Need Help!- MasterCam Machining Solid Drawing

[kesparate]

if you just want to create an array of these parts at a specific spacing you can use the transform option under the toolpaths menu. if you want the really fancy nesting function with all the optimized material usage stuff you're going to have to find some one with skillz. i'v never used any of those functions.

if you use the transform option to create an array i suggest you check the tab marked copy source operations and the sub-tab to suppress posting of source operations. also make sure you have all the operations you want to be included in the transform check in the dialog.

[stevec]

What I am wanting to do is put multiple part files on a single sheet of material to be cut. With the transform tool I think you can only create multiple of only that (one) part.

The array toolpath also works on a part containing solids, but you cannot add a source from a file or MC complains,

I guess I can group the parts before making toolpaths in MC but I thought it would be much nicer to choose what to cut right in MC.

So yes I may want the fancy nesting options or figure a easy way to remove the solids geo from my parts so I can use the regular parts nesting toolpath

Steve

[cadcam]

have you looked at geo nesting first then doing the paths?

[stevec]

It has occurred to me to gang the parts together then make the tool paths but decided against it because the quanity of the needed parts will change often and I dont want to make a new one for each time we need something cut.

It's a pain in the rear but what I am doing right now until a better idea comes up is to convert all my solids over to 2D art using the MC layout function (probley not the best) and then making the tool path manually and save.

This way I can at lease use the nesting function to order up parts as needed.

Any new ways to handle this is more than welcome.

I guess there are some 3rd party chooks that do what I want, but no budget for now.

Steve

[stevec]

I think I am going to put something up over in the Solidworks forum and ask how others are handling there 3D gang jobs in MC

Steve

[cadcam]

Steve no disrespect but why do you think the SW folks would have a better understanding of solids in Mastercam?

if there was an automated way to support nesting of solids in true shape nesting I would Know. there has been talk of this more then once among dealers of Mastercam and CNC software.

There is a short coming right now of not supporting Solids in nesting.

You have to bring the solids in and place them your self and program the parts. I am sorry to say.

or if you have all ready programed the parts in different files , then you can make one file a master then import the othere in to this file with there geo and compile one file with all the programs and models you have all ready done then post as a single file.

Also you may want to ask over at Emastercam.com if others have a better way.

Cadcam

[stevec]

Hi,

I was not trying to imply that the folks here did not know somthing the Solidworks guys do.

I was asking the solidworks people how to flaten my 3d stuff instead of using the MC layout function.

Some how this was not taken this way by others and I am sorry!

Thanks for everything