Join us at the 4th Annual North American HTEC Conference!

The 4th Annual North American HTEC Conference is nearly upon us! (It starts next week at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan). As an HTEC Partner, we’ll be exhibiting again this year so if you plan on attending, come on out and visit our booth. We’ll have our Mastercam Training Solutions on display, contests and a sneak peak of what’s to come! 

Provided we have a reliable internet connection, we should be able to update this post as the event unfolds for those of you that can’t make it. Stay tuned!

Mastercam Video Tip: Dynamic Xform

This month’s Video Tip provides a quick overview of a feature that was released with Mastercam X4: Dynamic Xform. This feature gives you the freedom to translate and rotate geometry with a single, on-screen control. You now have a new way to manipulate your geometry’s orientation and location by using the interactive, easy-to-use graphical gnomon.

 

For more insights into this and other Mastercam X4 features, check out the “What’s new in Mastercam X4” PDF.

Is there something you would like to see covered? Let us know in the comments section or email books@inhousesolutions.com!

Calling all High Schools, Tech centers & Hobbyists!

Our Mastercam CNC Curriculum is the easiest way to engage your students with practical, hands-on projects that teach the basics of Mastercam! Flexible options include photocopy rights (product ships in D-ring binders enabling easy reproduction for your entire class), a turn-key solution offering everything from design to machining instructions and even includes fixtures, or a single book set for smaller classes. Prices start as low as $80. Our curriculum lets your students take ownership with projects they design, create and can ultimately use!

Check out this full sample project. 
With obvious exceptions like the Adirondack Chair pictured above, many projects can be machined from 3”x3” or slightly larger stock.

Each project includes a material list, the part drawing, associated Mastercam files, step-by-step instructions for designing and creating toolpaths in Mastercam, a Post Processor for Techno CNC machines (accompanied by installation instructions) fixturing instructions, workpiece and tool offset information and instructions on machining the project using the Techno Davnci machine as an example. Versions available for X, X2, X3 & X4.
  
No need for machining instructions?
Check out the Project Workbook. $60.00 gets you 10 projects, an overview of CAD/CAM as well as basic machining. Check out a full sample project here.

For more information, contact your local reseller or call our number below.
To order, call 800.529.5517, visit the eStore or contact your local reseller.

$250 Credit Winner Announced & your survey responses!

We want to thank all of you that participated in our Customer Satisfaction Survey. A lot of useful feedback was gleamed which will only help us improve the products we offer. We let the survey run even longer than last mentioned as a few more entries were trickling in but it is now time to announce the winner!

Our favourite randomizer website came in handy as per usual. This time, the 37th respondent was:

Dale Klinect of Medina County Career Center!

Congratulations Dale, you will be contacted shortly with details on how to claim your $250 credit.

Some interesting results came from this survey that we thought we’d share. Of those who responded:

• 76% are using Mastercam X4.
• Of those that don’t have X4 yet, 1/3 of you plan to update for Fall.
• The average program churns out between 11-30 students per year.
• A couple of you are educating around 100 students/year – wow!
• Many of you thought we should cover the following subjects:
  • Most popular suggestion was “Post Processor info” – We have a book for this! Contact your local reseller for the “Mpmaster Quick Reference Guide (Fundamental post processor customization techniques for 3-4 Axis Mill)”
  • “More project based tutorials that can actually be produced” – All of our project based (Project Workbook & CNC Curriculum) can be produced but keep an eye out for future changes with our project based offerings!
  • “Solids Toolpaths” – Looking to add this to our Solids Training Tutorial.
  • “AutoCAD” – While it is flattering that you would like us to cover AutoCAD, we feel that there are many texts covering this topic already.
• 56% of you either didn’t know our Training CDs existed or you haven’t looked at them. If you fall into this category, please read up here!
• A whopping 96% of you are likely to recommend the Instructor Kit to your peers. – Thank you! We’re excited to make it even better!

There was a ton of great feedback in general and we’re still in the process of sifting through it. Again, we appreciate the time all of you took to respond.

Lakehead University uses Mastercam for Formula SAE car.

Lakehead University’s “ThunderWolf Racing” Formula SAE team proudly unveiled their 2010 race car design. Over the past 3 years, LU students from various disciplines have been working towards building a team that operates like a small manufacturing company. Their goal is to build race cars to compete against the best of the best in a Formula SAE organized event each year.

This year’s event is being held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, May 12th-15th.  

The team chose Mastercam to help create what they feel is their best car yet! Best of luck ThunderWolf!

Lakehead University (Team 098) Car Specs:

• Speed: 0-100 km/h (60 mph) in approx 4 seconds
• Engine: CBR600RR 600cc Naturally Aspirated I-4
• Naturally Aspirated
• Drive Train: 6 speed short geared, chain driven, spool differential
• Chassis: Steel tube space frame.
• Wheels: 13x6 Lightweight Wheels
• Tires: 20x6x13 Wet & Dry Racing Tires
• Suspension: Unequal Length Control Arm, Push-rod, Fully-adjustable Coilovers

For more information, check out their website: www.lufsae.com
For more information on the event, check out: http://students.sae.org/competitions/formulaseries/fsae/

Come visit us at the 2010 CTS Conference!

The Career and Technology Studies Conference is an annual event hosted by the Alberta Teachers’ Association starting today (April 22nd) in Banff, Alberta. This year’s conference theme is “Alberta’s Future”. The conference will feature speakers, workshops and round table discussions that will focus on introducing pathways to the future.

 
Until the event’s close, Saturday April 24th, Patrick Chelli of In-House Solutions will be exhibiting along with Electrolab Training Systems. This year’s showcase project will show instructors how to program a guitar in Mastercam, highlighting some of X4’s features.

Of course there will be an assortment of Mastercam Training Solutions on hand as well for your perusal as well. We hope to see you there!

For more information on the event, visit http://ctscouncil.com.

New Product: Mastercam X4 Handbook Learning Kit

By now, I presume the majority of you are familiar with our Mastercam Handbook line of textbooks. If not, please see here, here and here for information on Volumes 1 – 3 , respectively.

Today we would like to announce the marriage of 3 learning platforms into one complete package. The new Mastercam X4 Handbook Learning Kit for Volume 1 consists of:

• Handbook Volume 1 textbook
• Student CD with MCX files referenced in the book
• Mastercam X4 Home Learning Edition DVD (Demo Software)
• The new Mastercam Handbook Volume 1 – The Video Series DVD
• 3 month subscription to the entire online Mastercam Video Library from eapprentice.net

Feature focus: The Video Series DVD
The Video Series DVD is an extensive collection of superbly detailed videos covering the contents of the Handbook Volume 1 on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

The videos concentrate on Mastercam specifics, showing how tools can be used, one feature at a time.  

Feature focus: eapprentice subscription
eapprentice.net is a great online resource for Mastercam users offering full access to a vast library of videos that teach and document the Mastercam workflow. The Handbook Learning Kit includes a 3 month subscription, granting access to the Handbook Volume 1, Volume 2 and “The Original Videos”.

A sample video segment can be found here. 

The Mastercam X4 Handbook Learning Kit provides an excellent platform to springboard your learning endeavor; whether you are new to Mastercam entirely or simply looking to brush up on the latest features. There is also an option to purchase the DVD as a stand-alone teaching tool.

Pricing & Details:

Handbook Volume 1 - Learning Kit	ISBN: 978-1-926566-71-9	$195.00
Handbook Volume 1 - The Video Series (DVD Only)	ISBN: 978-1-926566-72-6	$  75.00

To order, call 800.529.5517, visit the eStore or contact your local reseller.