If you are working with a word processing program and decide to take some of its system files, move them to a new location and maybe even rename them. Would you be surprised at all if the word processor did not work afterwards? 

Yet is a common practice to do this with the Mastercam Machine, Control, and Post files. Many of us that worked with Mastercam when it was a DOS product, or partially integrated into Windows prior to the release of version X, are accustomed to being able to move the post files anywhere we want to. Since Mastercam has become a full Windows program and is abiding by the Windows standards for files, this is no longer the case.

Mastercam is expecting the Machine and Control files to be in the shared folder under the CNC_MACHINES folder. Posts files Mastercam is expecting to be in the shared folder under (Machine Type)/POSTS. If these files are not located in these folders, there can be consequences. Sometimes very serious consequences. If the Control file is not where it is supposed to be often Mastercam will revert to a default Control file which may not have the correct settings for your control.

Renaming of any of these files can cause problems. If a Control file is renamed, and there are custom cycles for that control, then the Post needs to be updated also. None of these files should be just renamed. If a rename is needed CNC offers a utility to do it, it is available from their website at http://www.mastercam.com/en-us/Support/Downloads/Mastercam and is in the section captioned "Add-Ons". Select the needed version of Mastercam.

For versions prior to X8 There are both a 32 and 64-bit version available, the description for the file to download is "MD_CD_PST-Rename-32-bit.zip" or " MD_CD_PST-Rename -64-bit. As X8 is 64-bit only, the description for the file to download is "MD/CD/Post Rename - .zip file".