Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Mastercam X4 MU1 is Released

Mastercam X4 Maintenance Update 1 (MU1) includes the latest enhancements and updates and is available to all current Mastercam Maintenance customers.

MU1 includes the following new functionality:
  • Improvements to Lathe cutter comp, specifically, cutter comp in control.
  • The Customer Feedback Program goes live. This voluntary program lets us gather data on how our customers use Mastercam in their daily workflow.
  • The ability to lock custom feeds and speeds so they don’t revert back to the default value.

Reset taper in Wire to bring the wire to a vertical position while respecting the lead-out length.
You can download Mastercam X4 MU1 from the Mastercam Web site. For more information, please contact your local Mastercam Reseller.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

New Power Libraries in Mastercam X4 Wire

Mastercam now has additional Wire power libraries available that are not supplied in the Mastercam installation.

The following power libraries are available:

Mitsubishi FA-S Advance Series Machining Conditions - (Metric)
The Mitsubishi FA-S Advance Series Power Libraries (Metric).zip contains the data from the Mitsubishi FA-S Advance Series – Machining Characteristics Data Book (Version 1.0 : BQN-W- 70538*).

Mitsubishi FA-P Series Machining Conditions - (Inch)
The Mitsubishi FA-P Series Power Libraries (Inch).zip contains the data from the Mitsubishi FA-P Series – Machining Characteristics Data tables.

Makino SP43, SP64 Series Machining Conditions - (Inch)
The Makino (SP43, SP64) Power Libraries.zip contains the data from the Makino SP43, SP64 Instruction Manual – Machining Conditions (Ver. 005.1 - Inch). And the related Makino – Plus Passes.zip contains POWER libraries with the “+1 Finish” machining conditions for the SP43, SP64 machines.

To request these files, please contact your local Mastercam Reseller.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Preventing Burn Marks Using Mastercam Router


Mastercam Router users can also benefit from High Speed Machining technology. Some cutting strategies in the traditional pocketing toolpath have sharp corners or “stopping stops” along the generated toolpath. This means the tool comes to a stop in one direction, and then starts feeding in another direction. This leaves a burn mark on your material. The new 2D High Speed Machining technology eliminates this problem by making rounded corners and looping paths along the toolpath that keep the tool moving around the part without leaving any burn marks.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Options for Creating Letters in Mastercam

If you’ve ever used the Create > Letters function, you know you can select from the Mastercam letter fonts:

  • Block
  • Roman
  • Box (default)
  • Slant

But did you know that you can also use any of the Mastercam note and text fonts?

  • Stick
  • Hartford
  • Roman
  • Old English
  • European
  • Palatino
  • Swiss
  • Dayville

You can also use custom fonts created in Mastercam, or, in addition, any TrueType® font installed on your workstation.

To use one of the Mastercam note and text fonts, simply select it from the font list:

To use a custom font created in Mastercam, select MCX (Other) Font, then select the proper Font folder.


To select any TrueType font, click the TrueType(R) button and select the font and style:


Note that if you select a Size, it will be overridden by the Parameters—Height setting in the Create Letters dialog box.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Benefits of Mastercam for SolidWorks

  • Mastercam users will recognize the shop-tested parameter screens and processes. They will be able to jump right into Mastercam for SolidWorks and immediately feel familiar with it.
  • SolidWorks users will feel at ease with the machining tree, which delivers quick access to any point in the machining process.

  • When model changes occur, users can update toolpaths in seconds instead of having to reprogram the part.
  • Updates for Mastercam for SolidWorks will be released on the same cycle as the other products in the Mastercam family, including enhancements to Feature Based Machining (FBM), high speed cutting, and many other sought after toolpaths.
  • Users can collaborate with other SolidWorks users who are working on the same project. Even if they do not have Mastercam for SolidWorks, both can work on the same native files.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks Now Released

CNC Software is proud to introduce the latest in its line of powerful Mastercam machining software – fully integrated CAM that runs seamlessly within SolidWorks.

Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks brings the world’s leading modeling software together with the world’s most widely-used CAM software. This means users can now program their parts directly within SolidWorks using the toolpaths and machining strategies preferred by shops around the world.


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Free Monthly Digital Mastercam Newsletter


Did you know that Mastercam offers a free monthly digital newsletter? The Mastercam NewsFlash monthly digital newsletter is another means of Mastercam information. It's open to anyone interested in Mastercam, but you must sign-up. This newsletter is not automatically emailed to Mastercam customers. It only takes a couple of seconds. Just follow the link below and enter your information.

Sign up here.


View some of the archived newsletters here.