CNC Program Management With CIMCO NC-Base

One of the most time-consuming jobs for a CNC programmer is management of their part programs and associated production documents. NC-Base from CIMCO makes that job easier and goes one step further. By providing programmers with an integrated and flexible search and editing tool, they can work more efficiently and effectively.
Here are some capabilities of NC-Base:

• Powerful SQL database engine capable of handling hundreds of thousands of programs and their associated production files


• Comprehensive search functionality modeled after the standard Microsoft search tool but enhanced for CNC program searching


• Customizable data fields


• File templates for setup sheet, tool list, and more


• Version controls allow programmers total control and flexibility over file versioning including the capability to compare updates with originals and in-process edits and handle the changes accordingly.

For more information on CIMCO’s NC-Base, please visit http://www.cimco-software.com/product_description.php3?prod_id=48.

Tech Tip: Verify Selection

Q: What does Verify Selection do?

A: When active, Verify Select lets you sort through entities that are close to each other so that you can make sure you select the correct one. Click the arrows until the desired entity is highlighted, and then click OK.

To make Verify Selection active, click the button on the General Selection ribbon bar:

If you have a good Tech Tip, please forward it to marketing@mastercam.com.

How To Make Faster and More Intuitive Selections

Left/Right Mouse Click:
You will notice if you use the drop-down list to set a specific selection type, it will work using the same rules as the AutoCursor.

If you choose a selection type with the left mouse button, that type will be used for a single selection, and then reverts back to the standard selection mode. If you right-click an option, it stays locked in that mode until you reset it by selecting the standard selection button.

Double-Click To End A Selection:
Double-click lets you keep your hand on the mouse more and reduce the number of times you have to press [Enter]. Start a function like Xform Translate without doing pre-selection, window the entities you want, and double-click when you define the second window. Your selection is completed and the Xform dialog is displayed. Or use a function like Join Entities where you can select multiple entities and press [Enter] to end the function. Instead you can just double-click on the last entity and the join is completed. If you forget to double-click on the last entity you selected, you can just double-click in an empty area of the screen and the system treats it like an end selection.

All and Only Availability:
We have made the All and Only masking options available in more functions. You will notice this especially in functions that prompt for single entities like the creation of curves on a surface edge. Now you can use masking to restrict the surface types.

Announcing the Mastercam 2008 Innovator of the Future Contest

The Mastercam Innovator of the Future (IOF) contest entices students with a challenge to manufacture a real-world part, a celebrity judge (this year it is the one and only Boyd Coddington), and the chance to win a scholarship and trip to California to meet Boyd and tour his shop. This competition provides instructors with a powerful, motivational tool to get students excited about learning CAD/CAM and the manufacturing process.

This year, the IOF contest challenges students to design and cut a steering wheel. Their entries will be sent to Boyd, who will select the winner based on several criteria including innovative design, accuracy, and the quality of machining finish.

Boyd was the first Mastercam IOF celebrity judge. He was impressed by the parts entered that year and was eager to be our celebrity judge again for 2007. We are thrilled to have him involved again! The deadline to enter a part into the IOF contest is December 31, 2007.

To learn more about the Mastercam IOF contest, to view the rules and part specifications, and to find out where to send your entries, please visit http://www.mastercamiof.com/.

Mastercam X2 MR2 Provides New Tools and Enhancements

Mastercam X2 Maintenance Release 2 delivers new functionality as well as many enhancements to existing X2 functions. Here are just a few of the functions you will find in the MR2 release:

“Peel Milling” toolpath - New to the release, peel milling’s interface uses the popular tree control-style familiar to HST users. The peel milling toolpath allows for efficient constant climb milling using a trochoidal style of motion with accelerated “back” feed moves when the tool is not engaged in material. The toolpath supports single chains, giving you the option to define the width of the cut.

Saw Toolpath – This new toolpath lets you create saw toolpaths more easily and with fewer operations than before.

Create Boundary function – Using boundaries, this function makes surface toolpath creation easier by restricting the tool to specific areas. The Create Boundary function allows you to calculate the boundary using shallow areas, theoretical rest areas, cutter contact areas, and enhanced silhouette boundary controls.

Swept Surfaces improvements – New techniques provide more sweep orientation control options and greater flexibility in the use of multiple along and cross curves.

Advanced Multiaxis toolpaths – Many powerful enhancements have been added, including new “by region” machining and expanded entry and exit macros.

Level Manager – The Level Manager can now be moved to a second monitor and left open. You can also hide all geometry except what is on the main level or display a range of levels in the Level Manager grid.

Operations Manager – You can now float the Operations Manager pane to a different area of the graphics window or to a separate screen when you are working with dual monitors.

The MR2 release also includes many other powerful enhancements. To watch some of the highlights in Mastercam X2 MR2 in action, please visit: http://www.mastercam.com/Products/Enhancements/Default.aspx.