hahaha....no, but the limited edition DVD Boxset will be avaliable from Amazon later this year. Apparently James's picture will be on the box lid

Hi there, I've been asked to help out with some post processor issues for an Okuma MCR-A double column machining centre. It has the U100M control, and has the 90 degree head fitted, enabling it to perform 5 sided machining. I'd like to talk to anyone who has had experience with these machines, to clarify a few issues with the G333 plane control function. Regards, Mike

Or Vericut. Thats a great Verification program. And powerful too. So, this 4/5 axis addon, is avaliable from my dealer? If so, I'm keen to see a demo of it

Polo shirts are nice, and so are baseball caps. I need some new ones....

I see there is a deal going on this add-on. Can someone tell me: Does this verification also do Truesolid 4 Axis verification? Or is it only for 5 axis?

Either way, its time some stuff was avaliable...whats with it?

I'd like to add my two cents worth. I agree with everyone here. There is a lot of worth in a decent working post, and Mastercam is generous enough to provide so many on the installation CD. I've had it time and time again on this forum, where someone will post a message asking for an Okuma post (my speciality) and wanting it to be able to do this and that etc. When I say its going to cost X amount, its funny how the poster always says "Oh, I'd pay that myself, but the boss wont. If you want to give it to me, thats great, but if you wont, I understand" Needless to say, I never send it. I've even been so kind as to ask nothing more than one or two of the Mastercam Training books off this site as payment, but no-one will even do that. So, to the point, where I dont even bother offering any of the posts I've spent my hard earned time developing, tweaking and testing (yes, everyone has been tested on the exact machines they've been tweaked for). Its truly frustrating, since people seem to place such a low value on the skills we have learned in the course of using the software. Thats goes the same for contract programming work. I've offered my services to people locally plenty of times before, and they always get enthusiastic, and then pull out at the last minute. I sometimes wonder why I stay in this industry. Sorry about the rant, but its been a bad week, and I wanted to let it out before Xmas day Anyway, James, you're right on the button. Now, what am I going to do for a living now? I might go and look up truck driving schools on the web... BTW, Merry Xmas everyone

do you know if your controller has the DNC-B method of loading the program into the larger buffer? Try this: program select, and then type the program name as follows (assuming the name is test.min) test.min;b And see what happens. (If its not ;b it may be ,b i cant remember) Being the U10 control, I doubt you have the option. IF the controller hasn't got the DNC option, you're kind of screwed unless you pay the money

Whoops. Try www.solidview.com That one's much better

Solidview is a handy app for viewing STL files, and also manipulating them. I've used it a while ago to move a STL file around and then re-import to run the verification on the second side of a part. It works great. From memory, the URL is www.solidconcepts.com

I dont get it. By having a central island, and an outer boundary, the true spiral pocket method would do exactly what is required. Or maybe I'm missing something.

I can see two ways to do this: 1) Use contour, and use a lead in/lead out, if you need to use a 3/8 cutter. Use multi passes, with a setting with something like 9 passes at .007 2) To use the spiral pocketing toolpath, you need to use a small cutter, like a 3/16. Draw a .125 circle in the centre, and select that, together with the OD of your counterbore, and select spiral inside to outside. Should work fine, though I would probably cut the across cut distance back to something like .004. That really depends on the material

I'm all for that feature. I normally have to do a "Save Some" then IGES out. I've used a couple of CAD/CAM systems in the past that have this feature, and its damn handy. Being able to IGES all curves, or all surfaces, or all points, would be a great help

Can you put the file up on the FTP? I'll have a look at it. Every now and then, I get an issue with the Swept 2D toolpath. Its a great, simple toolpath. An oldy but a goody

Have you installed the latest Service Pack for Windows 2000? Also, try running the machine in 16bit colour mode (if you're running it in 32 bit), or 32 bit (if you're running it in 16bit) This affected another app I was running last year, and by switching colour mode, the problem went away.

I've uploaded a file MILL-TURN-SOLIDS.MC9 to the MC9 on the FTP site. I can't, for the life of me, get Mastercam to spot the holes on the underside flat on the shaft. I've tried several methods to set the toolplane for the underside, and it always drills the "underside" of the hole. As can be seen, it spots the top flat fine, but when I try to spot the underside flat, it doesn't work. I know the answer is probably staring me right in the face, but as it's late, and I've consumed a couple of late night intakes of my favourite tipple, I thought some extra input might help

I few months ago, I cut through a block of 60HRC steel, with a 6mm endmill, 10mm wide, at 12mm depth, in one cut. The block was 60mm wide, and I did it with using a "trochoidal" cutting motion. Unforunately, Mastercam didn't have the right motion, so I had to draw the centreline of the cutter path, and switch compensation off. Worked a treat though. If anybody is interested, I'll put a sample file up on the FTP.

Haha...Good point... Well.. lets see, it will work like this: If you buy it at the special price, it will be free with 9.1. If you wait until 9.1, then the special will be over, and it will be full price! You can't win Sorry, I couldn't resist that.... )

I'll talk to you Tuesday about it

Grant.. Well, how about we keep secret what you had to do to get those y-fronts.... Some of us have standards..hehehehe M

I've been wondering....What happened to all the Mastercam goodies that used to be advertised on the Mastercam site....Are they still avaliable? I cant them on the site anymore...

Greetings, A local company has purchsed an Okuma MacTurn 50 Turning centre with a OSP U100 control. Is anyone here using one of these machines, together with Mastercam, and if so, do you have working post for it? This company is looking at upgrading their Mastercam, and wanted to know if there is a post avaliable for it. And I've also put an enquiry into my dealer

Thanks Mark, but that is MPMaster 4 Axis for a Fanuc control. Inhouse Solutions did have both a V8 and V9 Okuma-specific 4 axis post on the same site, but they've taken it off, and request that you contact your local reseller to obtain it. I'd do that, but its the weekend, and my reseller can't be contacted :/. I might try and alter the V9 one to try and mark it work with V9. Okumas use an M15/M16 to define the rotation direction of the rotary axis, and the MpMaster does this flawlessly. Thanks again for the response though

Hi there I was about to go into work to do a 4 axis job, and I realised I dont have the MPMaster 4Axis Okuma post for Version 8. We did have it, but a hard drive crash lost it, and we didn't have a backup of that particular post/ Does anyone have that Post handy? I need it very soon, and its been removed from the post page. (My dealer isn't avaliable weekends) If so, can anyone please put it on the ftp site or email it to me? [email protected] Thanks, Mick

I'm glad to see mdf responded. I agree, he was slammed pretty hard.If I was in his position, I probably would have run for the hills too. At least he responded, and maybe he will be a MAstercam user soon . It sure is a great system (And getting better every version)