I totally agree. Also their Technical Support is outstanding. And their products are very reasonably priced.

I remember when the Unigraphics guy was doing the hard sell back in the nineties. "We support Nurbs output, so we're futureproofed. It is the future". LOL, yeah, whatever

Ok, so it isn't just me Thanks for confirming that Ron. Trimming sure got weird. IMHO, removing that simple method of trimming to a plane cost me a ton of productivity. Not to mention clogging the file with extra geometry, and planes.

Something that has always bugged me, and I've never got a straight answer. When X8 was released, the Trim Plane function changed. See the example below. With X7, I could put a value in the X Y or Z plane, and trim to that offset plane. Easy as... Now, since X8 and including 2017, I can't? I actually have to create a new plane, or construct geometry, to trim to. Also, if I choose Trim by line, two entities or three points, it doesn't seem to allow me to choose a point function (endpoint, midpoint, centre, quadrant etc etc) Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but no one has given me an equivalent X7 solution for X8 plus.

The first benefit is that it has its own File Compare. It doesn't rely on an external comparison app. It is enough for me (I rely on File Compare a lot though )

Do people actually use Code Expert? Once I switched to Cimco, I never looked back

It just gets better, doesn't it.. I used that all the time as well. At the rate we're going, there'll be no functions at all in the software, but we'll have a snazzy new interface to make all the young 'uns happy...

And, if you have access to Sandviks Adveon, you can build the assembly in Adveon, and then export it. If your software supports Adveon import, it will import the Adveon assembly directly. Otherwise, it is as simple as extracting the solid from the zip file. Unfortunately, Adveons current release only supports Milling tools. Turning is in the beta.

Interesting . I was curious as to how Vericut handled it. Vericut doesn't use the STEP license, until the Tool Manager is opened. I'm guessing that (technically), you don't use the STEP license in Mastercam unless you are actually translating a STEP file, which means that in reality, the license *could* be available to the standalone toolmanager if necessary. I'm guessing the function just isn't in the standalone tool manager at the moment. As you point out though, the holder can be imported within the toolpath, and then then opened in the Tool Manager

You can't do it through the standalone tool manager though can you? It is only through the Add Holder function in the toolpath itself?

Using Vericut, I sneak within .02in (.5mm) regularly. Often with toolholders down inside cavities. Some (but not many) machine tool builders will give you the models, but others want to charge. Mori Seiki's prices were eye watering. So much so, that I modelled the machine (key components only) from scratch.

Sweet Thanks

So... How can it be set to have them off by default? Just by saving the Config?

Maybe the menu text was edited, and the function is actually still there. V9 used a Mill9.txt file to customise the menu text.

I added the tool list to my lathe posts, as I got real used to having it in my mill posts. It is a very handy function to have. Lathe doesn't get a lot of love I can share the mods if anyone is interested? (I'll have to refresh my brain though )

I do have to say, those UMC750 machines seem to be very capable for the money. I have a customer with one, and he loves it.

Sorry, I was going to mention the control, but omitted it by mistake. No, its a Fanuc 18i. It is a VTL with a C axis only.

Working with a large Vertical lathe. We're milling an impeller blade OD using the C axis, and following a spline which represents the curve of the blade. So, effectively ramping down the OD for each blade As the part rotates on C it is moving on Z. The code is a bunch of C and Z moves, which is to be expected. However, as the part rotates, it is seems to move "faster" on Z, to a point where the cut is up past the top of the insert, and the part is rubbing on the body of the cutter. It is like the C axis isn't keeping up with the Z axis. I'm assuming (bad word to use I know), that this is a case of needing inverse feedrates programmed? I would expected a calculated federate to be output on each line, due to the small variances between steps, but it doesn't seem to be posting this. I'm interested in anyones feedback.

You should borrow ours.. Its sitting there doing nothing at the moment, and will be for some time yet

For inspiration, here is ours. Well, the Vericut model. And the one I trained on in Charlotte too Ours was delivered in January, but it is still in its crate, waiting for the new machine shop building to be completed. They sure are nice machines.

Is the screenshot from Backplot, or display from the toolpath itself? It looks to me like you don't have stock defined, so the rapid moves shown don't respect the stock boundary. If stock isn't defined, then reference points are required.

Y'know, I never knew Jays real name is Cecil. You learn something new every day... LOL

There you go Zoober, another reason to use Cimco Edit over Code Expert. IMHO, Cimco is a far better editor. Great value for money too

I always switched them off. They made my screen look dirty.... LOL

Vericut have a dialled Multus B400W model, available off the shelf. I have also built a B400W simulation model (from Okuma supplied STEP files). As for the VTM2000YB, I do believe they have models for that particular machine, and the relevant control file. If not, they certainly have something very close. For machines such as these, Vericut would most certainly pay for itself very quickly. The ability to accurate simulate and calculate minimum tool lengths has been a major timesaver, along with the obvious collision and gouge detection. Their support is also extremely good, and they have an Okuma guru there, who I have worked very closely with.