More Mastercam Tech Tips Revealed

The following are some frequently asked questions regarding Mastercam. You can always visit the Mastercam Web site for a more complete list of useful Mastercam Tech Tips.

Q: Why am I getting a “Windows requires a digitally signed driver” error message when installing Mastercam X2 on a Vista 64 machine?

A: When installing any Mastercam X version from the initial release of Mastercam X through Mastercam X2 on a Vista 64 bit machine, you will receive the following error message:

Vista 64 is the first Microsoft operating system that requires a signed driver in an effort to combat malicious programs. To install Mastercam on the Vista 64 machine, follow the below instructions:

• Restart your computer and hold down the key to get to the “Advance Boot Options” menu.


• Select the “Disable Drive Signature Enforcement” option. Windows should boot now.


• If you did not uninstall your previously failed Mastercam installation, do so now.


• When the uninstall is complete, install Mastercam again. This time, the driver will install correctly, and you will be able to run Mastercam. From this point on, you will be able to boot Windows normally and run Mastercam.
  

Mastercam and Vista Tech Tip

Q: What versions of Mastercam are supported in Windows Vista? Do any settings have to be modified to get it to run correctly?

A: Mastercam X2MR1 is the first release to support Windows Vista. If you choose to upgrade to Vista, you must install X2 MR1 for Mastercam to run properly. This requires no special steps. Mastercam will act and look the same in Vista. You can take advantage of some new Vista features, but Mastercam’s interface is unchanged. Some users with NVidia graphics cards may experience graphics issues due to a lack of OpenGL support in NVidia’s Vista drivers. Use the procedure below as a workaround until a usable driver is released:

• Right-click on your Mastercam shortcut


• Select Properties


• Click on the Compatibility tab


• Enable the “Disable desktop composition” checkbox

Raising a Business On A Budget

Westlake, Louisiana (population 4,668) is not exactly a thriving manufacturing community. But that hasn’t prevented Don Ford, owner of Ford CNC, from following his passion, which happens to be manufacturing. To grow his business, he invested in a solid, used CNC mill and advanced CAD/CAM software. He’s learning to use these tools for all they are worth and relying on an abundance of inexpensive or free resources to get him over the inevitable bumps.

Challenge

Transform a part-time machining business into a full-time operation.

Solution
Mastercam X CAD/CAM Software combined with inexpensive or completely free educational and training resources.

Benefits

• Improved workflow
• Improved productivity
• Increased capability translating into higher profitability
• Low cost educational resources conserves capital which can be invested in hard business assets

Project Details
Ford CNC is a very small shop located in rural Westlake, LA. The owner, Don Ford, operates the business during his “spare” time, taking advantage of a unique 14-days-on/14-days-off work schedule at his full-time chemical plant job.

Soon he hopes to transition this work into a full time business and Mastercam is helping a lot. Since installing his Mastercam Seat at the beginning of 2007 he has nearly doubled the amount of work he is handling with his Ocuma Mill. This is because he gets parts programmed so much faster. In addition, quality has improved since he has been using a number of toolpaths designed to improve surface finish.

Don Ford’s plan is to continue building up his applications knowledge and CAD/CAM skills. That should take his business to the next level. His self-directed training program takes advantage of an abundance of free or nearly free resources available to every Mastercam user.
Here is Ford’s personal list low- or no-cost business-building resources for small shop owners:

Friends. Don Ford has a lot of them. A shop-owner friend in another part of the country gives him all kinds of good advice about machining and workholding strategies, equipment and software. Friends can also keep you out of trouble. Ford recently handed off a very complex part to a friend in the business because it was a little bit out of reach for him in terms of his current equipment. This allowed him to keep a good customer happy.

Resellers. Basic training came bundled with his CAD/CAM software seat. Ford also plans to invest in advanced training, but until he does his distributor has been more than happy to answer questions when Ford ventures into unfamiliar territory.

Net Viewer. Ford’s Mastercam Reseller is located about 75 miles from his shop but that is less of a problem than you might think. “If I am having trouble with a part, we both log onto Netviewer on the Internet (http://www.netviewer.net/). He can either look at my screen or I can look at his. He can run mine or I can run his. When I’m starting to struggle and I need to get work out, it’s like he’s sitting right beside me.”

Books and Articles. There are all kinds of books and articles that have helped Ford improve his machining skills. But reading is not enough in his case. He picks up new information much more quickly if he can read about it and then see it demonstrated.

Steaming Video. For online demonstrations, is very excited about a web site called StreamingTeacher (http://www.streamingteacher.com/). The site was started by a Mastercam Reseller who has posted libraries of show & tell videos on a wide range of subjects related to Mastercam and AutoCAD. Visitors can sign for unlimited access to a library of courseware by the quarter, half year, or annually.

Forums and Message Boards. Don Ford is even getting a helping hand from people he has never actually met. He meets them on forums and message boards. For example, he asked for some information about thread milling on eMastercam (http://www.emastercam.com/) and helpful suggestions from another user were waiting for him when he checked in the next morning.

Is this self-education program working for Ford? Let’s see:

• During the first half of 2007 there have been several months when Ford CNC brought in more income than his full-time job.
• Word is getting out about the shop’s good work and fast turnaroundAnd Ford CNC is growing a backlog.

Theory and Practice: Mastercam’s Machine Shop

We all learn a lot from bringing theory into real-world practice. Ask anyone who’s learned to fly a plane after using only a flight simulator — there are just some things that you can only learn from practical experience.

That’s CNC Software’s view on CAD/CAM software. Unlike most CAD/CAM developers, CNC Software has a fully equipped machine shop to do practical R&D on new toolpaths, refine existing ones, and produce factory-approved post processors. We get new machines from time to time to help ensure a good mix of different styles and manufacturers using the latest technology.

This practical testing is crucial to producing software that solves problems actually encountered by many shops. For example, we test our high speed toolpaths on hard-milling applications (over 60 Rockwells), giving us feedback that simply wouldn’t be available in any other way. We also get valuable insights from our machinists, who can help us fine-tune new cutting techniques by bringing their “sound and feel” experience to the software.

The current Mastercam machine shop houses three machines in 700 square feet, including a high speed mill and a multiaxis machine. Our commitment to this practical method of CAD/CAM creation is continuing as we expand the shop to almost 3,000 square feet to make room for a variety of new equipment including a router and a multi-tasking machine.

Sometimes our programmers do some pretty wild stuff, just to test the limits of the software and our machines. The results are fun to watch; if you’d like to see an example, go to: http://www.mastercam.com/video

Mastercam Provides Multimedia Videos on Web

We added new videos to our Multimedia section on the Mastercam Web site. This page gives you the opportunity to explore some of the latest features in the Mastercam X family with downloadable video demonstrations, narrated overviews, and documentation highlighting powerful new tools.

The Mastercam X High Feed Optimization video focuses on the benefits of Mastercam’s High Feed Optimization, including how this function can maximize your tooling and machine tool’s capabilities. You will learn how Mastercam’s high feed technology will automatically adjust the feed rate based on the volume of material the tool is engaged in, and much more. This video requires the Adobe Flash player to view.

The Mastercam X MR2 What’s New videos showcase the latest features in the Mastercam X MR2 release. These narrated videos highlight new functionality including the new Advanced Multiaxis toolpaths, changes to the High Speed (HST) toolpaths, and Mastercam Art. They require the Adobe Flash player to view.

The Mastercam X MR1 What’s New videos are also still available for viewing in case you haven’t seen them before. These narrated videos focus on the functionality in Mastercam X MR1, including the new high speed surface toolpaths (HST) and Mastercam Wire. In addition,

the Introducing Mastercam X video and the Machine and Control Definition toolkit are still available on the Web site. These materials go over the features of Mastercam X and look at Mastercam’s Machine and Control Definition in greater detail.

The Multimedia page at Mastercam.com will be continuously updated with new, exciting material, so check back often! http://www.mastercam.com/Support/Multimedia/Default.aspx