Make your pocket programs, then under circle toolpaths do a drill start points program. Have not used this myself, you may need a seperat one for each pocket if the depths are different.

You can see them on the machine also. That is why I don't do it anymore. Like I said before The CAM software I used before MC did the same thing, anything over 60% stepover would cause problems. I have been doing CAM for almost 8 years, and this kind of complaining by the machinests just drives me crazy. They wan't perfect programs, but you have to do them the way they want them, and if it causes a problem it's your fault. Just though I'd check here before I call my reseller. I don't realy think they can do anything about this, but I have to call.

Bump ???????????????????????

If your maintenance was valid thru either Sept. or Oct. of last year you can still install X2. Not sure the exact date, but there was a thread about this. Do a search.

Use your attributes manager. You can set different colors for notes/labels, leaders/witness, dimensions, and crosshatch.

I have tried all pocket pattern types, anything over 70% cannot be trusted without close inspection thru verify. Verify on our tools can take a long time. The tool I am useing is what we call a button cutter. Basicly 3" bull nose with 1/4" Rad. inserts (non center cutting) Insert height aprox. 5/8". We are cutting Aluminum billets (66 1/2" X 59 1/2" X 13"), current job, they do get bigger. It will make a form tool for a car or SUV headliner. RPM = 4000, Feed = 200, Depth = .15", Stepover is now 1.95" they wish it to be 2.4". It is a standard Surface rough pocket toolpath. Removes large amounts of stock. With a flute length of 5/8" Max. if you get under the inserts you have problems. If you increse the stepover it will leave stock islands on a number of levels then come back and get them later (problem), increseing the depth of cut, sometimes exceeding flute length. Dose anyone run these toolpaths at 80% stepover?

For roughing, what is the stepover percentage that you use? (surface rough pocket) They (CNC managers) are pushing for 80% stepover. I have tried this before, and the path leaves islands of stock at anything over 70%, and runs thru them 4 or 5 steps down. My previous CAM software did the same thing. Is there anything that can be done to acheive 80% stepover reliabley. Without excess air cuts, and or stock depth problems.

By the way. I have never seen a drill program format, as confusing as this.

This is a drill program for our Bridgport mill. All canned cycles work fine. N100G70 G75 G90 G8 N110G0X-1.125Y-.875T1M6 N120X-1.125Y-.875S1000M03 N130G0Z2. N140Z.1 N150G81X-1.125Y-.875Z.18F8.0 N160X-.6875Y-1.0625 N170X-.1249Y-.8751 N180X.8125Y-.3125 N190Y.4375 N200X1.125Y.875 N210X-.1249Y.9999 N220X-.6875Y.4375 N230X-1.125Y.875 N240X-1.4375Y.4375 N250G80 N260G0X-.6875Y-1.0625T2M6 N270X-.6875Y-1.0625S1000M03 N280G0Z2. N290Z.1 N300G83X-.6875Y-1.0625Z.5354Z.1Z.1F4.0 N310Y.4375 N320X.8125 N330G80 N340G0X-.6875Y-1.0625T3M6 N350X-.6875Y-1.0625S200M03 N360G0Z2. N370Z.25 N380G84X-.6875Y-1.0625Z.5F10.0 N390Y.4375 N400X.8125 N410G80 N420G0X.8125Y-.3125T4M6 N430X.8125Y-.3125S850M03 N440G0Z2. N450Z.1 N460G83X.8125Y-.3125Z.4829Z.1Z.1F3.4 N470X-1.4375Y.4375 N480G80 N490G0X.8125Y-.3125T5M6 N500X.8125Y-.3125S600M03 N510G0Z2. N520Z.1 N530G81X.8125Y-.3125Z.4F4.0 N540X-1.4375Y.4375 N550G80 N560G0X-.1249Y.9999T6M6 N570X-.1249Y.9999S550M03 N580G0Z2. N590Z.1 N600G83X-.1249Y.9999Z1.475Z.1Z.1F2.5 N610Y-.8751 N620G80 N630G0X-.1249Y.9999T7M6 N640X-.1249Y.9999S400M03 N650G0Z2. N660Z.1 N670G81X-.1249Y.9999Z1.3F4.0 N680Y-.8751 N690G80 N700G0X-1.125Y.875T8M6 N710X-1.125Y.875S500M03 N720G0Z2. N730Z.1 N740G83X-1.125Y.875Z1.35Z.1Z.1F3.0 N750X1.125 N760X-1.125Y-.875 N770G80 N780G0 G8Y.875M2

Well I always wondered how people got double posts, now I know.

I use the same tool for multiple toolpaths all the time without this happening. What post are you useing? Is it post specific? Try posting the same, with a different post. Also on the tool page there is a box for force toolchange. Is this checked?

If you have the points, you can creat automatic spline. Select fisrt 2 points in a line then the last. With multiple lines close together you may have to seperate them to different levels first.

I had a similar problem with one file in X2. Could not see the geometry. Last I heard CNC was working on it. I found that if I changed the view it would show up. Top, Side, Front, ... Clear screen, shade, unshade, regen graphics view, nothing would make the geometry visable. Screen statistics said it was there, had valid toolpaths. I had a backedup copy from before the problem started. Only lost a couple of toolpaths. Went to this copy and never had a problem. I will look for my original thread. Invisable [ 01-24-2007, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Cuda84 ]

Just added an aproximate start point and looks good to me. Put this file back on the FTP site. CONNECTOR BRACKET FOR FTP DM.MCX

Would it be possible to put the file on the FTP site?

Horizontal arc entry is what I use. Did you try adjusting this value?

I am not sure what I did to change this. This thread was started in SEPT. I think. It all works fine now. I don't even remember if I got it fixed before X2 came out, but all is fine in X2.

Well my first thought when seeing the toolpaths was. I did not give enough surfaces. There is no way our 5X head is going to get inside that cavity. It took me a few minuts to realize that I did not have to cut these toolpaths. I am currently running tests to see if this is a good way to go. Looks great right now though. Thanks alot.

I will look at that right now.

Bump No sugestions?

You can saved names. Right click in the level manager. Save named

Just one minut. The file will be (TOLERANCE_BND-HLP_010407_V1.MCX) when I am done.

This is the location of the file. ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/MCX2_Files/ The problem is creating the geometry, not cutting it. The tube in the file is just for reference. To help explain how I do this now. What I have in that file is all I need to finish. I was wondering if there was a way to creat this tube or some other way to get my tolerance bands in MC, without going to another software.

Is there a way to do this with the MoldPlus Trimeditor? I do not have this option.

No, just surfaces which have been translated thru 2 or 3 different softwares. I am not concerned with trimming the surfaces, this can be done in MC if needed. It's creating a curve or edge in the correct location along the surface that I need to be able to do. Yes I do have some MoldPlus.