Thanks Jim - it was tool plane origin only

Using MPfan in X2 when using the toolpath transform in mill I set work offset numbering to assign new and start 0 and increment 1 but all offsets are coming out G54 where in the post is the setting to get this to increment Thanks for any help

Thanks Steve Unchecking the table did the trick Could have saved a couple of hours if that had been obvious to me

Create a point above the surface project the point to the surface normal to the surface choosing point and lines

I am trying to build a 5 Axis with A Axis and C Axis on top of the table -trunion I guess- Problem is I can't put anything on top of the table - it is illegal axis combo - but if I take a predefined 5 Axis machine from Mcam library I can mpodify it by deleting and substituting the Axis I need - this machine has "fixture/holder" as the terminator apparently this will work but this is not a choice from the components library - Question how do I create or find this component Thanks for any help

You can create a fillet between two entities to the size you want - set fillet type "circle" and trim or not as you want

Also since the lead is going to be 8 times the pitch your tool needs extra side clearance at least 17 degrees if my calculation are correct - (lead / (pi x dia)) = tangent angle

How about 1. Ability to see normals when they are created and or shaded - able to change normals when surfaces are created 2. One icon to exrtend or shorten geometry 3. Ability to go to material libary from tool tool parameters page when writing lathe toolpaths 4. Make multiple changes in tool material libaries ie: coolant or feed speed % for operations 5. Dock toolbars on right side of operations manager 6. Use RMB to temporaily fix an icon to the MRU bar 7. Bring project file manager back 8. Ability to delete operation from exported operations 9. When replacing a machine that new machine description replaces the one in the operations manager 10. Mask more than one level or a reverse mask 11.RMB sets only selection in quick mask 12.Seleting geometry by depth in a window allow attribute changes 13.Back plot shows XYZ for new tool orins 14.Store parameters in nesting geometry to allow changes in number of parts or groups W/O having to reselect geometry 15.Creating doors alow preview to make chages W/O starting over from scratch 16.Toolbar states show which toolbar is current Some of these may already be possible - I just am not aware of it Maybe some are not a good idea for reasons I haven't considered Some may not be possible to program A lot of these are not original with me - they have been discussed on this forum - I thought they were good so noted them along with mine gins 4.

Yup didn't realize you had to backplot first Thanks gcode

Using level 3 X2 When I backplot a toolpath there is a selection to save as geometry but I can't make it save the toolpath as geometry - am I missing a setting - or is my computer at fault - or is it not working

Thanks guys Ill try those

Using Art in X2 to work with photos - is there software or a scanner to make the images smooth or smuged enough to get reasonable surfaces for engraving - but so that faces can retain enough features and detail to be recognizable Thanks for any info

If the only thing that changes is a size program one and copy the toolpath then set stock to leave for the size differance

You can create a series of paralel lines in the bottom and run a 3d contour along them - the closer thy are together the better the finish use a ball end mill for best results - but the corners will have a raduius at least as large as the cutter radius

If you xform offset the contour in the +z direction by the amount of the cutter radius and program to the center of a ball endmill I think you will get the result you need

I have used wax with good results and it is reusable if you take care to keep it free from contamiantion with metal chips Have also used foam insulation board - the pink kind - that you can get at home depot - it works for proving out tool paths but you cannot measure for close dimensions it also makes a mess to clean up

I reset all my tool bars using settings cusomize and the tool bars reset arrow - now my quick selection tool bar has disappeared - is this unique - is there a way to retieve the tool bar

If its using the DOS file mode you are limited to file names 8 charcters long

In the control def under the files tab

Draw your geometry in the top plane and then rotate it down to the angle you wnat to ramp program it as a 3d contour and you should get what you need

If you create the geometry - using pattern instead of marge willallow you locate scale and rotate the geometry very easily

In V9 you can set this in the job setup page

A friend of mine owns bobcad and does simple 2d programming - says it work oK to create code but last week he bought Mastercam draft to create geometry - he is constanly being harrassed by the bobcad sales people

OOPS should have been in Bobcad thread

A friend of mine owns a shop and uses bobcad to program simple 2d stuff - he says it works OK - but last week he bought Mastercam Draft to do his geometry creation - he is also tired of being constantly harrased by the Bobcad sales people