I would take a look at the other STL thread. I think it is still on the first page. There is someone from CNC software looking into STL from verify problems. There are suposed to be some fixes in MR2. You may get some ideas from the other thread though.

Alright I got it I think.

I have a file with 2 machine groups. The first machine group has all 3D milling operations. (surface high speed, Scallop + Scallop Rest mill)

The second machine group has 3 countour programs. The first thing I notice about the countour programs is I am not prompted for a new NC name when I create a new program. The second thing I notice is no matter where I move the red arrow the new program is always at the bottom. If I go back to the previous machine group everything works fine. I move the arrow creat a new operation, and it prompte for new NC name. It also makes the new operation where the arrow is. I go back to the other machine group and it still dose not work. Dose not prompt for name, and new program is at the bottom instead of where I put the arrow.

Can we get a simple explanation of the differences between the two problems?

Don I have a large part I was doing yesterday that did the same thing 0MB file. I will send it along sometime today.

Tim I will look into the exact sequence to make it repeat. Let you know tomorrow.

John Just read your Linky. That is what I want, but that is not how it is working.

Now no matter where you move the red arrow of doom to, the new op is always on the bottom. Kind of makes the arrow irelevent unless you want to change machine groups.

Thad I just read your "Red arrow of doom" thread.

It did not say anything about changing the way it works, just fixing it so when you copy or drag Ops. it would jump to the bottom.

I never had a problem with this, I always used the arrow to place programs where I wanted them. Now it is useless for this purpose.

As I said before, what's the point of the arrow if all new programs go to the bottom of all current operations?

Is that realy what they did?

I don't think it makes any sence. If you want to put a toolpath somewhere you move the arrow there, that is how it used to work.

Now it dose not make any difference where the arrow is it puts the toolpath at the bottom. What is the point of the arrow then?

I just recieved this from Don LePore @ CNC software.

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Dave, the problem has been found. Unfortunately it is in the API we use for Verify. It has been documented and sent to the vendor. I will ask for a priority fix for it and will let you know when it gets fixed. I’m really hoping for vX2 MR2.

Don

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Talk to your reseller about changing your post. I had my 3 axis posts set up to output all G54 no matter what. Don't have to worry about any settings. My 5 axis post is set to output G55 always. These are the only work offset #'s we use so we have them hard wired into out posts. Works great, one less thing for the programer has to worry about.

Note: We don't do multiple set ups on 1 machine. If there is a multiple set up the operator takes care of it. We don't run production, it's all tooling (one off parts).

Don exactly what problem are you looking into.

The inability to creat the STL file, (0MB file)

Or the jump to 100% without finishing the verify?

I am having a bit of a problem visualizing this part. But from your discription I would sugest a fixed angle aproach. If you creat a new toolplane at the angle you wish to machine from, you can use the normal 3 axis toolpaths.

When creating a new toolplane make sure the origin of the new plane is the same as your 3 axis plane.

Make sure the dissable spaceball is unchecked.

Windows Controle panel, MCX icon, uncheck dissable spaceball.

gcode, we have a solids licens here, but most of the stuff we work on would be dificult to make into solids. He never mentioned a problem to me and I use the same thing every day and never had a problem. And yes we do have MoldPlus here. I use the MoldPlus to creat slices instead of the MCX creat curve slice.

I think there is still some kind of problem in X2 MR1 SP1.

If I move the arrow to the begining of the operations in a toolgroup and creat a new operation. After processing the new operation is now at the bottom of the toolgroup (last operation instead of first).

I have a machine that when you run a drill program the Z (depth value) is the total distance traveled from the initial height. If your start plane is 1" and your depth is -.4" the Z would = 1.4 . I have a post that dose this.

This is an example of the post output.

N100 G75 G90

N110 G0 X0. Y0. T1 M06

N120 G0 X.595 Y.595 S1300 M03

N130 G0 Z.1

N140 G81 X.595 Y.595 Z.18 F2.0

N150 X.275 Y.695

N160 X-.595 Y.595

N170 X-.275 Y-.695

N180 X0. Y0.

N190 X.595 Y-.595

N200 X-.595

N210 G80

This is a center drill going .08" deep.

Are you sure you are useing the correct post? Is this what the machine needs? I know it dose not look right, but this is how this controler works.

Try some WD40, It works good on Aluminum. It will help with the finish.

I was verifing a high speed Scallop.

When the IT guy sets up new computers, the password for initial login is "Ilovemyjob!". He tells you to change it right away. Well I could not take that kind of abuse so my new password was "Idontthinkso!".

Hello all.

Colin sugested that I change the STL output format from Binary to ASCII. This seemed to fix the problem, at least on the files that I was working on.

I had another problem pop up after makeing this change.

Now for some reason I can’t finish a verify at the highest quality settings, I’ve got to drop back one setting. The verify runs to about 84% then jumps to 100%. When it finally displays the model the cut is not finished. So I am running the verify with the quality set down 1 notch. For what I am doing it will be OK, I am not comparing STL to model at the end, I am just checking the toolpaths.

If I can see it verify the part, and it looks good, shouldn't I be able to make an STL file?

I got this in E-mail from another forum member.

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Dave,

I was reading you comments on the problems that you having with verify. I had the some problems with verify on the 15th of May. I was verifying a large fixture and when I got to finish toolpath the software would lock-up, crash or after a long time it would save the .STL file but with nothing in it just a 0 mb. I e-mailed M/C about the problem and after a couple of day going back and forth they logged it in as a bug with the MR1. I was told that the waterfall bug they fixed caused this one. So I had to go back to X2 SP1 because all we cut here are large parts and dies so I can use verify. I hope this can help.

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Looks like a bug.

Thank you

No solution yet, just sharing files so Colin can have a look at my problem. I am at home now so I can't check my mail until tomorrow. I will make sure if I find out what the problem is thru E-mail I will post on the forum also.

Steve I think your 2nd pass was useing the regen files. Everyone can get a faster time 2nd time thru.

OK I'll give it the translator, and the processing time. But it dose not even come close to MCX in 2D work.

We have 4 seats here. They can read almost any IGS file.

Surfaces made in PowerShape are usually crap in MCX, at least the ones I get.

Never used the software though so can't coment on ease of use.