SW2005 sp3 & MasterCAM9.1

Hey guys... we are having issues with our MasterCAM9.1 creating tool
paths with any files created from SW2005 sp3.... We recently, within
the past 2 weeks, updated to latest service pack in solidworks... Since
that point, our programmer has seen a major major slowdown of mastercam
while programming parts from the lastest service pack... He pulled up
an older model, from an earlier service pack, and mastercam flies thru
calculating the tool path... Mastercam runs like a turtle with the
lastest service pack... Has anyone else seen this issue? if so, do you
have any work arounds? please let me know... Thanks...

Jeff

 

Jeff,

Stupid question I know, but are you using the same file so as to compare
apples to apples, or are you saying that it appears slower.
Also, how are you getting from SW to MC; Iges, Parasolid??
The reason that I ask is I would like to try it for myself and let you know
my findings.

Thanks,
Muggs

 

Muggs.... we are using a parasolids inside Mastercam.... The file we
are using as a test runs super slow on 2 different boxes with
mastercam.... It takes approx. 30-45 minutes to get a tool path... now
to add more gas on the fire of confusion, we partially redid the model
on another solidworks box with SP3 and it does the tool path super fast
on one and not on another... The models were both created the same
way... Who knows, we are all at loss... My VAR hadnt heard of any
issues but not sure if i believe him thanks for the help... Let me
know your results...

Jeff

 

ok, more to add after some other trials... We opened the original part
file inside solidworks and saved it out as a parasolid for our
programmer... And lo and behold it worked like it should... The only
thing i can figure is that somehow the translator in MasterCAM is goin
nuts... The programmer opens up the *.sldprt file up in MasterCAM and
then it runs it thru a converter over to a Parasolid... anyhoo, thanks
again for the help, i am curious as to the results you get...

Jeff

 

Hey Jeff,

I just tried a couple of different models that I knew were created in
something before SP3, and then opened them up in SW SP3 and there doesn't
seem to be any difference.
One thing though; I don't use the MasterCam Direct add-in, I Save-As binary
parasolid from SW and File>Convert>Parasolid into MC. Could that be the
difference?

Muggs

 

Is there a reason behind not using the MasterCAM Direct Add-IN or are
you more comfortable with what solidworks spits out? We had very good
success with the original model when we did what you said with dumping
the model outta solidworks as a parasolid then opening that parasolid
into mastercam... we have a call into our MasterCAM reseller and
hopefully they may be able to resolve our issue... Until then, i think
we will be dumping out parasolids for the programmer... Thanks for your
help.. If anyone else has anything to add, i am all ears..

Jeff

 

Hey Jeff,

No reason really, just the way I've always done it, and because I know that
MC likes parasolids.

Muggs

 

Jeff,

One of the reasons I use parasolid is I can create a machining origin in SW,
and output the file relative to that origin. MC direct pulls the file in at
the default SW origin so you have to jump through a few small hoops, in MC,
before you can program.

Also,, in the past MC hasn't kept up with the versions of parasolid used by
SW. They've been pretty good about writing add ins to deal with this, but my
way works better for me.

Regards

Mark