Tech Tips

A couple of weeks ago, Mastercam 2020 was released and today we are going to show you how to Install Mastercam 2020 and Mastercam for Solidworks 2020. We will be using the full install zip file which you can get from the Mastercam downloads page. After you download and unzip the installation media, right-click on the setup.exe file, select Run as Administrator. Next, click the button that corresponds with the product that you want to install. This article will show both installs – Standalone Mastercam on the left, and Mastercam for Solidworks on the right. On the first screen check [...]

We recently covered some of the new Add-in functions in Mastercam 2019, but today we would like to explain even more of them. In previous versions of Mastercam, these functions were referred to as C-Hooks or Net hooks. They can be used to customize, enhance, or extend Mastercam’s basic functionality. In many cases, popular functions have become integrated directly into the main program. The Mastercam Help file provides extensive information about the Add-ins and a complete list with descriptions of the more than forty Add-in functions included at install. This article will take a brief look at three of them: [...]

A new Mastercam toolpath is now available for 2D machining. The Model Chamfer toolpath allows you to machine safe horizontal chamfers on solid models. Model Chamfer only supports the following: Chamfer mill tool type Solid edges and faces for Chain geometry Surfaces, solids, and meshes for Avoidance model After selecting your Chain geometry, Model Chamfer has several unique parameters to further control the toolpath. You can enter a Side clearance for the Solid model, which is the distance away from the solid model you want the vertical part of your flute to clear. This option is set on the Toolpath [...]

Today, we are going to cover some of the Add-In functions supplied with Mastercam 2109. In previous versions of Mastercam, these were referred to as C-hooks, or Net hooks. These Add-Ins can be used to customize, enhance, or extend Mastercam’s basic functionality. In many cases, popular functions have become integrated directly into the main program. The Help file provides extensive information about Add-Ins and a complete list with descriptions of the more than forty Add-in functions included at install. This article will take a brief look at three of them; Points to Arcs, Drill Point, and Sort Circles. In this [...]

We have come a long way since writing G-code manually, shaving hours off of programming and machine time. But, every now and then, even a solid model can take valuable time to modify, especially if the solid was imported from a CAD system that is not directly compatible with the CAM software. The clock ticks loudly when you need to create a whole new wireframe or solid to perform a minor tweak that should take minutes. Recognizing this, CNC Software has incorporated features into Mastercam X7 that allow for the direct editing of solid models in Mastercam Solids and continue [...]

Today we are going to discuss how to properly set up your PC to use a high-performance graphics card. If not plugged into the High-performance card, your Mastercam software might seem a bit slow, sluggish, or worse, it may crash either during startup or when you are using the software. Overall, Mastercam is a graphics intense application that requires more power than what the onboard graphics can provide. Using high-performance graphics cards helps the software run smooth. The first thing you should do is look at the back of your computer tower. There are a few different options to plug [...]