what effect that may have on axis sub programs (wrapped geometry).

I'm using the standard Haas post that came with MC that was modified by our vendor to suite our request when we first got setup with Mastercam and it has been imported by each new version ever since.

Excessive indexing I do a fair bit of simple 3 face work on our horizontals and usually create 3 work planes with the part approximately where it will be on the tombstone and initiate a safety zone to make sure the tools clear on indexes. One issue I am having is the code will come out with what I consider to be strange moves. For example it will choose to go A90. then to A270 instead of A90 and A-90. Then with it in position at A270 it will go to tool change, come back and wrap all the way back around to A-90. I’ve been looking through the machine definition and configuration files trying to find a switch or setting to at least get rid of the A270. to A-90 (same face) with an unnecessary 360. Can anyone give me a good place to look or is this a post edit or even tell me if it is something within the model that I can control? Thanks Sample code below: % O5192 (DATE - 04-20-11) ( T3 | 3/8 SPOT DRILL | H3 ) ( T43 | 1/8 DRILL | H43 ) ( T44 | NO. 6-32 TAPRH FORM | H44 ) G20 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 ( SPOT RIGHT ) ( 3/8 SPOT DRILL ) T3 M6 G0 G90 G154 P5 A90. X-.174 Y0. S5093 M3 G43 H3 Z10. M8 T43 G98 G82 Z-.07 R.1 P.5 F10.19 G80 Z10. ( SPOT LEFT ) G154 P6 A270. X.174 Y0. Z10. ( WHY NOT A-90.) G98 G82 Z-.07 R.1 P.5 F10.19 G80 Z10. M5 M9 G91 G28 Z0. A0. M01 ( DRILL B4 TAP 1/8 LEFT ) ( 1/8 DRILL ) T43 M6 G0 G90 G154 P6 A-90. X.174 Y0. S11000 M3 (SHOULD STAY AT A270. !!!!!!!) G43 H43 Z10. M8 T3 G98 G83 Z-.7476 R.1 Q.1 F20. G80 Z10. ( DRILL B4 TAP 1/8 RIGHT ) G154 P5 A-270. X-.174 Y0. Z10. (THEN BACK TO A90. ???) G98 G83 Z-.7476 R.1 Q.1 F20. G80 Z10. M5 M9 G91 G28 Z0. ( 6-32 TAP RIGHT ) ( NO. 6-32 TAPRH FORM ) T44 M6 G0 G90 G154 P5 A90. X-.174 Y0. S300 M3 G43 H44 Z10. M8 T27 G98 G84 Z-.6 R.1 F9.375 G80 Z10. ( 6-32 TAP LEFT ) G154 P6 A270. X.174 Y0. Z10. G98 G84 Z-.6 R.1 F9.375 G80 Z10. M5 M9 G91 G28 Z0. M30 % X5 Mill level 2

Will Screen-Unblank help?

Your right, my mind must think it's already Beer'thirty. Overlooked the obvious. Thanks

I use the Safety Zone occasionally on programs using indexing for the Horizontal, and I sometimes want to change the size of the safety zone. I can change it but the changes do not apply to anything unless a particular operation gets dirty and has to be regenerated. Is there a way to force all operations to regenerate whether they need it or not?

Accuracy of Verify or Vericut? I am milling some small pockets around a cylinder using axis substitution. I do quite a bit of this type of thing and usually do not have an issue. This time the wall thickness between the patterns is .020” and by the time it wraps around the joint line appears on the graphic to be half as wide as it is in pattern field. I have been through my math twice for calculating the distance between the patterns on this diameter all the way out to 8 decimal places. Should I trust the verify and make adjustments or run the part and see how it comes out (which I only have one)? Anyone seen any inaccuracies at this level in verify? Would Vericut be more reliable?

I noticed in your .pdf the file is saved on M: drive. I know it's supposed to work but I fought a long fight trying to successfully run files from a network drive and had repeated crash problems. Try this, just move the file to somewhere on your local c: drive and try it for a while. Running local solved my problems and now I keep all my files local and have backup software to sync with the network. John

+1 WSSM All caps or not, if you plan using the same tool again after the manual entry be sure to check the force tool changed box on the paramaters page for the following operation

Thanks André, I was searching the FTP site with no luck and it never occured to me to check the main Mastercam site. I got it and it works great.

Is there an X4 version now?

+1 to Gcode, except I use Carbonite, same thing, same money. Automatic, set and forget it. Like Greg mentioned we copy all the files to a central location for Carbonite to backup, instead of xcopy we use Syncback SE to manage all our file backups. It allows access across the network and will even allow you to remotely backup file from other computers (assuming you have access) and back them up wherever you want, whenever you want. This is nice becuase Carbonite will not back up off external or remote drives so you have to bring everything to the machine that Carbonite is installed on.

If you're talking about Rotary axis controls I would love to figure that out as well. I use the edit common params page quite a bit, but I have never found axis control. I always have to click through them all manually. Am I missing somewhere?

I see what your after. Try running a setup sheet and see if it gives you what you want. (In X4, in the op manager, right click, choose Setup sheet, that should launch your active reporting tool and generate lots of information about each op and tool info as well as graphics)