Mastercam X3
Transition Guide
July 2008
Information might have been changed or added since this document was
published. The latest version of this document is installed with Mastercam or
can be obtained from your local Reseller. The ReadMe file (ReadMe.htm)
includes the latest information about new features and enhancements.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE!
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iii
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vii
Contents
Section 1: Before You Begin ................................................. 1
Section 2: Migration and File Conversion ................... 13
2.1 About Mastercam X file types and libraries ..... 13
2.2 Mastercam X migration requirements................ 15
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
ix
Page 1 of 2
Workstation ID: ______________
For sections with separate M-L-R-W columns, repeat each procedure for each installed product (Mill/Lathe/
Router/Wire). Sections marked All only need to be completed once even if you upgrade more than one Mastercam product.
I. Install and migrate files that dont
require conversion
1. Are you installing to a new PC?
2. Are you upgrading from Mastercam X2 Install Mastercam X3 and use the
and installing to a separate directory migration utility. See the Mastercam X3
Installation Guide and Section 3.1.1 on
(keeping your current installation)?
page 23.
(All)
3. Are you upgrading from Mastercam X2 Install Mastercam X3, and then copy
and installing to a separate directory modified files that dont require conver(keeping your current installation)?
sion. See the Mastercam X3 Installation Guide and Section 3.1 on page 23 .
Copy only files you have modified to
your Mastercam X3 installation:
3a. Control definitions (.CONTROL)
3b. Power libraries (.POWER)
(All)
(All)
(All)
(All)
Continued on reverse
Page 2 of 2
5. Convert machine and component defi- See Section 3.1.7 on page 30.
nitions (.GMD, .LMD, .MMD, .RMD,
.WMD)
(All)
(All)
8. Edit machine and control definitions to See Section 3.5 on page 59.
use new paths.
(All)
Page 1 of 2
Workstation ID: ______________
For sections with separate M-L-R-W columns, repeat each procedure for each installed product (Mill/Lathe/
Router/Wire). Sections marked All only need to be completed once even if you upgrade more than one Mastercam product.
I. Installation
1. Are you installing to a new PC?
2. Install Mastercam.
(All)
(All)
(All)
(All)
Continued on reverse
Page 2 of 2
Workstation ID: ______________
Complete Worksheet D.
Complete Worksheet E.
Page 1 of 1
Workstation ID: ______________
For sections with separate M-L-R-W columns, repeat each procedure for each installed product (Mill/Lathe/
Router/Wire). Sections marked All only need to be completed once even if you upgrade more than one Mastercam product.
I. Installation
1. Are you installing to a new PC?
2. Install Mastercam.
(All)
3. Convert power settings libraries (Wire See Section 3.3.3 on page 47.
only)
4. Convert materials library.
(All)
(All)
Complete Worksheet D.
Complete the steps on this worksheet if your Reseller is supplying your initial set of machine and control definitions and posts.
I. Copy files to your workstation
(All products)
1. Copy machine and control definitions Copy machine and control definitions
to the \CNC_MACHINES folder in your for all products into same folder.
Mastercam installation folder.
M
2. Copy posts to the \POSTS folder.
(All products)
These steps are optional. Complete them if you want your machine and control definitions to use the libraries you migrated from your current Mastercam workstation.
1. If desired, edit machine and control
definition to use migrated libraries as
defaults.
M
See Section 3.4.2 on page 53.
Complete the steps on this worksheet if you will be using the UpdatePost utility to convert your existing posts
and automatically generate machine and control definitions.
I. Preparation
(All products)
1. Locate and organize the posts you want Organize them in folders by product
to convert.
type and version. For each post,
include the PST/PSB and TXT files in
the same folder.
2. Start UpdatePost.
You can select several posts, from different folders. However, they must be
for the same product and version.
5. Select options to create and display log Creating and reviewing a log file is
files.
HIGHLY recommended.
6. Convert posts.
7. Open the log file and save it to a unique Mastercam will overwrite the original
name.
log file the next time it writes the log.
Repeat for every converted post. You must review the log for errors and resolve them before using the
post!
M
See Section 3.4.2 on page 53.
Page 2 of 2
(All products)
File Type
Part files
Toolpath and
operation
defaults
Tool libraries
Version 9
Mastercam X
extension
.MC9
.MCX, .EMCX
location
\mcam\mill\mc9
\mcamx\mill\mcx
extension
.DF9
.DEFAULTS
location
\mcam9\mill\ops
\mcamx\mill\ops
example
Defaults.DF9,
Defaultsm.DF9
Mill_inch.DEFAULTS,
Mill_mm.DEFAULTS
extension
.TL9
.TOOLS
location
\mcam9\mill\tools
\mcamx\mill\tools
example
Tools.TL9,
Tools_mm.TL9
Mill_inch.TOOLS,
Mill_mm.TOOLS
.WP9
.POWER
Material
libraries
Operation
libraries
Machine
definitions
Component
libraries
location
\mcam9\wire\power \mcamx\wire\power
example
Wire.WP9,
Wirem.WP9
Wire.POWER
Wirem.POWER
extension
.MT9
.MATERIALS
location
\mcam9\mill\tools
\mcamx\materials
example
Matls.MT9,
Lmatls.MT9
Default.MATERIALS
extension
.OP9
.OPERATIONS
location
\mcam9\mill\ops
\mcamx\mill\ops
example
Operat.OP9
Mill_inch.OPERATIONS.
Mill_mm.OPERATIONS
extension
Not used in
Version 9
location
\mcamx\
cnc_machines
example
mill default.MMD
mill default mm.MMD
extension
location
Not used in
Version 9
.GMD
\mcamx\
cnc_machines
File Type
Version 9
example
Control
definitions
HST Formula
files
Post processor
files
Configuration
files
Key mapping
files
Toolbar
mapping files
extension
Mastercam X
mill vmc components.GMD
Not used in
Version 9
.CONTROL
location
\mcamx\
cnc_machines
example
default.CONTROL
default mm.CONTROL
extension
.Not used in
Version 9
.FORMULA
location
\mcamx\mill\formula
example
Default.FORMULA
extension
location
\Mcam9\Mill\Posts
\mcamx\mill\posts
example
Mpfan.pst
MPFAN.PST
extension
.CFG
.CONFIG
location
\mcam9
\mcamx\config
example
extension
Not used in
Version 9
.KMP
location
\mcamx\config
example
default.KMP
mastercam.KMP
extension
Not used in
Version 9
.MTB
location
\mcamx\config
example
default.MTB
mastercam.MTB
formats have changed. When you install Mastercam X3, you need to
be aware of the following:
You must update default files and file paths in your configuration files to reflect correct libraries and files that you have
migrated or converted rather than the defaults. Instructions
for this are included in the conversion procedures in Section
3 of this guide (page 22).
Some configuration property pages were revised and new
pages were added with Mastercam X2, so some configuration
settings from releases prior to Mastercam X2 will not populate the Mastercam X3 configuration property pages properly.
Changes include:
AutoSave/Backup settings, Grid settings, and Verify
settings are new property pages.
The CAD settings, Files, Start/Exit, Toolpaths, Verify, and
Wire Backplot property pages have been changed.
C-Hooks (*.DLL)
.NET-Hooks (*.NET)
Most VB Scripts can be used in Mastercam X3 without conversion.
You still need separate configuration files for inch and metric
operations.
Just like in earlier versions, you can still create as many
different configuration files as you want for special needs or
custom applications.
The default location for the Mastercam X3 configuration files is the
\config folder, although they can be stored in a different folder.
Although the System Configuration dialog box (Settings, Configuration) in Mastercam X3 includes many of the configuration settings
from earlier versions of Mastercam, some configuration settings are
set or edited in different dialog boxes . The following table shows
where to find your current configuration settings.
Table 2: Version 9 configuration settings since Mastercam X2
Version 9 configuration
tab
Allocations
Tolerances
Version 9 configuration
tab
Communications
Files
Plotter settings
Pen attributes
Toolbar/Keys
NC Settings
CAD Settings
Start/Exit
Screen
C-Hooks (*.DLL)
VB Scripts (*.VBS)
Migration Procedures 23
Note: Except for the .CONFIG files, the migration utility only
moves files; it does not convert them for use with Mastercam X3.
After using the utility to move files, you must still convert them
either by importing them or by opening them in Mastercam X3.
See Configuring machine and control definitions on page 59 for
information on updating your control definitions to use new
paths and files.
The following table lists the files that the migration utility acts on.
Table 3: Mastercam X3 migration utility files
Directory
Files
Extensions
root directory
NetHASP configuration
Communications settings
nethasp.INI
mcomm.CFG
\cnc_machines
.GMD
Control definitions
.MMD, .LMD,
.RMD, .WMD
.CONTROL
\config
Configuration files
Key mapping files
Toolbar mapping files
.CONFIG
.KMP
.MTB
product
folder\ops
Operation libraries
Defaults
.OPERATIONS
.DEFAULTS
product
folder\tools
Tool libraries
.TOOLS
product
folder\formula
.FORMULA
\materials
Material libraries
.MATERIALS
\wire\power
Power libraries
.POWER
\nesting
Nesting defaults
.DEFX, .NSLX
product
folder\posts
Post processors
\common\editors\masterc\machines
\VB
.XML
VB scripts
.VBS
Migration Procedures 25
will not replace your customized files with the newly released version,
so your customized files will be preserved.
If you are installing Mastercam X3 to a different folder but cannot use
the migration utility, you must copy any of the following files that you
have modified to your Mastercam X3 installation:
Migration Procedures 27
geometry.
2 Convert these to Mastercam X3 format. Use the File, Import
dures.
4 Open the tool library in the Tool Manager. Locate the desired
of type list.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
where your Mastercam X3 tool libraries will be stored. (Typically this is \mcamx3\mill\tools, or the equivalent for Lathe
and Router.) The source and target directories must be
different.
WARNING: If the target directory already contains files with
the same name as the files you are converting, they will be
overwritten without warning.
6 Click Import. Mastercam automatically converts all the tools
Migration Procedures 29
Migration Procedures 31
cally you would repeat the procedure for each Mastercam product.
Control definitions do not need to be converted.
X Converting Mastercam X machine definitions
1 Start Mastercam X3 or save your part.
2 Choose File, Import directory.
3 Select the machine definition file type you want to convert
Migration Procedures 33
3 In the File usage section, select the type of library or file that
file.
Migration Procedures 35
type list.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
Migration Procedures 37
type list.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
where your Mastercam X3 tool libraries will be stored. (Typically this is \mcamx3\mill\tools, or the equivalent for Lathe
and Router.) The source and target directories must be
different.
WARNING: If the target directory already contains files with
the same name as the files you are converting, they will be
overwritten without warning.
6 Click Import. Mastercam automatically converts all the tools
Migration Procedures 39
of type.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
files. The new .POWER files have the same names as the .WP9
files.
Convert one library (for example, Mill) and manually edit the
Lathe settings.
Convert each library and edit your configuration file and
machine definitions so that the default material library for
each product is different.
Mastercam Router installs its own material library, router.MATERIALS, in the same folder as default.MATERIALS.
of type list.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
Migration Procedures 41
of type list.
4 Click the From this directory button and navigate to the
3 In the File usage section, select the type of library that you
have converted.
Migration Procedures 43
5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each converted library that you want
to use as a default.
6 Click the Save As button when youve selected all the
MILL DEFAULT.MMD
LATHE DEFAULT.LMD
ROUTER DEFAULT.RMD
WIRE DEFAULT.WMD
3 Select File, New from the menu to create an empty file and
machine group.
4 Select File, Open from the menu.
5 Select All files in the Files of type list.
6 Navigate to the folder that contains the defaults files that you
Repeat this procedure for each defaults file that you want to convert.
Make sure that each time you start out with a machine group of the
product that matches the defaults file you are converting.
Migration Procedures 45
MILL DEFAULT.MMD
LATHE DEFAULT.LMD
ROUTER DEFAULT.RMD
4 Select File, New from the menu to create an empty file and
machine group.
5 Select File, Open from the menu.
6 Select All Files in the Files of type list.
example, haas.TOOLS.
11 Click the Save button to create the new file.
Repeat this process for each tool library that you want to convert.
Make sure that each time you start out with a machine group whose
product type matches the tool library you are converting.
6 Navigate to the folder that contains the desired text file and
select it.
7 Mastercam prompts you to enter a name for the converted
library. Mastercam will create a new library from the text file
instead of adding the tools to the currently open library.
Migration Procedures 47
TIP: Read the online help in the Tool Manager to learn how to
copy tools from one library to another.
8 Repeat this procedure for each text file that you want to
tool definitions.
once.
5 Choose OK. Mastercam converts power libraries into .WP9
files and places them in the same folder with the .WP8 files.
MILL DEFAULT.MMD
LATHE DEFAULT.LMD
ROUTER DEFAULT.RMD
3 Select File, New from the menu to create an empty file and
machine group.
4 Select File, Open from the menu.
5 Select All Files in the Files of type list.
Repeat this process for each material library that you wish to convert,
in inch and metric. Make sure that each time you start out with a
machine group that matches the materials file you are converting.
MILL DEFAULT.MMD
LATHE DEFAULT.LMD
ROUTER DEFAULT.RMD
WIRE DEFAULT.WMD
3 Select File, New from the menu to create an empty file and
machine group.
4 Select File, Open from the menu.
5 Select All Files in the Files of type list.
Migration Procedures 49
6 Navigate to the folder that contains the files that you want to
Repeat this process for each operation library for each Mastercam X
product that you have installed. Make sure that each time you start
out with a machine group that matches the operations library you are
converting.
2 Choose Files from the list at the left of the dialog box.
3 In the File usage section, select the type of library that you
have converted.
5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each converted library that you want
to use as a default.
6 Click the Save button when youve selected all the libraries
Migration Procedures 51
Input files
Output files
Mypost.PST,
Mypost.TXT
Mypost.PST, Mypost.PST_version
Optional: UpdatePostX.log, Mypost.mmd,
Mypost.control
Input files
Output files
Mypost.PST, Mypost.PSB,
Mypost.TXT
Mypost.PST, Mypost.PST_version
Mypost.PSB, Mypost.PST_version
Optional: UpdatePostX.log, Mypost.mmd,
Mypost.control
Mypost.PSM,
Mypost.TXT
Mypost.PSM, Mypost.PSM_version
Optional: UpdatePostX.log, Mypost.mmd,
Mypost.control
Router posts will output .RMD files instead of .MMD. Lathe posts will
output .LMD files, and Wire posts will output .WMD files.
X Running the UpdatePost utility
IMPORTANT: This procedure is only valid for MP-compatible
posts.
1 Organize the posts that you wish to convert.
Migration Procedures 53
notes.
Note: After clicking the Select Post(s) button, select All Files (*.*)
from the Files of type list so that you can select the .SET files.
Setup sheets in Mastercam X use the .SET extension, so your new
setup sheet will have the same name as the old one. Mastercam will
create a backup copy of your original file with a different extension.
The new machine and control definitions will be automatically saved to your \CNC_MACHINES folder.
If you wish, you can use the \CD_Compare utility to examine
the new control definition and see exactly which control defi-
Migration Procedures 55
nition settings have been read from the post and which are
system defaults. From the Settings menu, choose Run User
Application, open the CD_Compare folder, and choose
CD_Compare.dll.
units and you use the Machine Definition Manager to open an inch
machine definition, you will be alerted that the units are changing:
Migration Procedures 57
The LINE (x, y) block tells you the location of the error in the
original and converted post, in this case, line 1200 in each.
When you open the converted post, Mastercam displays the affected
code as a block of three lines:
Migration Procedures 59
Migration Procedures 61
toolbar.
list.
6 Repeat the previous two steps for inch and metric tool
definition.
post/control definition.
Migration Procedures 63
5 Click the file cabinet button and choose the desired file.
6 Repeat these steps to select an operation library and an oper-
You can specify which machine (if any) will be loaded whenever Mastercam is started.
You can specify a default machine for each product type. This
is the machine that will be loaded when you select Default
from the Machine Type menu.
For example, if the only mill in your shop is a Haas VR8, you might
want to make that your default mill instead of Mastercams generic
mill machine definition so that it is automatically selected whenever
you run Mastercam Mill.
These preferences are stored in your configuration (*.CONFIG) file.
Complete the following procedures if you want to use any of your new
machine definitions as defaults.
X Setting your startup product
1 Choose Settings, Configuration from the menu.
nition you want to load when you select the default machine
from the Machine Type menu.
5 Save your changes.
Migration Procedures 65
Or click the Save button to save the changes and keep the
dialog box open to work on a different *.CONFIG file.
settings library, and then select it. Its name will appear under
Select items file name.
5 Click OK to close the Control Definition Manager, and
Migration Procedures 67
toolbar.
3 In the General Machine Parameters dialog box, select the
text entry fields for all the other event labels. Enter the name
of each of your coolant (or other) options, and the name of
their on and off states.
6 You can also set several other options:
Migration Procedures 69
toolbar.
3 In the General Machine Parameters tab, select the Flushing
commands tab.
4 Deselect the option to Support flushing using coolant value
in post-processor. This is the option which enables compatibility with earlier posts.
text entry fields for all the other event labels. Enter the name
of each of your flushing (or other) options, and the name of
their on and off states.
6 You can also set several other options:
Migration Procedures 71
menu.
3 Select the Open button to open a .CONTROL file.
file that you just moved there. The title bar should display the
proper network path:
machine type.
Migration Procedures 73
menu.
your local drive, and one that points to the network location.
Select the one that points to your local drive and click OK.
From post.
3 Select the post that contains the original post text. This can
Migration Procedures 75
menu.
2 If your part file already has an active machine group, you will
6 Select the network folder with the new .CONTROL file and
click OK.
Migration Procedures 77
7 Select the new .CONTROL file. Make sure that you see the
8 Select the new post processor. Make sure that you see the
It reads the product type (Mill, Lathe, Router, Wire) and units
(inch/metric) from the source file. Based on this, it looks up
the proper machine definition from the Mastercam X
.CONFIG file.
It creates a machine group in the new file based on the
selected machine definition. This also determines the control
definition and post assigned to the new file.
Most of the current Job Setup information, such as the stock
model and material selection, is written to the machine
group properties.
would be displayed if you tried to import a part with multi-axis toolpaths using a machine definition for a simple 3-axis mill.
If you are converting many files, print this report or copy it to another
document so you can refer to it later. Close this dialog box and the
Replace Group Machine Warning dialog box to proceed with the
conversion.
When Mastercam creates the machine group for this file, it will not
use the incompatible machine definition. Instead, it creates a special
machine group based on its system defaults. Note that no post has
been assigned:
You will first see the following message while converting the file.
Click the Parameters icon to review the changes, and then click the
Regenerate button on the Toolpath Manager toolbar to regenerate
the toolpath.
tab.
toolbar.
3 Select the CPlane, WCS, HTC/VTL tab.
4 Select the Vertical turret lathe option and choose OK.
box.