Looking at a training file that comes with a book I ordered. I open the file for the lesson and take a look in the Machining Operations Mangler. It contains two toolpath groups. The first one is empty. The second was has 1 operation that's labeled "Merged NCI" but contains nothing.

???

Is this a known Mastercam error or does this actually mean something? This "Merged NCI" folder in the Machining Operations Mangler contains no Tools, Geometry or Parameters.

When loading a MCX file and you are restoring the NCI paths into the session upon loading, there can be a discrepancy between the op manager's toolpath operations and the NCI toolpaths. ( so you can backplot or verify without having to regenerate paths ).

It will modify the op manager operations to display the last lot of paths you saved with, and indicate that the NCI was "merged" back into the mastercam session.

If you are happy with the path, keep it, if not, you will have to re-construct it again from scratch.

IMO, I would re-construct the operation so, if later ammending is required, while everything is still fresh in your mind.

When you post a file, you can tell it to output the NCI file. This is the NC Intermediate data format used (in older Mastercam versions) to post the NC (machine code) file.

If you have an old NCI file, you can import it and save it as an operation. You cant edit or change the parameters, but you can use it in addition with other Ops.

So you might have Rough and Finish NCI toolpath files for a cavity. You can import the NCI data and then do a Toolpath Transform to create multiple cavities.

Hope that helps.

Mike Mattera

When you post a file, you can tell it to output the NCI file. This is the NC Intermediate data format used (in older Mastercam versions) to post the NC (machine code) file.

If you have an old NCI file, you can import it and save it as an operation. You cant edit or change the parameters, but you can use it in addition with other Ops.

So you might have Rough and Finish NCI toolpath files for a cavity. You can import the NCI data and then do a Toolpath Transform to create multiple cavities.

Hope that helps.

Mike Mattera


Yes it does help. Thank you!