OptiPro's Annual Open House and Steak-Out Scheduled for November 2-3! 

A look at the last OptiPro open house, which brought in over 200 attendees

OptiPro's annual Open House and Steak-Out will be taking place November 2nd and 3rd at OptiPro's newly-expanded facility! Currently in progress is the construction of a 7,500 square-foot addition to OptiPro's building that will house OptiPro's optics machine build area, opening up more room for our machine tool showroom. More space means more machine tools on display for our attendees! Come check out the technologically advanced and cost effective machine tools that OptiPro represents, as well as the capabilities of the world's most popular CAD/CAM software, Mastercam. OptiPro's Mastercam experts will be available to give demonstrations and answer any questions that you may have regarding the software. Demos of the Master3DGage, the affordable and portable CMM that uses Verisurf's advanced 3D model-based inspection software, will also be given to anyone interested in learning more about the product. Those in attendance will also be able to enjoy a free steak lunch and/or dinner courtesy of OptiPro.

More details regarding the open house, including a complete list of machine tools on display, will be announced in the upcoming newsletters.

Tech Tip: Mastercam's New Multiaxis User Interface

Beginning with Mastercam X5, all multiaxis toolpaths now share a common user interface (UI). This UI provides a consistent workflow no matter which multiaxis toolpath type you're using. It was also designed with ease of use in mind.

You use the following process for all multiaxis toolpaths:

• Select a Toolpath Type Group based on calculation.
• Select a Toolpath Type available from each group.
• Select a Tool.
• Select a Holder.
• Select a Cut Pattern to use.
• Select a Tool Axis Control method.
• Select a Collision Control method.
• Select Linking options.
• Select a Roughing method (if it's a roughing operation).
• Set any Additional Settings that are necessary.

There are six major Toolpath Type family groups:

• Classic
• Wireframe
• Surface/Solid
• Drill/Circle Mill
• Convert to 5x
• Custom App

The Classic Toolpath Type family group

The Surface/Solid Toolpath Type family group

The Toolpath Type dialog pages all have four major areas:

1. Tree-style navigation
2. Quick View Settings
3. Parameter fields where you select geometry and functions
4. Dynamic image area where the images update as you select different parameters. These images are designed to give you an instant visual of the option you are selecting or editing.

You proceed through the branches of the tree structure until you've set all necessary parameters. The tree branches change based on what toolpath family and type you select. Also, the tree is laid out in a logical order (from top to bottom) for setting your parameters. Simply advance along the tree, choosing your options, to create your desired multiaxis toolpath.

Note: You can click on the Parameters icon in the Operations Manager to edit existing parameters, but you cannot change the toolpath type or family.

For more information on the new multiaxis UI, go to Mastercam University for a new course on multiaxis machining.

New Mastercam University Class Released!

Mastercam University Promotion: Buy One, Get the Second Class Half Off!

Mastercam has announced a new promotion for anyone interested in learning more about the software:

Mastercam U Promotion: Buy one, get the second half off!

From now until August 31, 2011, if you buy one Mastercam U class, you get the second at 1/2 off! Both classes must be under the same company's email (the person's name can be different). This is for Industrial customers only. This promotion cannot be used in combination with any other Mastercam U promotion. For more information regarding Mastercam University's online training and for a complete list of classes being offered at Mastercam U, go to the Mastercam U website at www.mastercamu.com. To purchase Mastercam U classes, contact Lynda Bechtold at OptiPro by calling 585-265-0160 x236 or send emails to lynda@optipro.com.