Mastercam Tips & Tricks

Beginning in version 9.0, Mastercam has the ability to convert from English to metric or vice versa when in the edit fields of most dialog boxes. By typing in "mm" or "in" after the number, the number will be converted to the "opposite" value. If you type a number followed by in, it will convert to millimeters. If you type in a number followed by mm, it will convert to inches.

It does not matter which configuration file you are using, English or metric, it will perform the same.

You don't have to pull out the calculator if your print is in English measurements and you are drawing in metric or if you're using a metric tool but programming in English. There are also no rounding errors!

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There are two styles of Setup Sheets - Graphical (default) and Post.
The Graphical Setup Sheet displays the part, toolpath, and information about the operation on the graphics screen. The Post Setup Sheet uses a .SET file, which is a generic, simplified post (.PST) to report tool information and calculate toolpath length and cutting time.

Sometimes it is handy to have both formats available without having to go to Screen, Configure, NC Settings to change from one to the other. This can be done by keeping the default Setup Sheet option set at Graphical and going direct for the Post option.

Graphical Setup Sheet: NC Utils, Setup Sheet
Post Setup Sheet: NC Utils, Post Proc, Change, select the .SET file, Run

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If I save a job with numbered tools from the Operations Manager, when I apply that job to another model, I lose the original tool numbers. What can I do to prevent this?

Before you open the new file, go into Job Setup and deselect "Assign Tool Numbers Sequentially." This will allow Mastercam to bring in the original tool numbers in your job.

This part's internal details show up clearly when just the outer shell is made transparent.

Translucency - Want to let a client see what's inside a mold block? Translucency is the key. You can easily make specific surfaces see-through:

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Working Rendered
Once you exit from the Surf disp menu, your model will unshade. If you want to work on a model that's been rendered in Studio, use the icon toolbar.

Solid Support
Studio works only with surfaces. You'll need to convert solid models to surfaces to take advantage of Studio's tools.

Hidden Toolpaths
If you backplot your toolpath as geometry and then render your model, all toolpath elements behind the model will be hidden. This gives a nice clean look, great for Web pages or newsletters.

Material World
Shading with materials such as brass or chrome rather than colors results in an image with greater depth, highlights, and realism.

Turn on the Light!
Adding a low-intensity colored light can really make a shaded model jump out at you. Give it a try!

There are many more tools in Mastercam Studio. Each function is easy to use, so take a few minutes to explore!

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Special keyboard assignments provide quick access to many common Mastercam functions. The commands listed in the following table reflect Mastercam's default special key assignments.
Note: The special key assignment [Alt+F4] is a Windows® convention that you cannot modify. It is mentioned in the following table because it is a quick way to exit Mastercam.

Change your keyboard shortcuts

Choose Setting > Key mapping from the menu to define your own keyboard shortcuts. This will add to or redefine the above list.

• Save sets of shortcuts to different Map Files (.KMP) and load them as needed
• Choose Reset All to resotre the shorcuts to the list above
• Open .KMP files in any text editor to see the key assignments.
  

Mastercam's Hide function allows you to quickly erase entities from the screen and bring them back without moving or modifying the entities. [Alt-E] is the shortcut. Select the entities to keep on the screen
and, when Done is selected, the other entities are erased from the screen. Pressing [Alt-E] again, brings everything back.

Sometimes, we miss a few entities we want to hide or pick a few we don't want to hide. Instead of having to start all over, here are two more shortcuts to add and subtract entities from the screen.
[Alt-+] (alt key and the + key) to ADD entities to keep on the SCREEN. The hidden entities display. Select the entities you want to keep on the screen, then press Done. You can use [Alt-+] instead of [Alt-E]
only to select entities to keep on the screen. You must use [Alt-E] to un-hide everything.

[Alt--] (alt key and the - key) to SUBTRACT more entities from the SCREEN. Select the entities you want to hide, then press Done. If no entities are hidden, [Alt--] has no effect.

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C-Hook For Mastercam X2 MR2 & X3 - Note - these C- Hooks are not supported by Mastercam

This Free C-Hook from Verisurf Software, the providers of model based inspection, analysis and tool fabrication Software, run in conjunction with Mastercam and adds some great features to Mastercam X2 MR2.  

Importing Operations from Previously Saved Mastercam Files into X2

Step 1. Right-click the mouse while cursor is located in the Operations Manager area of Mastercam X2.
Step 2. Select the "Import" option from the menu that appears.
Step 3. Click on the Folder Browse icon in the Import dialog that appears.
Step 4. Select the folder that contains the desired Mastercam file with operations. Click on the OK button to return
to the Import dialog.
Step 5. Choose the file to import operations from the drop down list.
Step 6. Select operations to import and click the OK (green check mark) button at the bottom of the dialog.
Step 7. Answer the following question by clicking on the appropriate button. If "Yes" is selected' the /oolpath Group will be the
same as it was in the file (/-1 for this example).
Step 8. Assign a program name for the imported operations.
Step 9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 if you would like to import operations from another file. Click OK once the desired
operations have been imported.
Step 10. Close the Import dialog by clicking on the Cancel (red X) button.

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Importing Your Tool LIbary

Step 1: Open your Tool manager and select your MCX file.

Step 2: Name your new Tool Library

Step 3: View your new Tool Library and use the tools for your existing Mastercam file

Changing NC file Name

Sometimes when posting Mastercam files to your NC folder, you only see one
operation in your Editor when there should be more. This is because your “NC” file
names are different in the Operations Menu window. To view all your operation on the
same “NC” file you need to change the “NC” file name. You do this by...

Step 1 Select all your operations
Step 2 Right click on your Toolpath Group, Select Edit Selected Operations Change NC file name
Step 3 Rename it and select the Green check.
Step 4 Post your Operations.

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Default Coolant On for X2

Step 1. Make a back up of your mill_inch.defaults file


Step 2. Rename your mill_inch.defaults to mill_inch.mcx (see Picture to the Above)
Step 3. Open the mill_inch.mcx in Mastercam


Step 4. Go in to the Machine Group properties >> edit the machine definition >> general parameters >> coolant tab >>and set it to support coolant using coolant
value in post processor. Select the Green Check to close the Dialog Box

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Step 5. While your there you can go into the defaults and set them to coolant "ON." You do this by Highlighting all ops and right click >> edit selected operations >>
edit common parameters >> set the coolant "ON"
Step 6. Save and Close the Mastercam file
Step 7. Go back to your mill\ops folder in step 2, delete the mill_inch.defaults then Rename the mill_inch.mcx back to mill_inch.defaults.(Call SFA with any questions 978-728-0009)

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With Version 9, you can use any configuration file when starting Mastercam. Prior to this change, the software would always start with either the inch or the metric configuration file for the system defaults. This always forced you to load customized config files, which could easily be forgotten. Now multiple users on the same system can customize the Mastercam shortcuts to load their specific configurations. By editing the target line in the Mastercam shortcut, any customized CFG file can be loaded at startup.

Any customized CFG file can be loaded at startup.

Have you ever wanted to show a client a realistic rendering of their finished mold or product? Do you have a web site or newsletter in which you want to show off high quality screen shots of your work? Do you just like cool stuff? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should take advantage of the advanced rendering tools in Mastercam Studio.

To access Mastercam Studio, start at the Main Menu and click the following:

1. Screen / Surf disp / Studio - This will shut off your normal shading, so you start with a clean slate.

2. Click Settings to begin your rendering.

Here is where Mastercam Studio shines over standard shading . . .

Multiple colors / materials - Unlike normal shading, Studio lets you choose individual surfaces or groups of surfaces to be shaded. This lets you render a mold, for example, where the cavity is brass and the mold base is steel for greater clarity.

Texture mapping can add a realistic edge to your models. In this example, wood grain textures are used on a new guitar design to show the finished product.

Texture mapping - Instead of a color, you can shade a surface using any BMP (bitmap) file. This wraps the bitmap around the surface, and can have very impressive results. For example, you can apply a brushed-metal photo to a finished part or a wood grain texture to a doorframe model. It's easy to texture map. From the Studio Settings dialog box:

Version 9 Service Pack 1 is now available. The Service Pack is an electronic patch that can be downloaded HERE(Mastercam website).  It will update the files that have changed since the release of V9.

Before installing the Service Pack, you can download a Word .DOC file (V9sp1.doc) to see a summary of issues that the Service Pack addresses.

Each product will have it's own patch executable and is easy to install. Download the appropriate files that match what you have installed on your system.

Once you have downloaded the appropriate executable patch file, copy it to the Mcam9 directory and run it by double-clicking on it.

Mill9sp1.exe = Mill
Lathesp1.exe = Lathe (Mill/Turn users only need to download the Lathe patch.)
Wiresp1.exe = Wire
Designsp1.exe = Design-only systems. (The downloads for Mill, Lathe, and Wire all contain the fixes contained in the Design patch.)
Nhs9sp1.exe = New drivers required for NetHASP users. (This must be installed on the NetHASP Server in order for any of the other Service Packs to run.)

If, for some reason, you would like to Undo the patch, you can do so. Go to the Backup directory created by the patch in your Mcam9 directory, rename the Unpatch.bak to Unpatch.bat and then double-click on it. Your system will be restored to Version 9.

Version 9.1 is now available. This version requires an installation disk.  Please contact Services Four Automation directly at (978-728-0009) if you are a current V9 customer or have an earlier version and would like to update to the latest version.

Mastercam functions well in the Windows XP environment. Early information from users of other software products indicates that XP may be a little slower than Windows 2000. The big selling point for XP is stability based on the elimination of the DOS environment. Word from Microsoft is that the "blue screen team" found that 70% of the crashes in Windows 2000 can be attributed to flaws in drivers written by 3rd party vendors of graphics cards, network adapters, and disk drives. CATIA, Pro/E, SolidWorks, and Unigraphics have publicly stated that existing applications should run fine on XP, but customers should be sure their video cards have drivers that support XP or they will have problems. Another item to note, the Home version of XP is not easily set up for a business network environment. Customers opting to save the $100 price difference between the home and professional edition may find themselves in trouble. If you are planning to change to XP, make sure you understand their registration process and copying policy. Once loaded, you have 30 days or 50 boots to register before the operating system no longer works. Once that is done, the software cannot be moved or loaded on another computer. The user is also limited to the number of internal hardware changes that can be made as the ID code sent to Microsoft is based on referencing separate pieces in the computer (video, disk, etc). This is Microsoft's attempt to limit what they call "casual copying" or "softlifting."

Mastercam Version 8.1.1 will function properly with Windows XP and an updated HASP driver. This is available on the Mastercam Web site. Windows XP has been tested with Version 6.13, Version 7.2c and Version 8.1.1 and all function properly. Both Version 7.2c, and Version 8.1.1 require the updated HASP driver.

You may find a problem with Mastercam failing to start properly when you double-click on files such as MC8, IGS, SAT, etc. from within Windows Explorer or an email. The failure has been tracked down to an issue within Windows where a user without administrative privileges cannot properly read the provided registry key. The solution to this problem is to create a registry key, in the Hkey_Current_User. To create this key follow these steps.

This procedure is valid for Mastercam 8 and 8.1 and only needs to be performed on systems where the user account has restricted rights.

As many as you feel comfortable with. Many users run two open copies of Mastercam simultaneously if they have a large NC file processing (This does not imply dual processor support.). NetHASP licensing is smart enough to note the computer using it and allow multiple copies to run without effecting the number of licenses available. This is for the same products. Running a Mill in one window and a Lathe in another on the same computer would take two licenses.

Mastercam version 8.1 or higher are the only versions to support the NetHASP. All products on older versions will not work on the NetHASP. Products on older versions will have to be updated to 8.1 to be moved to the NetHASP. When calculating pricing for the NetHASP with older versions, price the update first, then the NetHASP transition. It's less expensive that way.

This is a very real possibility that a user must evaluate based on the reliability of their network and the availability of the Network Administrator. If a small company is relying on an outside firm to help when their network goes down, they must realize that they may be out of work until the administrator gets there. The good news is that if the network goes down, Mastercam can still be run on the machine designated as the Mastercam network server. So there will be one seat available. If it is the Mastercam Network Sever that goes down, you can designate another machine as the server. Customers with a large number of seats may want to have some that are still on white SIMs as security.

Version 8's associativity works just the same as Version 7's, except that it applies to any toolpath. For example, if you program a multisurface part, and then edit one of the surfaces, the operation will be marked "dirty" in the Operations Manager. All you need to do is click "Regen Path." It's also important to note that Mastercam is smart enough to recalculate only what it needs. For example, if you decided to change rapid heights, it wouldn't recalculate all the surfaces, saving time.

Mastercam Version 8 makes it easier than ever to program 2D solids. You just choose the faces you want to machine, and Mastercam automatically picks up the bounding geometry (including any islands), Z-depths, and other information.



Pick the solid face you want to pocket and Mastercam automatically selects all the necessary geometry, including pocket boundaries and Z-depth. You don't need to chain anything or create geometry!

Mastercam gives you several ways to create swept surfaces. As a default, Mastercam creates swept surfaces by breaking each "along" entity into an equal number of elements and matching those up to create the surface. While this works well for many cases, it can sometimes create unwanted surface ripples.

In this example, a standard swept surface may yield an odd shape at the edges of the sphere. To get a more desirable surface, choose "sync by entity" under "sync" in the chain menu when you are chaining the across entities. This will match the straight edge to the straight edge, the fillet to the fillet, the arc to the arc, and so on.

Please note that there are several options under the Sync menu. As you try each of them out, you'll find that they each work best for different situations.

By stepping in the corners, the tool is buried for a greater distance than it would be if stepping over perpendicular to the toolpath. The last pass, when spiraling inside to out, tends to chatter in the corner, especially in thin wall machining. Mastercam V7 has an option in the pocket finish parameters to "start finish passes at the closest entity." When checked, this will make the rough toolpath start and step over at the chain start point, even if the finish passes are turned off.

Mastercam can convert the following geometric entities:

100 Circular arc
102 Composite curve
104 Conic arc (ellipse, hyperbola, parabola)
106 Copious data (all forms-see IGES copious data forms below)
108 Bounded plane
110 Line
112 Parametric spline curve
114 Parametric spline surface
116 Point
118 Ruled surface
120 Revolved surface
122 Tabulated cylinder
124 Transformation matrix
126 Rational B-spline curve (NURBS)
128 Rational B-spline surface (NURBS)
140 Offset surface
141 Bounded curve
142 Surface curve
143 Bounded surface
144 Trimmed parametric surface

Mastercam can convert the following annotation entities:

202 Angular dimension
206 Diameter dimension
210 General label
212 General note
214 Leader (arrow)
216 Linear dimension
218 Ordinate dimension
220 Point dimension
222 Radius dimension

Mastercam can convert the following structure entities:

308 Sub figure definition
408 Singular sub figure instance

Mastercam can convert the following copious data forms:

01 2D point (IP=1)
02 3D point (IP=2)
03 3D point with IJK (IP=3)
11 2D linear curve (IP=1)
12 3D linear curve (IP=2)
13 3D linear curve with IJK (IP=3)
20 Center line through points (IP=1)
21 Center line through centers (IP=1)
31-38 Section forms 31-38 (IP=1)
40 Witness line (IP=1)
63 Simple closed planar curve (IP=1)

When cutting a slot, you may want to enter the slot gradually and avoid nicking the edge. An easy way to do this is to use the Lead in/out. In the Entry parameters, under Line, set the Length to a negative value and set the Ramp height. This will make the Ramp motion come from the opposite direction to the start of the slot. This strategy can be applied to the Exit move as well.