It only started with my workstation when I installed 431.70. 391.74 worked fine for me.

20 minutes ago, gcode said:

Vericut 9.0 is due out soon

When I went to the VUE last spring they said the graphics in 9.0 is an order of magnitude

better than the current graphics... I'm looking forward to trying that out

It is... There are bunch of improvements to V9.0. I'm looking forward to that

Hah, I upgraded my Quadro drivers the other day. Everything works fine, TopSolid, Vericut, Solidworks, Cimco.

Opened up Mastercam for the first time in a while this morning, and what do you know.... Aero turns off....

Out of all the Applications...

5 hours ago, YoDoug® said:

Back to the original topic, we recently added two new employees. We needed a couple of people with both setup and programming experience. We were not able to find what we were looking for. We did however find two guys with good setup and machining experience (10+ years each). Both live local to us but were driving up to the cities for work. We hired them both with the promise of getting them to training to start programming. So far we have only sent the lathe guy. He is doing very well for never having used CAM software. He programs out LT3000 twin turret/twin spindle and our Multus machines with very little help from me. He still has the occasional issue that gets him stuck but he can ask me for help when he needs it. The mill guy will go next to training. I do not know all of the details of what it took the boss to get them both to come on board, but I can say we are pleased with their performance to date and look forward to helping them grow in the opportunity that is in front of them. 

With you guiding them Doug, they will do well!

2 hours ago, Matthew Hajicek™ - Conventus said:

Things that don't matter:

1. How pretty is the user interface?

2. Does the software seamlessly integrate and synergize the latest buzzwords and fads?

3. Does the user interface look like what millennials have come to expect from common office software and social media apps?

 

 

Those three things matter to the Autodesk hipsters who latch on to a buzzword, and use it as much as they sip their double shot espressos. The latest one I am hearing is "disruptive". LOL

I'm not a fan of Mastercam nowadays (more political than functional, though the interface and some of functions are bleh), and we went off maintenance last year, so no 2020 for us.

15 hours ago, nickbe10 said:

I know, the question is what kind of user base and support is available. I guess not much as the Mastercam forum is being used.

It looks like very interesting software indeed, very intuitive for a good machinist and I have had great reports from accomplished programmers who have run it.

However as we all know that is not necessarily enough, good luck finding a good programmer if you need one, or start your own training college, or pay outrageous wages for not much execution. The UG programmers I mentioned above were making $45.00 / hr. and couldn't get clean code to 4 axis verticals, that's a pretty sad state of affairs

And yet as we know UG is excellent and highly regarded software.

 

Heh, well, I get clean code to 2 - 5 axis and Mill-Turns, but yes, I agree with you. I spent a bunch of time with UG, and to be honest, I was underwhelmed with the post processing.

The lack of users comment, yes, is  a common response, and to a certain degree it is true. However, sometimes "I'll use that app because everyone else uses it" isn't the best reason.

Anyway,  I was just pointing out the "relatively new" thing. It is a common misconception. (Like "Mastercam is good at everything" )

On 7/4/2019 at 2:06 AM, nickbe10 said:

That's quite the bite of the apple you have taken . 

A relatively new programming system with not much experience out there, and a machine to match.

People talk a lot about programming systems and what's "better" or "worse" but for all it's foibles Mastercam has huge market penetration which means there is relatively more experience out there wit the system, compared to virtually all the others. Which is why you are here, right?

Unigraphics support around here is poor compared to Mastercam so shops that run it have a tough row to hoe trying to find programmers that can even get clean 4 axis mill code to the machines, let alone something really complicated. And I am pretty confident there are more shops in the area running UG than Topsolid, don't worry I know enough about Topsolid to be very interested in it. 

If I had my druthers I would program in NCL, but I would never in a million years advise any shop I know of to even consider it as a programming system, despite its power.

It's not relatively new, its just new to a lot of people in these here parts :)

*Cough*, Mike is everywhere LOL

I'm betting you're using a kinematic model that looks very similar to mine. I also have a beautifully dialled Vericut machine and control as well.

We'll touch base on the dark side

By the way,  I have the utmost respect for some of the contributors in this thread, and Chris Kozell at CNC Software. I even had a couple of drinks with him when he was down here

21 minutes ago, Aaron Eberhard - CNC Software said:

Eh, I'd give it a go If you have the install media, it's worth a shot, but like GCode said, the big problem is the hasp stuff.   I can run V9 on a Windows 10 VM here, but that's only because of a nethasp.

 

What I CAN tell you is that the official line is "that's not a supported combination." 

Eh? Are you Canadian? 

The issue I see, is that the Hasp is the old white parallel port Hasp. They have V6 installed, but it comes up with "SIM not found", which points to a driver, or lack thereof, issue. I'm going to have to visit them to take a look myself I think.

A white paralle port Hasp is taking me right back, though I do remember the green Activator/M sim

Thanks for the replies.  These guys are somewhat stubborn with technology (that is an understatement  ). I agree, V6 is going back a long way, (remember *.ge3 files?

They were told (by someone, not sure who...) that V6 would run on Windows 7. My response was "I believe it wont".

I'll break the news to them.

Does anyone here have a Mastercam Version - Windows version compatibility list?

I have had an enquiry from someone trying to run Mastercam V6 (not X6... but V6...ancient!) on Windows 7. I dont think this is possible, but I need to check.

Good to know that. Even though the only application that I would need to check that option would be Mastercam 

8 hours ago, YoDoug® said:

Mike, I was taught that you always want to start at TD=01 for main spindle and TD=07 for sub. I know when I was working with TopSolid on the 5x Multus post we saw weird things when you didn't start at TD=01. If you are not at the exact correct position of the first move in TCPC you can get weird and undesirable movements to that position. Since CAS needs to be disabled for TCPC you are not protected. I would stick always starting at TD=01 for 5x.

Thanks Doug. I needed to confirm this. as I had someone query it

Hi Greg,

Sorry for the late reply (I thought no one out there could help, and that this thread was on its way out  )

When using TCPC on the U series, does the tool *have* to be called with the TD=01**** command, even if the B axis is positioned using G52 BA=0 previously?

For example, the tool is used at B45 first, then is to be used at B0 using TCPC. If the tool isn't first repositioned using TD=01**** prior to TCPC, should an alarm occur?

On ‎12‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 1:46 PM, jlw™ said:

2020 is tiddies.  I love it.

Fanboi

47 minutes ago, Matthew Hajicek™ - Conventus said:

I remember reading a few years ago about turning with what was essentially a round version of this.  Basically just a carbide cylinder with the end ground a bit concave, so the force goes into the tool axially.  They rotated it continually while cutting so as to always present a cool, edge to the work and to distribute the work along the whole circumference of the tool.  Supposedly they got great tool life and MRR.

Couldn't find anything on it now, but you can see the tool in the station above the first active tool here:

https://www.dmgmori.co.jp/en/theme/movie/id=1685
 

Edit:

Found it:

 

 

I forgot about that tool. I remember seeing the video.

Does anyone have an Okuma U3000/P300S with 5 axis machining (notably TCPC) as an option?

If so, I have a couple of questions about TCPC on this machine, and its behaviour.

15 hours ago, gcode said:

You are right.

The B axis on a traditional  5X lathe is not oriented properly. 

 

 

I'm sure there is an axis designation for it on our U3000, though I'm pretty sure it is inaccessible for general coding. The spindle axis of rotation is about the X axis, so theoretically it would be an A axis (interestingly, both my Vericut and TopSolid U3000 models have the tool index spindle designated as A, but I guess it has to be called something ), but A isn't used on the machine. The index commands for the U3000 are pretty different to just a simple A. From memory, if the machine is optioned (ours is), you can have up to 12 indexes of the tool spindle, but I'm pretty sure that they are fixed angles.

7 hours ago, gcode said:

This is really nothing more than B axis turning, taken to a new level.

There is huge potenial to reduce cycle times though.

The ability to kick the insert over to get a 45 degree lead and high feed rate for roughing, 

then slowing down and rolling up to 87 degrees to do a 90 degree shoulder is huge.

This technolgy is limited by the size of the parts though.

The bigger the part the longer and weaker the tool holder.

 

 

Well, it isn't a B axis. Not sure what axis it is... whatever the axis name is for the tool spindle (machine manufacturer dependent I guess)  . It would have to be a well specced B axis mill turning, that has multiple indexing on the tool spindle that's for sure.

Definitely pretty slick though.

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 10:27 AM, nickbe10 said:

You are completely at the mercy of your reseller at the moment for system set up, that includes your tool load. Note this is driven by MP.NET so your reseller will need to be familiar enough to edit the post processor to you liking.

If you have an unhelpful/weak reseller it could get difficult. I am sure you could get CNC (if your reseller completely failed) involved but you will the be playing the waiting game behind all the others in the same boat.

That is a scary is scenario.... and well.... *bites tongue*

The last time I spoke to QC about this, and it was quite a few years ago, their response was "its a Microsoft problem, not ours". Funny, I don't have any problems with any other software, and it was after the interface change to X8 from memory (I could be wroing, it could have been an earlier interface change).

I use a Microsoft mouse (without the Microsoft drivers), and like them, and also use a 3DConnexion Spacemouse, so I stick with that for my zoom nowadays.

On ‎10‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 2:23 AM, Colin Gilchrist said:

Hi Mick,

Yes, you must be on active maintenance to access the Tech Exchange. 

LOL, then that is me out...

Thanks for the info Colin.

19 hours ago, gcode said:

Sign up for an account on mastercam.com

Once you've done that, you can download a VTL machine from the Tech Exchange

I have an account on Mastercam.com. but it wont let me access the Tech Exchange. Whats up with that? Do you have to be current on maintenance for the tech exchange?

4 hours ago, JoshC said:

ive seen this problem many times and its a super easy fix, just go to microsofts website and download a driver and it will fix the problem. I dont use microsoft mice anymore because i love my Logitech G703 mouse but when using microsoft mice that is the quick fix for the zoom one direction issue.

here is a link to microsoft mice drivers https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/downloads

 

I tried that several times, with several driver versions, and it didn't work. And like I said, I've never had the issue with any other CAD or CAM system, only Mastercam.

3 hours ago, gcode said:

Mark.

There used to be a lot of people who had trouble with Microsoft mice and Mastercam.

I don't know if it's still a problem or not.

I personally run Logitech mice and have never experienced this issue.

Have you tired contacting your dealer?

Just because no one here has experienced this problem recently doesn't mean QC doesn't know about it.

Its still a problem, even with 2019. I installed 2019 the other day, and checked it. The scroll wheel on my Microsoft mouse only zooms out, no matter which direction I scroll the wheel. It has been like it since, I think X was released. I asked about it several times, but the answer was "its a Microsoft problem".  I've not had any problems with the scroll wheel in any other CAD or CAM application.