Using the Mastercam Zip2Go Feature
In this post we will explore the Mastercam Zip2Go feature, how it's helpful, and how to create one. A Zip2Go or Z2G file is a file created by Mastercam’s Zip2Go wizard. This file allows you to easily consolidate the files necessary for sharing programs with others. For example, if you have an issue with a tool while creating or using it, you may have to share a tool library. If you have an issue with a post, you would need to gather your machine files. It is possible that all of these things could be necessary for the individual receiving the file, so they can recreate the situation you are currently experiencing. Here's how it works. To begin, go to the File tab and go down to Zip2Go. You can also use Zip2Go from the quick access toolbar generally located in the top left region of the interface. After you click on the Zip2Go icon you will be prompted to save your part file. Next, the Zip2Go wizard will open and give you three options; Create, Edit, and Extract. Start by creating a file. Inside the File Options page, select the desired files to add to your Z2G file. You can remove or [...]
Xact Metal Announces Partnership with Uddeholm to Offer Corrax Tool Steel Powder
With an aim to expand access to affordable metal 3D printing for small-to-medium size companies and decentralize additive manufacturing, today Xact Metal™ is excited to announce its partnership with Uddeholm, a voestalpine company, to supply Corrax tool steel for additive manufacturing, in support of the company’s expansion into the tooling and molding space. Xact Metal’s goal to break down barriers into powder-bed fusion technology by providing high-performing metal 3D printers at a low cost, coupled with the introduction of Corrax for AM by Uddeholm, grants Xact Metal customers access to a corrosion-resistant, cobalt-free tool and mold steel capable of an A1 surface finish post-polishing. “We are proud of our partnership with Uddeholm,” said Juan Mario Gomez, Xact Metal CEO, “which grants us the ability to offer their revolutionary Corrax metal powder. This intersection between our affordable, high-performing 3D printing technology and Uddeholm’s material expertise is the point where the adoption of additive manufacturing can begin serving the tooling and molding industry. Uddeholm’s rich history and practical knowledge in the steel industry brings a legacy of excellence and innovation to our collaboration.” Traditionally, molders and mold makers faced limitations in creating optimal internal structures for molds due to the constraints of traditional manufacturing methods. [...]
Introducing Verisurf Universal CMM
Attention all Mastercam users who inspect parts using a CMM . . . You no longer need to tolerate the programming system that came with your Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). If you have multiple CMM’s, each with their own clumsy programming system, you can now program them all using a single simple-to-use software product that runs from within the user-friendly Mastercam programming environment. While CMM’s are a necessity in most job shops and manufacturing facilities, the software tools provided to program them can be challenging and cumbersome. In fact, many companies delegate one expert to develop inspection plans for their CMM(s). But what happens then when that person is unavailable? What if programming inspection plans became as simple as programming your CNC’s? What if every CNC programmer could easily transition to also being a CMM programmer? Verisurf’s Universal CMM software (UCMM) takes advantage of the Mastercam User Interface and runs from within the Mastercam Design product, making the transition for a CNC programmer to also handle CMM programming fast and painless. Verisurf’s UCMM offers a software-only solution that can replace your current, cryptic CMM programming system with a simple solution that includes all of the Mastercam tools for geometry selection and manipulation without [...]
Performing Calipers-only Inspection
Many Mastercam users still work from 2D prints to machine parts and don't have solid models. In these cases, manual "virtual" measurement tools may still be used to take measurements even in the absence of a solid model. Let's imagine that you just machined the connecting arm below from a 2D print and don’t have a nominal CAD model to compare against. In previous blog posts, we showed how to create Regions on the model and then the software will best fit features to the mesh and those features may then be measured for size values, distance values (feature to feature, as shown below) and so on. This provided one method for inspection of a mesh-only. The Features are created, dimensions are taken and compared to values and tolerances shown on the print. Below are the two Bore sizes and the distance between bores using the Regions’ model. But what if you want to simulate using calipers only to inspect this part? Let’s explore how this tool works. First, we import the scan (mesh or point cloud) into Control X. Next, we select the option for Virtual Calipers, located on the bottom right side of the graphics screen. All of the manual measurement [...]
Photopolymer 3D Printing Material Tailored to Industrial Performance
The Pro XL makes precision 3D printing of polymer resins available in a compact, affordable package. With premium features like a 385 nm wavelength that efficiently processes a variety of materials and a 5 mW/cm2 power source that cures resins faster with crisp details, the Pro XL is a scalable solution for ultra-high-resolution end-use parts available at less than half the price of competitive offerings. Based on the team at ETEC’s decades of experience with digital light processing (DLP) technology, the Pro XL was developed to deliver consistent accuracy and high throughput. The platform allows manufacturers to scale from prototype to production and keep manufacturing on schedule. A 65-micron native pixel size over a competitive build area meets the needs of applications in a wide range of industries. And because the Pro XL is such a versatile production tool, we’ve tailored a material portfolio with the performance to meet the needs of a range of industrial applications. Targeting some of the best property sets available, our list of qualified premium materials allows customers to embrace the benefits of 3D printing without sacrificing performance. Read on for an overview of the industry-leading materials available on the Pro XL: Hard and High-Temperature Plastics Henkel LOCTITE® [...]
From Scan to NC: Reverse Engineering for CAM Applications
From Scan-to-NC: Reverse Engineering for CAM Applications Cimquest's Joel Pollet, Third-Party Sales Manager, in partnership with Oqton, showcases how, with the right Reverse Engineering tool, you can reduce your time-to-NC-code, program and cut more parts, and make your shop floor more productive.