I did this on Mazak mill turn a few years back. Effectively machined a groove using an endmill, ramping down. I can't recall the specifics, but it worked perfectly.

 Mastercam 2D capabilities are probably the best out there

 

In fairness, I think there are decent number of applications out there with 2D capabilities as good as, and in the area of stock recognition, superior to Mastercam. Certainly for ease of use, MC is in the upper bracket though.

It's not like they couldn't have come up with something different. Aside from that, I'm not sure what year Gibbs actually came out with the TMS, but based on the 2004 release date all MC needs to do is wait 3 more years for the patent to be up

 

Then they would only be 20 years behind. In software, that's no big deal, right?

Mill-Turn *cough* LOL

I modified the generic Fanuc 5 axis post, so suit an Okuma MU500V-II 5 axis mill. I implemented Okumas Fixture Offset function (same as Fanucs G68.2 tilted plane), but one thing I found, was the rotary values didn't "reset" at a null toolchange.

The only way I managed to get around it, was to force a toolchange at every operation, and then set up to post to output the actual toolchange sequences where necessary. The same applied to the addition of TCPC.

It is something I need to revisit, as I would really like to tidy up. Some time I will get around to it. Hopefully, you wont encounter that issue

Switch to I and K outout, and see if you get the same result.

I encountered a blend issue on two arcs on a U100L control, and switching to I and K eliminated the issue.

I second the Cimco solutions. Both NCBase and MDM are cost effective.

I have a large local company utilising NCBase, and they really like it.

Cimco also provide very good support. I have heard Jay Kramer comes very highly recommended in the USA

Yes I reported it and I would create the DXF of the tool and just use that in Vericut with no issues. I am the odd man out in this conversation so I will say thanks for answering my question. Have a good day.

Odd? In what way? I thought I was the odd man out because I'm a southern hemisphere person LOL

In 7 undercut tools wouldn't define properly from Mastercam; you had to redefine them manually in Vericut.

Ah, it is the Mastercam to Vericut translator. I don't use that so often nowadays

Have the threadmills and undercut tool issues been addressed in 8.0?

Ron, no threadmill or undercut tool issues here (I use both regularly), and I have been running V8 since the beta.

Not sure what the issue is?

This is outstanding Colin. You're a good guy

Okuma Europe should be able to help you out. All feedback I've heard about them has been very very good.

>> Is the plethora of generic posts going to be available?

 

Beginning with 2018 TP3 the only MD/CD/post included in the install will be a single generic default Fanuc-based post for each product. Everything else will be on the standalone post install. Eventually the idea is to move the posts to the Tech Exchange area on our website, but until that happens everything is in the standalone post install. I think the intent here is to streamline and simplify the install -- why install a zillion MD/CD/Posts on your system for machines that you will never use? -- and consolidate stuff in one place so you don't have to wonder if a post is installed with Mastercam, on the post install, or where. 

 

The post install is on our extranet for Resellers, a 2018 version is already up there. 

 

--Robert

So, can I ask...

Is the standalone post install free of charge to end users, or is it up to the individual resellers to decide wether to charge (or not) for this post install (much like the post documentation portfolio)?

Thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate it.

It looks like I will be going to in to see them early in the new year, to see if I can sort this out. Your feedback will be a great help.

I've got a customer that is trialling Cimco MDC, using a basic setup. They're outputting data via the DPRNT command. Cimco can't really help, as they said the errors are Fanuc errors and are control related. I'm curious if anyone has encountered any of these errors before?

On one machine, they get a "0086 DR Signal Off" when trying to send the DPRNT. And on another machine, they get a "005 No data after address" as soon as it reads the POPEN command. I'm thinking that the second error is the result of a character address with no value?

I'm curious if anyone has ever encountered these errors before, and knows of a correction?

Yeah, I was just trolling through our marketing archive.  The first version was code-named Meghan.  I'll let you guys see if you can guess why    It ran on an Apple IIe.  We still have a functional version in our museum downstairs if you ever come to visit.  I think we have V1, 3, 9 and the Xes all useable.  Here's some "screenshots" of it:

Thanks for posting those images up Aaron. I recall having a good look around that room with Mike Rosa, and the Summers, when I was there in 2009 (in better days ). It sure was a blast looking at some of that stuff.

I still remember the prompts. Something like "End Program" and then "Do you want to post process? Y or N"

Someone said the icons arrived in V4, which isn't true.

I started with Mastercam V4, which was DOS based. Black background, with yellow menu text down the LH side of the screen. And a big a$$ mouse cursor. The next major release was V4.11, and that was the most stable, and also the last of the DOS versions. That was delivered on 3.5 or 5" disks....

The first "Windows" Version was V5.0, and this ran in Windows 3.1. It was a bug fest, and I recall we got to V5.5, which got pretty stable. V6 came along, which also started out buggy, and I recall V6.13a was the most stable of the V6 runs.

I've worked with Mastercam from V4 right through to present day, and I've never missed a version. Beta tested for a while when I was in favour up at the head castle. I actually recently threw out all my disks and manuals going all the way back to V4. No need for them any more.

When I was up at Tolland in 2009, they had room in the reception, that was like a "museum". I believe there is an old PC there that still runs one of the first versions.

Mick,  I have been using Mastercam for 20 plus years myself and I did go to TopSolid training.  Like I said, I see that it is powerful but it is not in no way intuitive.

All the documents and reference files and frames and don't get me started on building the damn tools.  I am getting pissed just thinking of all the BS you have to do just to try and get a job done.  I do not want to hear about I done a job so much faster with this than MC.  Well that's just fantastic.  I have used other Cam systems and this has to be the worst software I have seen to get code onto the shop floor!  Don't think for a second that I haven't been looking for another job!

Like I said, just my opinion. Enjoy the rest of your day.

I already have my own seat of Mastercam 2017, bought and paid with my own money,  I do contract programming on the side.  I haven't asked if I could install it but I would guess no way.   I know 100% that I could be more productive with MC than Topsolid.  We have 6 programmers here and not one person likes TS.

Well, it sounds like you need training. Proper training. I've come from using Mastercam for over 25 years, to TopSolid. I'd say it is just like going from Mastercam to Siemens NX. Unintuitive? In my opinion (and it is only my opinion) I wouldn't describe it as that. Productive? It sure is. I've actually just come back from some training in it, and I'm loving it. Honestly, I had a 3+2 part that took me 1.5 hours to programme in Mastercam. I had it done in 45 minutes in TopSolid. And that was defining tools on the fly.

Not all are equal. That is all I will say.

I had this happen a while ago. Nothing I tried would fix it. In the end I gave up, and recreated all the toolpaths from scratch. It sure cost me a ton of time

Thanks for the input Ron and Doug. Those were the answers I was expecting

I'm configuring an Okuma U3000/P300S post processor.

As I don't have access to the machine at the moment, can someone tell me what command format is used to "park" the lower turret close/under the main spindle for when the sub spindle is being used for part transfer/tailstock work?

Is it G20 HP=* (pre defined home position), or some other format?

The quickest solution is Sandvik Capto

You can buy an HSK-63 adapter the whatever you need to get the reach

It's not cheap, but very versatile and rigid

I 'lub me some Capto. All our machines are equipped with it. Stackable, and quickchangeable. And usual Coromant quality

Sorry Mick, this was only for us Cimco Americas side. but I got 3 times you want me to send you a copy? lol

Do they come with mousepads? LOL

Newbeeee you running around the shop again in the Emperors' clothes . lol

I heard he runs around nekkid in the shop...whoops, bad mental image... LOL

Option for the first 2 years and then permanent like Autodesk???

Read my siggy if you want to know where we stand as a company on it.

Heh, yeah, I know it is a sore point with you

I'm personally not a big fan of it either, but it seems that a lot of the industry are heading that way.