Hi all, I have access to Mastercam at work. Is there a specific post that I can use for my Onefinity machine? Would the mill default post work?
Thanks!
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HI Steve - the default should work - you need to see if it produces any gcode command the buildbotics controller doesn’t understand though.
https://camotics.org/gcode.html
-Tom
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Thanks Tom, I’m still waiting for the rolling folding legs to come in, but once I get everything in and built, I’ll come back with updates. Thanks again!
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Any update on this?
Have you been able to try it yet?
Sorry , I haven’t had a chance to try this yet. I haven’t had a chance to finish assembling the machine due to space constraints.
Hey, if anyone is interested I have successfully ran a few toolpaths using mastercam. I used the generic haas 3axis mill and post. I ran a pocket, contour, dynamic mill, and a surface toolpath. All looked good, except the surface toolpath. I think I programmed the feed to fast on the surface toolpath and the controller just couldnt keep up. There is a video of it running on my instagram, if anyone’s interested.
Thanks
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I also got the generic 3-axis haas machine definition to work, however the post always included the tool-change, tool probe, and tool length compensation canned cycles in them. Those will cause prompts on the Onefinity controller and will result in an offset for zero when the program runs on the router.
Those first few lines of the gcode had to be manually removed. But I got tired of having to do that so I edited the postprocessor file (.pst) script to remove those outputs and everything works now.
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As a follow-up to the previous post I did have to modify the machine definition in order to get drill operations to post correctly. The Buildbotics controller DOES NOT support canned drilling cycles, so you will have to disable all of the Canned cycle options in your machined definition/configuration in order for the posted Gcode to be in long hand mode for drilling cycles. It was pretty amusing to watch the controller not know what to do with the posted gcode prior to making those setting changes. When running the canned drill cycle gcode the machine would either drill the first point, then rapid move to all of the rest of the points in sequence without running any Z-Axis travel (no drilling), or it would drill the first point over and over again however many times there were points then “finish” the program.
Workarounds for this prior to just editing the machine definition included having to make a separate drill operation for every point, or having to do a lot of copying and pasting of certain portions of the gcode to append G0 commands after every G80.
Be aware that once the settings of the machine definition are changed/saved to remove canned cycles you will usually need to close Mastercam and open it again for the all of the changes to be applied to any existing programs.
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Hello captainslug, I am new to this form, I have a Onefinity woodworker on order to be deliver in August. I also Own my license key of Mastercam X5. I have a very good relationship with my local Mastercam dealer (Shopware Inc) and they are willing to help me with a post. I just need to know what’s needed and what needs to be removed. I see the earlier post from cybereefguru with the link to the buildbotics gcode commands to get me started. What version of Mastercam you are using? I know my version is very old, but it works for what I use it for.
The portion of the post header that defines tool changing and homing both need to be removed. I just moved overseas and probably won’t have access to my computer for a month or two so I unfortunately cannot provide the postprocessor definition I created that’s compatible. I was making all of my programs in Mastercam X4
I have edited a 3 axis post, Machine definition and Control definition for Mastercam X5. So far it is working well for milling. I have not tried to surfacing or drilling.
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You can easily get Mastercam at home if your interested. You have to sign a thing that says you don’t make more than $1500 a year using it. It is kinda like Solidworks makers Lic, It is $120 a year and way better than other carvco or Aspire as far as programming IMO. They have a bunch of posts you can download, i would just download a default and modify the post yourself to what you like.
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Interesting. Any idea if this allows access to MasterCAM’s non-wrapped rotary toolpaths?
Aspire and RhinoCAM are about useless for those, so I’ve just been running all rotary toolpaths as indexed jobs in another CAM package.
you can do just about anything you want to honestly, It has everything. Mastercam ART, Mill (2X - 5X), lathe, wire, Router. it is a fully functional cadcam package. the Mills has actual Live 4th axis which means it will program y as well as your A or B axis. So it will work perfectly with Onefinitys new 4th axis which is totally live and not slaved to Y.
They are basicly doing it for more exposure, you just can’t make any money with it. So it is a hobbiest Lic. Pretty cheap as well, I priced a seat of Mills for my router and it was 12K. But that is if you own a company.
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John, You were using Free Educational versions, those are crap and are for just learning how to use tool path. I don’t remember if the free ones would post or not, I know you could not save your work.
But this is just for a hobbiest Lic, and yes it does work. you can’t make money with it. Solidworks does the same thing. and it will post as accurately as you want it too, you control that in your post and control definition. I just sent the link, But i actually just emailed my Mastercam Guy and they set me up. I didnt go thru the link. Contact your local Mastercam Rep and tell them your interested. Mine was $120, now that is per year. and mine posts 4 places past the decimal, certainly not to the closest 1/2 inch.
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thats the million dollar question, how do they confirm that, I don’t believe they can, Alot of people were using cracked copy’s for personal use. Most of those copies were X3 and X5. I think they would rather make 120 a year. and yes you can renew year to year. I just prefer Mastercam because i have used it for 25 years at work. So i got excited when they released this. But, If you have mastercam at work, you cannot open those files on this, or the files on this at work. It is seperate. I dont know how they do it.
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Nice. I’ll definitely look into it. I thought about buying a MasterCAM seat a while back, but couldnt bring myself to pay that much for software that I’d barely use.
Pretty cool that the Wire EDM software is included. I want one of those Rack Robotics desktop EDM machine kits, but hadn’t seriously considered it because of the cost of EDM software.
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Yes Sir, Well i only knew about V9, X3 and X5. 
There are abunch of Posts you can download, pick the one you want i guess, Some you can edit and some you can’t. If you have problems they will help you. I just used the default and edited the post to my liking. Like i said before, I just got excited that they released it and wanted to share with others. I bought Aspire and was not happy with that lack of control, then i bought carvco, same thing but a different story. I do think those are perfect softwares for people that dont program for a living, but if your a control freak on your geometry, they are a little lacking, just my OP. But they also do things Mastercam wont. as in the 3d world. ( I have not messed with their Art at all so i could be wrong).
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I wish there was a cheap license for Catia V5
Hello, I have been using Mastercam since 1999 when the company I worked for as a CNC machinist sent me to the local dealer in IL for training. I attended several advance classes afterwards in milling, lathe, wire Edm, Solids, Post Processing and 4-5axis. In 2006 I purchase my own Mastercam license Key where I worked as a Contract Mastercam Programmer for several years part time alone with my regular job. I paid the maintenance on my key until X5. After CNC machining for 45 years, I retire in 2022 and purchase my Onefinity woodworker and edited a Post for the Onefinity. It works fine but I may have to tweet the post postprocessor for the 4th axis I have on backorder. I pay no annual fee, just use!
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