MCAM Northwest Events & News

In this issue:
RegisterUpcoming Events

You can find our event schedule on our home page, and also keep an eye on your email for event announcements - our Workshops and Webinars are FREE to attend.  Click on the date for more info and register today!
Webinar:  Mastercam Maintenance Lapsed?

Lunch & Learn: Intro to Reverse Engineering
MCAM Northwest, Oregon City, OR

*Wednesday July 27, 2016
Webinar: Mastercam Swiss Programming Enviornment

*Thursday August 4, 2016
Mastercam 2017 Rollout
Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR

*Links are made live as event details are confirmed.  Not able to click?  Save the date & check our home page soon!
Mastercam 2017 Trailer
Mastercam 2017 Trailer
MC2017Introducing the Next Level of Dynamic

Mastercam 2017 features new functionality focused on delivering speed and efficiency to Mastercam users. Join us for a preview of the all-new intuitive user interface and a long list of enhancements at our Mastercam Rollouts coming to you beginning in July and continuing throughout the summer.

Some of the major features you'll see in Mastercam 2017 include:
-- New Optimized User Interface perfectly organized & streamlined for programming process.
-- Advanced Dynamic Motion Technology which improves cycle-time.
-- Powerful Multi-Axis and Mill-Turn enhancements.
-- Advanced CAD system useful for better tool path generation as per model.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the rollout dates and locations so you and your team can transition seamlessly to the new Mastercam 2017 and take advantage of the latest CAM technology.
MazakMazak names CNC Software, Inc. as VIP Partner


Mazak has certified CNC Software Inc., a leading developer and supplier of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, as the newest member of its Value Inspired Partners (VIP) technology program. CNC Software established its well-known reputation with the development of Mastercam CAD/CAM software that continues to provide designers, NC programmers and engineers as well as machinists on the shop floor with powerful programming capabilities.  Read more in the official Press Release !
VerisurfVerisurf X9 SP1 Released

Verisurf X9, Service Pack 1 is here! It features useful product improvements and bug fixes that reflect Verisurf's commitment to continuous quality improvement. Please take a few minutes to download and install this Service Pack and review the accompanying Release Notes available on Verisurf's Download page at:  www.verisurf.com/downloads .
PrototypeHow Rapid Prototyping Helps You Fail Faster (and Why That's a Good Thing)

How far into the new product cycle are you finding problems? Ideally we find them in our modeling software, but what happens when it goes beyond digital? How much does the first prototype cost? How long does it take from design to part and what does that cost in lost opportunity? The implications of a delayed product and many revisions can quickly increase R&D costs and cause your product to be unprofitable or slow to market. Rapid prototyping with 3D printing can provide you with a simple, tangible representation to determine proper fit and function. In general, the earlier in your process you can find your failures, the less it will cost. With additive manufacturing, you can rapidly produce a prototype in hours rather than weeks, and if the prototype is a failure, you can tweak it with ease and reprint. This can reduce scrap and re-work, and allow engineers to make more revisions in less time. Physical models also convey ideas that computer models simply cannot. A 3D printer provides that critical, tangible element to help designers receive detailed feedback and quickly respond to input from collaborators. On top of that, additive manufacturing is cheap: you aren't paying for expensive materials or a mold. If a prototype fails, as it inevitably will sometimes, the failure is quick and inexpensive. Contact us today to learn more!
SpaceClaimANSYS SpaceClaim 2016.1 Released

As a reminder, ANSYS SpaceClaim 2016.1 has been released and is available for immediate download. If you were unable to watch our release webinar where we unpack the usefulness of various features, you can stream the webinar on demand. For users not on active maintenance, please contact us to learn about discounts and how this release can benefit you.

MeasuringMeasuring to the Model:
How to Apply GD&T Properly in 3D Measurements

For decades, parts have been designed in 3D and manufactured in 3D, so why are we still inspecting them in 2D? What are the implications of converting a 3D model to a 2D drawing? Having a design as a model and a blueprint can also lead to errors when revisions are not properly communicated. This article from Quality Magazine " 3-D Model Based GD&T for Inspection " is a great introduction to the world of Model Based Definition (MBD) and how to apply GD&T in that environment. Verisurf utilizes the Mastercam interface, CAD functionality, and translators to seamlessly integrate with your CAM process. How can your business benefit from streamlining the inspection process and staying in the 3D environment? Talk to Garrett today about the best way to integrate MBD inspection in your shop (503) 653-5332.
StreamingteacherStreamingteacher News

To make your transition to Mastercam 2017 as smooth as possible, we already have videos in production for Streamingteacher. We are committed to keeping our customers informed and up-to-date on the latest technology while minimizing down time. Streamingteacher is a great resource for beginner and experienced Mastercam users. With prices starting as low as $240, Streamingteacher is your best value for staying on top of the ever-changing world of Mastercam. Click HERE to see sample videos!
MastercamMastercam Tech Tips

Finding Commands in Mastercam 2017
With the release of 2017 we now have a new interface that conforms to current Windows standards. CNC Software understands that 2017 looks different with the new interface. They estimate it takes about two days to learn and is made even easier with this C-hook. 

The Command Finder c-hook can be downloaded from the Mastercam website  at http://www.mastercam.com/en-us/. Once you have logged into the site, select "Support" then "Downloads". Click the "Mastercam" link. Once the available files to download for 2017 are displayed, scroll to the bottom and download the Command Finder: 
 
Extract the files and copy them to the 2017 c-hooks folder, by default at "C:\Program Files\mcam2017\chooks". 

To customize the ribbon to add the c-hook, from the "File" tab select "Options", or right-click in the ribbon and select "Customize the Ribbon" to display the "Options" dialog:
Click the "New Group" button to create a new command group (highlighted in Red). Click "Rename" (highlighted in Blue) and give the group a name of your choice.

Select "All Commands" from the drop-down list (highlighted in Green), scroll halfway down the list and click on "Mastercam Command Finder". Click the "Add" button to add it to your new group. Click the "OK" button to save the changes.


Your new group and command are added to the ribbon:


Click the Command Finder, type in the command you want to locate and matching commands are displayed that can be selected and their location is shown:

I can't find the commands in 2017?
With the new interface for 2017 many of the commands that have been located in the same place for many versions have changed.  Commands that were in the status bar such as the Levels Manager and Planes are now tabs on the Operations Manager:

Where it took 2 clicks before to get to the Planes Manager, it is now done with 1 click.  Some other popular command have been moved to the File tab:
Customizing the 2017 Ribbon Bar
Customizing the ribbon bar in 2017 is done much the same way the toolbars were customized in the past, with new options available.  With the ribbon bar no new commands can be added to the groups created by Mastercam, however you can add your own tabs and groups for your commands:

To customize the ribbon, from the "File" tab select "Options", or right-click in the ribbon and select "Customize the Ribbon":

The options dialog displayed is similar to what we used in the past, with new options added:

With the "New Tab" and "New Group" options we can easily create a ribbon structure that has the commands we want to use.
Is Your Shop Computer Offline?
Mastercam is moving more and more towards digital download style releases. Physical media is no longer automatically shipped when new versions are released. If you need a USB to install your update, please make sure you get on our list by emailing  customercare@mcamnw.com .
MCAM Northwest, Inc. | (503) 653-5332 |   sales@mcamnw.com |   www.mcamnw.com