Mastercam X4 Training Solutions – Available Now!

Unless you have been out in orbit the last few months, you have likely heard that CNC Software is gearing up for their next major release: Mastercam X4.

Over the course of the coming weeks we will be featuring various X4 titles along with their respective changes, features and other pertinent information – so stay tuned!

For now, we will tease you with the a few new covers from our Professional Courseware Line and some features you can expect to see in the new Training Tutorials!

Featured in the X4 Training Tutorial line:

• New X4 features such as Dynamic Plane and Dynamic Mill toolpaths.
• More emphasis on the machinability of example parts with suggested fixtures, tool setups and grouping for multiple setup scenarios.
• Clearly laid out objectives featuring dimensioned step previews.
• X4 Demo software – now with the ability to save your work!
• Multimedia Training CDs for our popular titles.
   

To order, call 800.529.5517 or contact your local reseller.

Mastercam Instructor Kit Feedback

With Mastercam X4 around the corner our Book Dev. team is working diligently on getting our offerings ready for as synchronous a release as possible. There is one area in particular we were hoping for your feedback: the Mastercam Instructor Kit. 

If you have purchased a Mastercam X3 Instructor Kit and either did not receive or have not yet responded to the email sent out previously, we ask that you take a moment or two to fill out our quick 10 question survey.

So far the responses have been great! We’re happy you are finding it useful. That being said, it is our firm belief that there is always room for improvement. Any comments we receive will be analyzed and if feasible, changed for a future release.

To start the survey, click here.

Mastercam X3 Multimedia Bundle

Multimedia for the masses!

Maybe you’re an instructor looking for supplementary material or maybe you’re a student trying to better understand what your text is asking of you. Or maybe you are trying to enhance your skill-set for your current or future job – be it learning Mastercam in place of another CAM package or perhaps just getting up to speed on the latest version.

Whatever your story is, this 3CD bundle with over 110 video segments and X3 Demo software is an excellent complement to any Mastercam resource library!  

Each Training CD offers a Mastercam Workspace video that introduces the user interface. From there, a user can go through the 45 Training Exercises (with accompanying MCX files to follow along) that cover 2D and 3D geometry creation topics. 

For example, the Mill Level 1 CD covers creating lines, transforming geometry and explaining how to chain properly while the Level 3 CD demonstrates 2 and 3 surface blend, how to trim and offset surfaces, create primitives and much more!

In addition, the Training CDs contain 10 narrated walkthroughs of tutorials found in the Mastercam X3 Mill Level 1 and Level 3 Training Tutorial books (available separately).

The bundle includes: •    Mastercam X3 Mill Level 1 Training CD •    Mastercam X3 Mill Level 3 Training CD •    Mastercam X3 Software Demo CD

Price: $25.00 Note: video content also available for v9-X2.

To order, call 800.529.5517 or contact your local reseller.

Sample Videos: (Click image or text link to view)
Note: hit “full size” above the video for best viewing experience. 

Mill Level 1 Exercise: Create Lines		Mill Level 1 Tutorial 1 Part 1
Mill Level 3 Exercise: Revolved Surface		Mill Level 3 Tutorial 1 Part 1

Free Video Training: Lathe Tutorial

We have been getting a good number of calls lately from individuals looking to learn Mastercam for the first time or become familiar with a newer version. A common thread amongst these and other conversations is that people enjoy being shown how something is done. Of course, to each their own when it comes to learning something new but video content is often a welcome addition.

That is precisely why we have video content available for Milling applications using Mastercam V9 - X3 as well as X4 videos which will be available once the software is released. But the question keeps cropping up:

“What about Lathe?”

Not wanting to keep Lathe users in the dark, we will be releasing a free Lathe video tutorial exclusively on this blog. Consider this a little ‘thank you’ for visiting and a precursor to what will be a complete offering for X4.

What we have for you today are 8 video segments that walk through Tutorial 4 from the Mastercam X3 Lathe Training Tutorial book.

Hint: Once you select a video below, hit the “full size” button above the video before playing it for the best viewing experience.

New Product: Mastercam for SolidWorks Training Tutorial

We are pleased to bring your attention to a product that has been available for a little while now: the Mastercam® for SolidWorks® Training Tutorial.

The first question for many might be “what is Mastercam for SolidWorks?”

Mastercam for SolidWorks is a new add‐on available for SolidWorks which allows its users to program their parts directly within SolidWorks using Mastercam’s industry‐leading toolpaths and machining strategies.

Mastercam for SolidWorks includes a suite of the most sought‐after cutting strategies, including Surface High Speed Machining toolpaths and Feature Based Machining strategies. Also offered is a powerful set of automated cleanup toolpaths, letting users get parts off the machine faster and with little or no handwork.

For more information on the add-on, read this article and visit the official site.

The next logical question might be “how can I learn to use this new add-on?”

Glad you asked. The Mastercam for SolidWorks Training Tutorial has been available since the software’s release. It provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to learning Mastercam in SolidWorks.

The material covered within this Training Tutorial book includes instructions on how to create solids within SolidWorks and contains useful information on how to prepare the part for machining on a Vertical CNC machining center; using both SolidWorks commands and Mastercam WCS. Explanations are given for the use of a proper Stock Setup and Tool Settings. Each project is either machined with Featured Based Machining or Surfaces High Speed Toolpaths. The tutorials are designed to walk you through all the procedures required to get you from Geometry Creation to programming your toolpaths, then verifying and posting your code.

Pricing & Details

Price: $40.00                                                                 ISBN: 978-1-926566-20-7

To order, call 800.529.5517 or contact your local reseller.

Draw Winners Announced!

First of all, we would like to thank everyone that participated in our draws for the Mastercam X3 Instructor Kit and the Mastercam/CNC Curriculum – High School Class Set. The number of entries was impressive!

The Process

In an effort to keep everything as fair as possible we sought out the help of the “True Random Number Generator” to pick the winning numbers. From there, we needed a coin toss, curtsey of the “Coin Flipper” to determine whether the previous number would be counted from the most recent entry (heads) or the first entry received (tails).

The Draws!

We received the most entries for the Instructor Kit draw so we started there. The number drawn belonged to one of our more excited entrants that forgot to read the rules and entered not once, not twice but three times! Unfortunately that kind of play results in disqualification. :(

Onward! Not realizing that fact right away, we went on to draw the number that would determine the Mastercam/CNC Curriculum winner:

Next, the coin toss (er, flip) to see if that meant the fortieth or fortieth last entry we received. Tails was revealed meaning the 40th entry received is the winner!

Fast forward to the afternoon when the winning names are verified for only submitting one entry and the truth is out: we need another winner.

Picking for a second time, the official Instructor Kit winner has been brought to you by the number:

The second coin toss resulted in a heads so the 56th last entry is our winner!

On a side note, we’d also like to give props to the entrant that tried to submit his/her entry a full 12 hours after the contest closed. Again, better luck next time. :)

The Winners!

Finally, what you all have been waiting for! Without further ado,

The winner of the Mastercam X3 Instructor Kit is:

Hazem Tawfik of Farmingdale State College

The winner of the Mastercam/CNC Curriculum – High School Class Set is:

Dan Gainey of Darlington County Institute of Technology

Congratulations to our winners! You will be contacted before day’s end with details on claiming your prize.

If you have any thoughts, comments or congratulations to leave for any of the posts, just hit the “comments” link below – no registration required!

WIN an Instructor Kit or High School Kit – Class Set!

Our last flyer mailing sent to secondary and post secondary institutions announced two separate draws being held; one prize being the Mastercam X3 Instructor Kit and the other being the Mastercam/CNC Curriculum – High School Class Set.

The deadline for receiving entries is quickly approaching. All entries must be received no later than 11:59PM (Eastern Daylight Time), Wednesday April 1st, 2009.

To enter, click one of the links below and fill out the entry form. You may enter one or the other. Duplicate entries will automatically result in both entries being disqualified. See below for further details.

Mastercam X3 Instructor Kit Draw:
www.inhousesolutions.com/ikit_draw – Contest now over!

Mastercam (X, X2 or X3) / CNC Curriculum – High School Class Set Draw:
www.inhousesolutions.com/class_draw - Contest now over!

Contest Details:
To qualify, you must be a Tech Instructor at an educational institution (College, University, High School, Technical Institute, or Middle School). Duplicate entries from the same person are automatically disqualified. Multiple entries from the same school are permitted. A random drawing will be held Friday, April 3rd, 2009. The winner will be announced here first then notified via email.

Questions regarding these draws can be emailed to contest@inhousesolutions.com