Is it just me, or is Mastercam Lathe unnecessarily convoluted?

[neurosis]

Our lathe programmer quit about a month ago leaving a mess behind. Even though I got my start on lathe work, I try to stay away from it in my older age.  I've been trying to help while management tries to fill the position.

We were using TopSolid for our lathe work but nobody here other than me wanted to use it so as the story goes, we dropped it and picked up the lathe module for Mastercam. Not that I didn't before, but I now have a new appreciation for TopSolid.  

Mastercam Lathe is just a mess of unnecessary complications.  I guess that it all makes sense once you get used to it?  There is no issue getting parts programmed but it seems like it takes 10X longer than it did in TS and makes 1/2 of the sense.   

/rant 

I liked GibbsCam better if that says anything. 

[Incogneeto]

/rant 

I liked GibbsCam better if that says anything. 

I preferred GibbsCam also for lathe. Both MC and Fusion seem to cover a lot of Unnecessary Ground .


Heyyyy!! We agree on Something.

You're Smarter than Ya Look.

[neurosis]

Both MC and Fusion seem to cover a lot of Unnecessary Ground .

It's not even that it "covers unnecessary ground". It just does things in a confusing way. The planes make no sense. Defining chuck jaws, and I'm sure that this is mostly the new interface and will be fixed, but it makes no sense the way it's set up. It would be faster to draw  your own jaws and use that geometry.

The stock flip doesn't appear to give you any way to easily go from a side 1 chucking on the id, to side to, chucking on the od with a different set of jaws.  Are you supposed to start a new machine definition?  lol. 

This stuff was all pretty simple in TS.  If you want to talk overkill, TS was super overkill and yet still some how less convoluted. 

[__]

It's not even that it "covers unnecessary ground". It just does things in a confusing way. The planes make no sense. Defining chuck jaws, and I'm sure that this is mostly the new interface and will be fixed, but it makes no sense the way it's set up. It would be faster to draw  your own jaws and use that geometry.

The stock flip doesn't appear to give you any way to easily go from a side 1 chucking on the id, to side to, chucking on the od with a different set of jaws.  Are you supposed to start a new machine definition?  lol. 

This stuff was all pretty simple in TS.  If you want to talk overkill, TS was super overkill and yet still some how less convoluted. 

"Side 1 to side to" x]

You seem to have zeroed in on some of the weak points.

For the chucking with different jaws, yes i think define a new machine group for the different jaws would be the best way, machines groups are your friends! 😀

[Incogneeto]

It's not even that it "covers unnecessary ground". It just does things in a confusing way. The planes make no sense. Defining chuck jaws, and I'm sure that this is mostly the new interface and will be fixed, but it makes no sense the way it's set up. It would be faster to draw  your own jaws and use that geometry.

The stock flip doesn't appear to give you any way to easily go from a side 1 chucking on the id, to side to, chucking on the od with a different set of jaws.  Are you supposed to start a new machine definition?  lol. 

This stuff was all pretty simple in TS.  If you want to talk overkill, TS was super overkill and yet still some how less convoluted. 

And I think you must have just learned a new word today. (Convoluted)

And you have a need to use it.

I have no experience with TS.

Therefore, My Brain is Not Convoluted.

I just know what is simpler and easier.

[Incogneeto]

It's not even that it "covers unnecessary ground". It just does things in a confusing way. The planes make no sense. Defining chuck jaws, and I'm sure that this is mostly the new interface and will be fixed, but it makes no sense the way it's set up. It would be faster to draw  your own jaws and use that geometry.

The stock flip doesn't appear to give you any way to easily go from a side 1 chucking on the id, to side to, chucking on the od with a different set of jaws.  Are you supposed to start a new machine definition?  lol. 

This stuff was all pretty simple in TS.  If you want to talk overkill, TS was super overkill and yet still some how less convoluted. 

I know I'm simple minded but unless there is a clearance issue I don't care how the Lathe holds it.

[neurosis]

And I think you must have just learned a new word today. (Convoluted)

And you have a need to use it.

I used it twice. Nit picker. You typed it as many times as I did to point it out.     

I haven't used Gibbs since 2008ish so I have no idea how it's progressed. It was at the other end of the spectrum. Underwhelming and super simple.  We could teach some of the youngsters to make a simple program for themselves pretty easily.

machines groups are your friends!

So I don't suppose that the "stock transfer" is usable between groups?   

[__]

I used it twice. Nit picker. You typed it as many times as I did to point it out.     

I haven't used Gibbs since 2008ish so I have no idea how it's progressed. It was at the other end of the spectrum. Underwhelming and super simple.  We could teach some of the youngsters to make a simple program for themselves pretty easily.

So I don't suppose that the "stock transfer" is usable between groups? 

That costs extra bro,
Jk, I dno, never used it

[Incogneeto]

I used it twice. Nit picker. You typed it as many times as I did to point it out.     

I haven't used Gibbs since 2008ish so I have no idea how it's progressed. It was at the other end of the spectrum. Underwhelming and super simple.  We could teach some of the youngsters to make a simple program for themselves pretty easily.

So I don't suppose that the "stock transfer" is usable between groups? 

Yes I think 2006 for me.

I was one of those youngsters.

If I remember correctly you can set up your Machine groups and save them. For future use.

And yes stock transfer. But it's been a Bit.

Also Defined Planes. I believe they can be set as Default.

But Like I said "I'm Simple Not Convoluted"

[neurosis]

I know I'm simple minded but unless there is a clearance issue I don't care how the Lathe holds it.

In this particular case, it doesn't.  The clearance issues are on the first side. The second isn't a concern. It's just the OCD kicking in.  I want it to look like it's supposed to. 

[gcode]

I have the best lathe solution there is.
I ask my genius lathe guy to take care of it, and it's done

[__]

I have the best lathe solution there is.
I ask my genius lathe guy to take care of it, and it's done

Spoken like a true boss

[neurosis]

I have the best lathe solution there is.
I ask my genius lathe guy to take care of it, and it's done

Our genius Lathe guy quit.

Our boss likes to quote jobs that we probably have no business taking and then say's "figure it out".  I think the old lathe programmer got tired having to figure everything out and took a cushy job closer to his house.

Can't say that I blame him. 

Not sure I like being drop kicked in to the "figure it out" position. 

[Incogneeto]

Our genius Lathe guy quit.

Our boss likes to quote jobs that we probably have no business taking and then say's "figure it out".  I think the old lathe programmer got tired having to figure everything out and took a cushy job closer to his house.

Can't say that I blame him. 

Not sure I like being drop kicked in to the "figure it out" position.

Hence the simpler approach. Get good at this and guess where your next promotion or Demotion will be.??

Maybe just skid By so they actually Hire someone.??

Ok I take back the "Smarter than you Look " comment.

[neurosis]

Hence the simpler approach. Get good at this and guess where your next promotion or Demotion will be.??

Maybe just skid By so they actually Hire someone.??

I'm already stuck in the "figure it out" mill position. For the last 30 years.  I've been here longer than the owner.    Now that I think about it, I've been here longer than anyone who works here.