Newbie- What's different betwen Mstercam X and X2/X3?

[swingwing205]

I'm starting to learn MastercamX at home, but my work uses Mastercam X2 and is trying to get X3 up and going. What's different between these versions, and what might help a Newb out? Thanks in advance...

[Matt Berube]

Well, since you have access to numerous versions, look at the What's New document. This should highlight all improvements for each version.

You can find the document via your Start button...

Start>>All Programs>>Mastercam X2>> Documentation>> What's New...

or...

In the install folder...

C:\Mastercam X2\Documentation\What's New

Hope this helps. Mastercam has been creating this document for each new version for as long as I can remember.

[Mike Mattera]

Matt's right. What's new is the best place to start.

But Really... If you have X3, why would you bother with the older versions. Just load the latest & greatest.

Mike Mattera

[Derek Goodwin]

X was a brand new platform for Mastercam, and created a lot of frustration for legacy users, but also created some new functionality, such as high speed toolpaths. X2 fixed a lot of bugs from the first X release, it is definitely better. X3 introduced feature based machining, which may be good for people with limited CAM experience, but most power users are not impressed. It did however introduce more solidworks integration, so that if you import a solidworks file, it retains the history tree, this allows you to edit features on the solid model, as they were created in solidworks, which is a real advantage. The first release of X3 had some hiccups, but the first maintenance release is now available. I have been using X3 and am happy with it.

[swingwing205]

Degmc, this is exactly the kind of info I needed. I appreciate your not giving me the generic "look in the what's new folder" answer.

So, the interface is basically unchanged from X to X3, but there are bells and whistles that have been added, correct? It kind of sounds like X3 is a simplified version of X, but not as powerful if you use feature recognition capabilities, which is a given (I've got formal training and experience with Featurecam, but it lacks power and versatility for the same reason). I'm not a legacy user, so I hope that helps my learning that CAM.

Any tricks that you might think would help me in learning, especially with 3+ axis programming? Or just general things that maybe someone that's basically new to CAM might possibly overlook?

[mastercamguru]

The cd's are an easy way to learn X....Alot cheaper than formal classes, and you can learn at your own pace.


http://www.tipsformanufacturing.com/...tro_to_x3.html



S4A has a tutorial that comes with a demo X3 cd you can use at home without a hasp.


http://www.s4a.us/learning_tools/SFA_Learning_Kit.htm



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[Derek Goodwin]

So, the interface is basically unchanged from X to X3, but there are bells and whistles that have been added, correct?

Yes the interface is basically the same, but the software has evolved. X3 is definitely a much improved platform. There are some well publicized bugs, with the new release, as there always are, but the first maintenance release is now available.
I offer video training at http://eapprentice.net/ you can take a free tour. The products that mastercamguru mentions are also well established training materials. They all have their differences, so look through and decide what works for you.
Community college is also a good resource, if you have one that teaches Mastercam in your area. I teach at DeAnza College http://www.deanza.edu/manufacturing/ and i can tell you from experience that some people like books, others like video, and can learn at their own pace, and others just need hands on instruction. Jump in and have fun.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by swingwing205 Degmc, this is exactly the kind of info I needed. I appreciate your not giving me the generic "look in the what's new folder" answer. So, the interface is basically unchanged from X to X3, but there are bells and whistles that have been added, correct? It kind of sounds like X3 is a simplified version of X, but not as powerful if you use feature recognition capabilities, which is a given (I've got formal training and experience with Featurecam, but it lacks power and versatility for the same reason). I'm not a legacy user, so I hope that helps my learning that CAM. Any tricks that you might think would help me in learning, especially with 3+ axis programming? Or just general things that maybe someone that's basically new to CAM might possibly overlook?

If you read the information on the EMastercam Forum you will find tons of improvements in X3. The most noticed is the Tool Path Processing Time for 3D Features. There is also the Bench Mark Test where members are testing PC Builds.

Personally I would do as Mike Mattera suggests and go with the Latest and Greatest if you have access to all 3 versions. It wouldn't make sense to take a step, or two steps backwards.