MasterCAM X

[jonbanquer]

Will X have a new post constructor ? Will it be graphical ? Will it be template based ?

jon

[Rekd]

In a word, no. Good to see you again, Jon.

The post construction will be modified considerably. It will use modules for your machine/controller types, but will NOT eliminate the text based post language.

Again, it would mean a loss of functionality if CNC were to go to a GUI based post and eliminate the text language.

[jonbanquer]

Hi Matt,

Hope all is well with you.

Because you have a graphical UI does not mean that you have to say goodbye to the text based language. All the good stand alone 3rd party post constructors seem to use a graphical UI and they all have a text based language. The graphical UI just makes things faster and easier. When things get complex or you need advanced logic the text based language is always there to use.

Can you describe the moduals for machine controler types that you refer to above in more detail ? Are they kind of like a template where you fill in info ?

jon

[Rekd]

I really can't go into any detail, (beta agreement and all), but you basically have modules that you use to 'build' your machine(s) with. You'll have components for each aspect of your machine, where you fill in parameters for that component.

We're in beta 5 right now, and are very close to release. I think we're going to get one more beta, then the release. If you're going to westek, you can see it there.

BTW, We're expecting another boy in April. That's good because son 1 will have someone else to beat up on besides Daddy.

[meconer]

Hi
I saw a small demo of new stuff in X on a fair here in sweden. I noticed the thing with the machine modules. Since I've been struggling with posts for rather advanced machines I think that this seems like a very important step in mc's development. I hope it will make the post building for advanced machines a lot more logical than it has been so far.
Mats

[jonbanquer]

Matt,

Thanks for the follow up. Sounds template based to me. I like template based post constructors. (FeatureCAM, EZCAM, etc. ) .

How about the X UI in regards to the big dialog boxs that pop up and obscure the model in V9. Has anything been done in this regard ?

I saw the screen shots that CNC Software put in their 4th quarter newsletter and I very much liked what I saw in regards to the main screen and tabbed toolpath /
geometry dockable window. Left me wanting to see more.

The other thing I really liked is the extensive customizable right mouse button. Nice !!!

Will X solids still make use of the Parasolid kernel and will solids still be an add-in ?

Congrats on your soon to be born son. Sounds like your gonna have some partners in crime in a few years. I'm sure they will want their own sand rails. :>)

jon

[Rekd]

Jon,

Most dialogs have been changed 100% in look/feel, but a lot of they layout is still very familiar. They're more out of the way now, and seem to remeber themselves better.

Things like the Ops/Solids manager being non-modal now are great. The verification engine seems twice as fast as the current 9.1 SP2 engine. There's also added features to it. Backplot has been greatly enhanced as well.

Solids will still be an add-on, but you won't need solids to be able to machine them.

It's gonna take a completely new way of thinking, especially in creating geometry. I'm still nowhere near as fast with X as I am with 9.1, but I can tell it's gonna be better by a long shot once I get it down and get the system config'd they way I want it.

[Rekd]

The other thing I really liked is the extensive customizable right mouse button. Nice !!!

Bryan over at eMastercam made a chook to let you customize the RMB in 9.1. Here's mine.

[jonbanquer]

Matt,

"Most dialogs have been changed 100% in look/feel, but a lot of they layout is still very familiar. They're more out of the way now, and seem to remeber themselves better."

Can't wait to see how they did this. I mean some of those dialog boxes use to be huge.

"Things like the Ops/Solids manager being non-modal now are great. The verification engine seems twice as fast as the current 9.1 SP2 engine. There's also added features to it. Backplot has been greatly enhanced as well."

Excellent on the non-modal !!!

I won't get into what I thought of the verification in V8... which was the last time I used MasterCAM (2 1/2 axis mill).

Glad to hear about Backplot. Gave me what I need and was just a little bit faster ;>)

"Solids will still be an add-on, but you won't need solids to be able to machine them. "

Great ! That makes a lot more sense to me.

"It's gonna take a completely new way of thinking, especially in creating geometry. I'm still nowhere near as fast with X as I am with 9.1, but I can tell it's gonna be better by a long shot once I get it down and get the system config'd they way I want it."

Hope to learn much more about this new way of creating geometry and why this change was implimented by CNC Software.

jon

[jonbanquer]

Matt,

Let me guess:

Before you would give up that C-hook for customizing the RMB there probably would be a slight altercation. :>)


jon

[femi]

Is Mastercam X 100% windows based or is it still windows/dos?

[jonbanquer]

Originally Posted by femi Is Mastercam X 100% windows based or is it still windows/dos?

100 percent Windows based.

jon