Here is the .csv, opened in Notepad. I have been using excel for editing. I have tried putting the level names in different rows, to no effect. 1,MiniMill Foundation 2,vise 1 3,vise 2 4,vise 3 5,vise 4 6,C Cap-1 7,C Cap-2 8,C Cap-3 9,C Cap-4 10,C Cap-5 11,C Cap-6 12,C Cap-7 13,C Cap-8 14,M Cap-1 15,M Cap-2 16,M Cap-3 17,M Cap-4 18,M Cap-5 19,M Cap-6 20,M Cap-7 21,M Cap-8 22,well block op1 23,well block short op1 24,stock op1 25,well block op2 26,well block short op2 27,stock op2 ? Anything jump out? at SCC1- MC and SW on the same computer. XP64, if that matters.

I can't seem to get named levels anymore. I used to be able to get a BOM out of solidworks, save as a .csv, and do the 'get named levels' right click in the level manager and the level names would match the .csv. This no longer works for me. Anyone with an idea on what I started doing wrong? I think this maybe started when I installed X3 (still there), but I am not sure.

I think I am out of my league here, but if you have a model, I would program from the model. I would also bring the model into SW and do all my model inquiries there. You can set up the measure tool in SW to display dual dimensions, and you can copy and paste the results out of the measure tool. This seems to me the quickest way to both program and verify the model matches the print. I am fairly sure the native units for SW are metric, but units are really arbitrary. I have never bothered to set units when exporting parasolids out of SW and into MC, and I do all my programming in English. It has always come in at the correct size. I have a couple of SW macros to toggle the system units from English to Metric, that you are welcome to try. No guarantees that they will work for you.

If you have a closed volume, there is a check box for 'try to form solid' when knitting the surfaces together. Surfaces can also be thickened into a solid.

Tried turning nview off and no change. Obviously, there is reason some of us are affected and others are not. Hopefully, it isn't too terribly obscure, but I am not feeling too confident right now.

Not running autohide. I just noticed that different toolpaths do different things. 'Top of Stock' and 'depth' in contour will do this. Drill will push the level manager and op manager behind another application if that other application isn't minimized. I haven't been paying attention enough to see if this is a consistent pattern, so don't take it as gospel. Quadro FX 4600 Driver 6.14.11.6996. I think there is a later Solidworks blessed driver for this card that I am not using because some of the desktop functions that I like are no longer available. This is a Mastercam specific problem, though. Eric, it sounds like you are having the same problem. It is good to know I am not the only one.

If I have more than one application open, and I go in to the toolpath parameters and change top of stock, for instance, by pushing the button, the op manager minimizes and I get switched to some other application. I have to go down to the taskbar and reselect Mastercam to get Mastercam back. Anyone know what is going on and how to fix this? This has been happening for a while and am finally irritated enough to try to get this fixed.

McMaster Carr 1129K11 is what I have used. We have used nitromethane to remove the wax, although other methods can be probably be used (we have interesting chemicals around here, and chemists who know how to use them). You might also consider some of the low melting point alloys for fixturing.

Programming from the model should be plenty good enough. Within .002 on thickness should be sufficient. We are experimenting, and need some parts for testing. The part needs to be cheap enough to be disposable, or robust enough to tolerate cleaning in an autoclave or mega-dishwasher. I forgot to mention earlier, electropolished. Here is a part I made from Delrin, which worked pretty good, but plastic is going to be unacceptable for the application.

Also, looking for something like 5 -10 pieces.

This one is probably pretty easy for you 5-axis guys, a 4 axis approximation would probably be OK. Both are beyond my capabilities right now. 300 series CRES, .020 wall thickness, about 1.3 inches across the top. Email me for a parasolid if interested.

Thanks. I was worried about the calculation for feed plane being wrong if I adjusted the offset, but it looks like everything is properly accounted for, although I haven't really tried. Of course, comp is calculated from the smaller diameter, so I guess I have to either create geometry at the theoretical sharp edge or I have to put in "X-Y stock to leave" equal to the radius. Correct?

when using a radius mill to roundover edges, I have to play with the countour depth to get the depth right. It sure looks like the depth is calculated from the top edge of the radius, although the tool is touched off the end. How do I set this up so that backplot and verify match reality? The immediately obvious answer is to add the distance from the tool end to the top of the radius to the tool offset register. Is that how this is normally done?

I was also going to try to be helpful. There may be setting somewhere in options for displaying annotations. I haven't really tried to print dimensions from anything other than a drawing.

Dimension exploded distances? Part dimensions? Printing an assembly screenshot or a drawing?

I should mention the file is mostly solids, I am trying to add wireframe. If my view is shaded, I do not want to select anything that is behind shading. I think it used to behave that way, although I am not certain. I can't find a setting for this, if it is available.

I have all that stuff separated on different levels, but if I have a single solid with fillets on it visible, MC wants to select anything other than the endpoint I would like, i.e., arc midpoints or centers, when I am close to the end of one arc, it wants to select the other endpoint, etc.... I just turned autocursor off for everything but endpoints, arc centers, and points, and that seems to help. I sure would like it to not select items that aren't visible, though. There is a setting for this in Solidworks, but I can't find a similar setting in MC.

I just upgraded from X2MR2 to X3MU1, and I swear selection method has changed. I am trying to draw a rectangle on the top surface of a solid, and my file has my vises, jigs, and clamps in it. It sure looks like it is selecting from the back of the model. Since there are lots of holes and endpoints, that are hidden, that are getting selected before the endpoint on the top, and first, edge. I can't find a setting for this. I would actually like to not be able to select anything that wasn't on the screen.

Can you assign a hotkey to toggle visibility of a toolbar? That would work for what I am trying to do. I recently discovered the shortcut bar in Solidworks 2008, which is context sensitive and customizable, which is what started me down my current path. If you haven't migrated settings from a previous version, just press the S key.

It only floats when I go to the side, it won't dock. Other toolbars will dock to the side. Hmm... I am wondering if the select all and select only boxes are interfering.

I can only get the general selection toolbar to dock on the top or the bottom, but not the side. Is this the way it is or do I have some setting wrong? Still on X2, haven't installed X3 yet.

Joel I fiddled a bit and the Shading configuration page and it seems to be working fine, although I am still on X2. What I would like is the edges to be outlined in grey (color 8) when shading is active. If I toggle shading, the edges are not outlined when shading is toggled back on. Can this be done? I should say, I would want this if my video performance didn't get so terrible when edges are outlined. This is with a Space Pilot, I notice that I can still pan with the mouse, and that turns off the outlines when panning. Also, the default behavior of the Solid parameters when shading is not active ("hide hidden lines" etc.) doesn't look like it can be changed, or I can't figure it out.

quote: Just add these lines to your configmastercam.kmp.. KEYMAP Mastercam OMregenSelectedOperations "F7" KEYMAP Mastercam OMregenDirtyOperations "F8" And you will find some OM functions in Mastercam.ft. Like "OMbackplotSelectedOperations", which Mike-T requested. Thanks Sato, that is cleaner than AutoHotKey, so all my effort was for nuthin'. Although, I would also like a hotkey for the various "OK" green checkmark buttons, and I am not seeing that in the Mastercam.ft file. Maybe I can get AutoHotKey to work for that.

I have my first AutoHotKey script working, it records the mouse pointer position, goes and clicks the "regenerate all selected toolpaths" button, and returns the pointer to where it was. Here is the link for AutoHotKey. I am going to have to fiddle with it a bit, I think, to get it all to work seamlessly, but this is an encouraging start.

I would like hotkeys for "regenerate all selected operations" and "regenerate all dirty operations", but do not see how to do it. I am fumbling with AutoHotKey right now, but I am hoping someone has an easier answer.