Mastercam?

[Barbter]

Any Mastercam users here?
If you've not seen this, it's worth the watch before updating to 2023....

Watch This Before Upgrading to Mastercam 2023

The new Machine Group Setup for 2023 is a bit tricky if you are used to the old way.

blog.caminstructor.com

 

[Freedommachine]

I use mastercam x9. I wouldn't call myself a proficient user though. The same goes for solidworks, I get by but barely lol.

 

[Barbter]

X9 is great. Very Solid.
Just like V9 was back in 1999.
The last of the versions before the 2x major re-writes, they got right....

 

[Mhajicek]

Still using X9 here. Last version before they decided the more clicks the better.

 

[Barbter]

Still using X9 here. Last version before they decided the more clicks the better.

I did get 2020 "nice" and configured as I liked it. And with the overall other niceties which I can't remember now LoL, I was happy with it.
This was after I sold up though, so at my place I only used X9.
But I was never super fast as it was never a full time job for me - prolly a couple or 3 "real" progs a month on average but the factory to run and everything else that went with it.
Including getting in work....

I guess you're now well into the "99 other things to do", now you have your own place

 

[Mhajicek]

Yeah, I learned to use Mastercam primarily by keystroke instead of mouse click way back in '96; it's about three or four times faster. That's the biggest thing I hate about 2017+, is that they ruined the "access keys". When I'd talk about that with the UI team most of them didn't even know what I was talking about and kept repeating "You can still configure hotkeys!" Then when I finally got through, they said they were sticking with what they were doing because that's what Microsoft does...

 

[Barbter]

Yes, hotkeys are better in 2020, but still not what I wanted (identical to the Autocad PGP user programable system).
Way back I had a telecon with Dave Boucher @Tolland and he loved the idea and said he was sure that it would be coming....but I had 2020 set up with some nice 1x clicks which again I can't remember now without firing up the laptop!
But yes- it was still WAY limited to how you had it configured back in the day.

 

[Mhajicek]

Access keys (not hotkeys):

They used to be much more streamlined and quick; since 2017 they have nonsensical double letter access keys for many selections, and it's not user configurable. Back pre-X they were user configurable.

 

[lobust]

they said they were sticking with what they were doing because that's what Microsoft does...

That is the issue right there and it’s a trend in the software industry. Windows has always been VERY clicky compared to everything else and it can be extremely frustrating in more complex software. It’s the same reason seasoned windows users think macs are too simple and Linux is too complicated. They are used to using the mouse for everything and other os’s simply don’t work that way.

Unfortunately I don‘t think it’s going away any time soon.