For those of you not familiar with the above mentioned forum, there are some raving reviews of Mastercam from the woodworking community. This is also a great marketing tool to show woodworking prospects . They can search for for the word "Mastercam" in the top right corner of the page and see all relevant posts. http//www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/cnc.pl? Peter Eigler

I have to agree that metric is the far more logical of the two systems. There is a reason that the rest of the world has caught on long ago. Oh well....Uncle Sam always knows best...

Thanks Roger This has been a constant source of pain for me as well, and I think I FINALLY UNDERSTAND IT!!! Peter Eigler

Out of all the machines that I have run, I would have to say that the best tool length measurement method was on the Mazak mills. Pretty much any mazak mill with the Mazatrol control built since the late 1980's comes with a tool probe. Not only that, but you can measure all your tools with one command. In other words, you tell the control to measure all your tools while you are on coffee break. It even knows to alarm out when trying to measure a facemill or slitting saw with this method (since those tools cannot be measured on center). This control was far more advanced than any other for its' time. This is thre reason there are so many Mazaks out there. I have still to see a control that is as easy to use. The newer Mazak mills will also measure tool diameter automatically! Peter Eigler

Amen to Matthew's suggestion. It makes far more sense to measure your tools from a permanent datum like the table than touching the top of your workpiece. This way all you need to adjust is your work offset Z value and you can use many of the same tools on a completely different part without having to re-measure your tools. A lot of good milling machinists measure their tools from the top of the workpiece every time, but this is not the most logical approach. Peter Eigler

I have used both, and I have to agree that Iscar is the better product, especially with the R&D work that they have done lately. Iscar also seems to work harder at pleasing their customers. Peter Eigler

Mazatrol Vs. Mastercam hmmmmmm. I have programmed Mazak mills, lathes and Integrex using M32, T32, M Plus and Fusion 640 Controls. I know these controls better than I know mastercam. Programming on a Mazatrol is a quick and accurate way of doing simple 2D parts. Mazatrol is a great tool for people who don't want to learn real CNC programming. This is not meant as an insult, but as an observation. Most people who know Mazatrol do not know CAM or G-code programming. They take pride in not "needing" to use anything but their fingertips. In all fairness, some parts can be programmed more quickly on Mazatrol than in Mastercam. This is where the advantage ends. 1.) Mazatrol cannot be sent to any other machine brand. 2.) Mazatrol has poor graphics (Backplot is useless on the Integrex) 3.) Mazatrol related text editors and CAM software is too expensive and limited. Mazacam and Griffo Bros. software uses 15 year old technology. 4.) Mazak has not added any new functionality since the M2, T2 controls of the early 80's. The 640 Fusion control offers nothing new. 5.) Machines with the Mazatrol control are $20-$35K more expensive than comparable machines with G-code controls (very expensive for a Mastercam Mill Entry equivalent) 6.) The programming features of Mazatrol are very primitive (you MUST plunge, no ramp, no threadmilling in conversational etc. etc. 7.) Programming an Integrex in Mazatrol takes FAR longer than it should. Mastercam is much faster on such multi-axis work. Mazatrol has the BEST tool measurement and tool offset methodology, as well as the most user friendly MDI, Data in-out, and other utility features. Their soft key menus kick Fanuc's butt. Sorry about the long post...I'll get back to work. I am a professional Hamburger Inverse Motion Application Specialist in Toronto. (Burger Manager at McDonald's)

Summer hit California? That's all you have there!! Jealous in Canada Peter E

I can give you a pretty balanced view, since I spent years programming manually and am quite aware of the pros and cons of manual vs. CAM. Despite what some of the diehard CAM lovers will tell you, it is important to know and understand manual programming. You are more "in tune" with a machine if you can program it manually. However from a financial standpoint, CAM wins every time. Manual programming a FANUC lathe is quite easy and far more versatile than a FANUC mill. Despite all the canned cycles, macros and conversational controls available, there is no way that you can program a lathe as easily or as accurately as you do with CAM. The flexibility offered by CAM is enormous, and you no longer have to do any math calculations. I am far from being a Mastercam expert, but I really like what I have seen so far in Mastercam Lathe. Lathe Entry is actually a great package for 2 axis machines, saving you $$ and still giving you tons of functionality. The grooving, part-off, as well as all other standard ops are clearly defined and easy to understand. The new features in V9 such as tailstock, steady rest definition and the part flip featuer are quite handy, as is the improved stock and chuck setup. Definitely a great tool! Peter Eigler

I have tapped using live tooling on several controls (not a Haas) and I have never seen the G32 command used for C axis tapping. On Fanuc, Seicos, and Mazak machines that I have run, you can use the G84 (milling) code for tapping with a live tool with success. G32 does NOT contain a retract move. It simply synchronizes the 2 axis in motion with the spindle. This is used on main spindle tapping (on X0), and you generally need to input a spindle reversal command (M04) and feed out. On lathes that do not have a rigid tapping feature, you would need to use a floating tap holder for such work. Tapping using live tools is different. Try looking in the manual to see if your Haas takes milling codes for live tooling tapping operations. Peter Eigler

Hi Roger I know what you meant by specifying the station of the longest tool. The problem is that the tool length that you specify in Mastercam does not necessarily reflect the exact length of the tool. The overhang is determined at the time that the collet/ bushing is tightened. By this point the program is already finished. The geometry offsets on a lathe are determined at set-up time, not during programming, hence your original problem. Peter Eigler

CAM software has no way of knowing what your longest tool is unless you start using variables to set your offsets and include a macro in your post that reads these variables. In other words, it's too much work. Tool offsets on a lathe are generally set in the machine, so the CNC program and the tool offsets are not at all related. In mills, you can set tools off-line, and input the length offsets via the G10 command.

The G61.1 code for Mazak controls is a modal version of the G09 Exact Stop command (one shot code) Essentially, these commands are used to decelarate the tool at the endpoint of each interpolated function (G01-G03) and check for in-position status. The CNC checks for the correct position before continuing. To put it simply, this code is designed to eliminate overshoot of your axes. aka Exact Stop Check Mode on Fanuc controls Peter Eigler

A worn spindle bearing will definitely affect tool life, though I don't think that explains your problem. (since your spindle runout is constant, the tool life should also be constant.) Make sure that your boring bar is on center, ensure that the bar is only as long as needed (no overhang), and increase the drill size. With such an open tolerance, I wouldn't even bother with a boring head; just mill it with an indexable carbide endmill.

Perhaps I am missing something as well, but I am not sure how you expect to turn a .002 internal rad with a .008 rad tool. You would get a comp alarm because the machine knows that this is mathematically impossible. Mastercam might not catch it because when you turn the setting to "comp in control", it simply outputs the drawing dimensions presuming a tool that has no radius (sharp) which COULD cut this part. The CNC is left to make the calculation with G42 turned on, hence the error. Try programming it with TNR turned off and see what the output is. I can't see how it would be possible to create a .002 internal rad (or measure it, for that matter). If your machine is a gang-type lathe (like a Hardinge CHNC), your G02 command actually means CCW arc, creating an external rad. It is still impossible to create it because of your tool size. I am also just learning Mastercam, but I can look at your MC9 file if you wish. Peter Eigler

I have spent a lot of time trying to find good CNC videos to use in my college classes. The best ones on the market are from www.mastertask.com Unfortunately they cost some serious $$. You can also buy CNC videos from Heinz Putz at home.columbus.rr.com/hputz. His videos are cheaper but they are garbage. Inaccurate, outdated, and very poorly produced. Coastal Training Systems also offers CNC videos, but they are about as modern as a Commodore 64. CNCCI (Mike Lynch) has some videos available, but they are computer animated (not real life machining situations). I have not seen his videos, but his books have been excellent, as is his reputation. Good Luck Peter Eigler

I have run a Chevalier lathe as well as the grinder. The CNC lathe wasn't bad, the grinder was crap. I would not buy a Fadal, since the control is weird, the machine lacks rigidity, and the toolchange takes forever. Haas is a better machine for the same price. If you do want to get an import, Leadwell (Taiwan) are a decent machine for the money. Peter Eigler

Hello everyone I am a Mastercam newbie and would like to take a peek at a few of your 2D, 3D, Lathe or Wire files so I can studythe methods that different people use in programming. Please e-mail me a couple of parts that you don't mind sharing. (.MC8 or .MC9) (solids OK) Thanks [email protected]

I have run this same machine, and if I recall correctly the codes were standard ISO format. You can simply use a Fanuc post. The only thing to watch for is that your post should be for the older Fanuc 10-15T type, which outputs canned cycles in a single line format. i.e. G71 P..Q..U..W..D..F.. Your machine also takes G83 for deep hole drilling, which is far better than the standard drilling cycle on Fanuc controlled lathes (G74). This can easily be changed in the post to be accomodated.