Mastercam 2021

[Mike1974]

Not sure if I am in the right place or not...

Any MCAM users here? Tips / tricks etc? Just wanted to start a group / title for cad /cam?

(mod move or delete as needed)

New user to 2021, question.
When I select some WF, it automatically moves my tab to WF, is there a way to prevent this? Say for example I select a line I want to delete, it goes to WF selection tab, and I have to click over to home to delete it?

 

[g-coder05]

Gonna move this to the CAD/CAM forum

 

[Mhajicek]

I'm still on X9 since I can't stand the newer interface. I know I need to get used to it eventually. There are still a few people over at eMastercam.com, though there was a huge exodus when they shut down their off topic area.

 

[Mike1974]

I don't know if this is new for 2021, or I just never discovered it before. I like (used to anyways) to program in absolute values for doc, drilling, etc. We make some parts that have small pockets, sometimes less than .1 x .2 or so, with varying floor depths. I just discovered if pick the floor as a solid face and set my depth to incremental "0" it will cut each floor at the proper depth. DOH! Been doing it the hard way. This is going to be a huge timesaver for me, loving it!

 

[Mhajicek]

I don't know if this is new for 2021, or I just never discovered it before.

Same as it ever was. That's what "incremental" means. Works great for drilling holes with varying depths or starting at different heights too.

 

[CNC_Chip_Thin]

I haven't used MCam since X9 ages ago but will be getting into the 2021 version starting in a few weeks. Going to a few training sessions which should be helpful. From what I've heard about interface changes, I'm going into this expecting to start like I've never used MCam before. Looking forward to participating in this thread and helping where I can.

 

[Mhajicek]

I'm still using X9. I've tried several times to get into the new interface but keep falling back to X9 when I have to get stuff done, which is most of the time.

 

[Plastikdreams]

I'm still using X9. I've tried several times to get into the new interface but keep falling back to X9 when I have to get stuff done, which is most of the time.

Don't feel bad, I'm still on x2 lol

 

[Kustomizer]

Don't feel bad, I'm still on x2 lol

Version 9 here, 9 not x9, I bought up to x7 but mostly prever the old 9

 

[Mhajicek]

Version 9 here, 9 not x9, I bought up to x7 but mostly prever the old 9

It did have some advantages. Faster, more streamlined interface.

 

[Plastikdreams]

I tried 9 once, couldn't get the swing of it.

 

[Mike1974]

Same as it ever was. That's what "incremental" means. Works great for drilling holes with varying depths or starting at different heights too.

LoL I know what incremental means, but I didn't know I could use it as described. Anyways, looking forward to doing all my programming like this!

 

[Plastikdreams]

I'd like to get better at 3d cad on Mastercam, I know it's pretty good but I'd like to be able to modify solid models like my coworker does on nx...may not be possible, I'm guessing nx is going to be my next learn.

 

[Mike1974]

I'd like to get better at 3d cad on Mastercam, I know it's pretty good but I'd like to be able to modify solid models like my coworker does on nx...may not be possible, I'm guessing nx is going to be my next learn.

You have X9 or newer? Solids is pretty good in the later versions. Not as good as NX I'm sure, but there are alot of tools in there. If I have wireframe only I usually create a solid, then export as parasolid, open in Solidworks then create a Solidworks part from it.

 

[Plastikdreams]

You have X9 or newer? Solids is pretty good in the later versions. Not as good as NX I'm sure, but there are alot of tools in there. If I have wireframe only I usually create a solid, then export as parasolid, open in Solidworks then create a Solidworks part from it.

I rely on x2

 

[Mhajicek]

In X9 and later they have "model prep" functions that allow you to alter features on a dumb solid. That's been pretty handy.