I have a VMC here in Phoenix, for two years through 115 F summer days, never had a problem. Only has a 7.5k spindle though. There are vent holes behind two 6" fans that blow right on the cards.

Thanks Ron, anyone else want to take a crack at this and give some tips?

I uploaded "turbine fan" zip to the mc.9 folder. I have not done much 4 axis work and this was going to be practice. I have not been able to figure out how to cut it, I tried a few surface tool paths, but they came out pretty bad, I figured I could just transform - rotate those. The 4ax paths seem to want to cut straight to the surface, no depth cuts, that won't work. Before I get flamed, I'm not looking for someone to cut it for me just a few ideas about what paths to use. Also I wanted to just try and index the thing, using surface paths too but I could not figure out what to use to set my tool plane, it's all curves.

http://xanedu.proquest.com/originalworks/tran This book is for people just starting, takes you step by step through design of a simple part in MC through cutting it on a Fadal 88 control. Everything is there, how to set up the part, how to set the tool length offsets all step by step. Later you will find faster ways to do things but for a noob this is a great book. It will get you making chips in about an hour.

Thanks Jay.

% N100 O0000 ( 0001 ) N102 ( CREATED ON 04-10-05 AT 9:13 AM ) N104 G20 N106 G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 N108 ( 5/32 DRILL TOOL - 2 DIA. OFF. - 2 LEN. - 2 DIA - .1563 ) N110 T2 M6 N112 M61 N114 A-0. N116 M60 N118 G0 G90 S5867 M3 E1 X-1.4897 Y1.812 N120 H2 Z4. N122 G81 G98 X-1.4897 Y1.812 Z0. R0.1 F8.45 N124 X-1.5304 Y.8997 N126 X-1.5043 Y-.0421 N128 X-1.4905 Y-.9978 N130 X-1.5101 Y-1.7405 N132 X-1.4779 Y-.4604 N134 X-1.4824 Y.9481 N136 X-1.5041 Y1.5589 N138 X-1.5098 Y.1708 N140 X-1.5374 Y-1.1505 N142 X-1.4436 Y.0143 N144 G80 N146 M5 N148 G90 H0 Z0. N150 E0 X0 Y0 N152 M30 % % Thats what I get, I just get that a-0, no rotation? I'm using the MPFadal2 post

Do you want to see my post or the part file?

I'm trying to drill some selected arcs on a square solid, rotary axis is x, and the part is centered on the axis. I looked at the tutorial in the v9 4/5 axis book, and just followed that 1st example. Problem is that my posted code only outputs a-0 at the start , no rotations, all of the holes are drilled on one face. Is there a switch in the post to be able to use this function?

Cool, Paul is the guy who gave me the look see at X. Thanks Paul.

Oh, I thought that was you. Yea the Dartanion goatee is kickin. So why is it they don't allow cameras in there? Seems like they would want their best new stuff out there for everyone to see.

Wow, I must have not visited enough, I don't remember seeing you, and I'd remember that three musketeers beard you have there (thats not an insult I have a bit of facial hair myself). I did get to pick up one of the CAD/CAM consulting decimal charts to hang in the shop. Thanks. BTW MC had a nice display there. And...who won the ipod?

I just got back too, watched a demo of X. Looks like you will be able to pan and zoom during the verify. Cool. I really liked the whole interface. So who won the ipod? I did not recognize any names from here, wish I could have met some of you.

I'll be there 5th and 6th. Looking forward to checking out the MC booth.

Wow. That looks tough. I hate to ask a question within a question but I also hate to start a whole new thread... How do you create incremental depths of cut with this part with a 4 ax contour toolpath so that the cutter does not plunge to the part surface, I played with the cut depth parameters but all it seemed to change was how far along the part the tool path started. Anyway I'm looking forward to the solution to this one, I'm new to 4 axis work myself and trying to learn all I can.

Ah, I have that post but I haven't messed with it yet because of that issue. So you just adjust all of the format 1-2 parameters? Makes sense. Sorry to butt in, thanks for the answers. Dave

Any of you know if the MP master fadal post is format one or two?

Is the MP master_Fadal post format 1 or 2?

Ron, Mike, CMR thanks very much for the help, and the file back with rhe example. That helps a bunch. Dave

I uploaded a file called WS-revolver-rail-1 to the FTP under the MC9 file folder. I tried just about every finish toolpath to get the fillets on the edges cut but they all seem to gouge the heck out of the part. I'm sure I'm just not setting some parameter right, just don't know which one. Could be so many things. I tried picking the whole solid, then tried picking the fillets as drive and the top as check, still get the gouges...The rough tool path was a piece of cake. The part was done in SW-05 and imported right in with no problems. I'd appreciate any advice any of you care to give. Thanks, Dave

Where does one buy those milling chucks? I've been looking for something like that to replace my cheepo- china ER collet holders.

Thanks for the tip on the streaming teacher video. I got into the samples, thanks, that c-hook was something I did not know about. I thought Ras2vec and engrave were included...I e-mailed my dealer, he's looking into it. Dave

It's Fri at 5p of course and I just got Art up and running. I was trying to go through the multimedia tutorial, and I can't find the sample files. The tutorial instructs to go to the mc9 file >samples>dragom file. But there is no sample file in my Mcam9 folder? I also can't read any of the sample files that I find in the art library, they are .mz9 files and I don't see a convertor for this. Ras2vect prompts me for an access code...so does engraving, I was under the impression these came with art, anyone know for sure? I'd call my reseller but again 5p on Fri, figures...I'm outta luck, was hoping to play with this a bit this weekend. Thanks Dave

I have the 6600 GT PCI express card in my 3.2 p4 at home. It has been rock solid with the current MC 9.1.

Ah, thanks gcode.

How do I download the update?