[millcat]

Does anybody know how to make X2 look like V9?

thanks

[ObrienDave]

You can't

[Steve Arteman]

sorry no such thing that was a rumor when X was released. The best you get is the classic drop downs from the menu line on top.
Steve
www.cad2cam.net

[rickyt]

Why would you want that? I find that customizing my toolbar states and my RMB that thing are much easier and more organized. It takes awhile to find what work for you but give it sometime and read up on the functions and you will be a programming guru in no time flat.

[millcat]

I can roll through a menu faster than I can pick a glyph.

millcat

[Dugg]

I was disappointed to find out I can't use the keyboard to create geometry. An example is CFR = Create, Fillet, Radius or ClRP = Create Line Perpendicular to a point.

X2 looks like a steep learning curve from V9.... well, steep for me anyway.

[Matt Berube]

I was disappointed to find out I can't use the keyboard to create geometry. An example is CFR = Create, Fillet, Radius or ClRP = Create Line Perpendicular to a point.

X2 looks like a steep learning curve from V9.... well, steep for me anyway.

The big change was between 9 and X. X2 has more features than X but the interface doesn't have massive changes like 9 to X.

If you had put your seat time in when X came out, you'd have a super easy time with X2.

If you spend some honest time trying to learn it AND set up your toolbars to match the way you like to work you'll love X2 in no time.

If you must use the keyboard, many of the old keystrokes are the same or similar. The difference is that you first must press and release the ALT key... After you do this you will see the underscore at the top of the screen under FILE, EDIT, CREATE, etc...

For example...

ALT >> C >> L >> E

would bring you to the Create Line Endpoint ribbon bar.

[millcat]

You hit the nail on the head Matt.

Many of the shortcut keys work.

BUT, not all. I can navigate V9 blindfolded. Simply pressing the ESC

key takes you back one command. So I rapid fire the ESC key and I

know I'm back at main menu. And I haven't got to monkey with Alt key.

Glyphs were a boon to word processors because you spend most of your

time typing and only once in a while selecting a function.

The opposite is true with a cad system when making geo from a complex

blueprint. You live by functions.

I heard they did it because Boeing wanted look and feel of catia. A hardcore

design package that truly needs tool strips full of glyphs because there are so

dang many things designers and engineers can do. IMO they should have

taken the opposite tack, and made the sketcher workbench look and feel

like the worlds best cnc programming software -until X that is-. Admit it Matt,

they munged it. Even Help|Update Mastercam is broken. What does that tell

you. Operations Manager window is a nice idea but needs a 22" wide screen

imo.

millcat

[Matt Berube]

Admit it Matt, they munged it.

HAH !

Not at all.

I LOVE the new interface and never used the keyboard much in V8 or V9. I feel that people who don't like the interface are hung-up on V9's interface and haven't put enough serious effort into X.

Seriously, how many of the original toolbars are you still using ? I would guess you didn't bother to change any of them.

Myself, the answer is 0. I re-arranged everything to my own specifications and it is way better.

Operations Manager window is a nice idea but needs a 22" wide screen

A seat of Mastercam costs thousands of dollars... You'll buy that but won't treat yourself to a 22" widescreen monitor ? That is exactly what I use and it's great.

[millcat]

I think engineers and managers like the goodies. Me, I just want meat

and potatoes. So much power in that 3" strip in V9. I do use some icons.

Plane selection comes to mind, they're bigger targets in 9. A good mouse

is tempting. But a keyboard will smoke a mouse.

As for the monitor, I would also have get a dual monitor graphics card so I

can run an editor on the one I have now. I didn't buy any of this, it's all

requisitioned through the company. Kind of like pulling teeth. I talked them

into X because of level 3 5 axis grandfather clause.

millcat

[cadcam]

Millcat even in X I find I use 70% keys still as I was a key person but I can say after being a user from the start I hate going back to V9 when I have to support someone in that version and I loved V9.1 mr105 but I also loved V6.1A.

But the support and tools in the newer out does the V9 easly oh and for teaching it it is so much easer and most catch on faster I am finding.

So you know almost all video cards these days come with dual connections.
As for dual monitors I have ran this way before X came out its a must for me.

With X2 MR2 I can now have the ops manger and the levels manger open all the time on the other monintor that rocks.

Millcat just jump in and check back with us on the keys we will help you.

[millcat]

I know, I know.

After many years on a pair of Mazaks w/ CAM M2 I thought Mazatrol was the

sh*t. Then after about 5 years on a pair of Fadals with Gibbs Cam I

remember telling the programmer in the office I thought Gibbs was easier

than Mastercam. He said noway, if you spend some time with it you'll never

go back. He was right. Though I still introduce new operators to it.

Gibbs is icon driven and using a Fadal vertical keyboard made my wrist hurt

more than driving a mouse around, so I used the mouse. And that's the

problem I have with any icon driven interface. My wrist starts to hurt from

driving the mouse around the screen.

Mastercam 9 freed me from the mouse. And it's a cleaner interface. The

more black I see, The better.

millcat

[chrisryn]

My first cam job used v9 even though they had X because thats what the engineers trained on. First thing I did was installed X got a Space ball. Man I can't think of the last time I use the keyboard in Mastercam. Now I program with notepad so I use it alot, but I have a meeting with the powers that be on which cam software to use so it'll be mouse and space ball time agian.

Next will be to talk the IT guy into dual monitors

[crazythunder]

Love my dual monitors and dual sessions of Mastercam. Spaceball is the only way to go as well.

[cadcam]

Crazythunder have any pictures of your setup with monitors and spaceball?
I will take pictures of mine and post.

[samhyto]

You guys are talking about this "Spaceball", is this better than the SpacePilot from 3dconnexion? If so, could you please provide links to additional info on this product. I have a SpacePilot on order, but I'll return it and get a spaceball if it is a better choice.

From what I can find on the web, the spaceball is no longer offered by 3dconnexion (if I'm wrong on this, the flames will begin), but drivers can still be downloaded from them. However several models (4000 & 5000) are available on ebay. Are these compatable with x2?

I was at another shop, and the CAD/CAM guy swore by the SpacePilot, but no one here has spoke of the spacepilot.

Thanks,

Sam

[chrisryn]

The space ball is a general reference to to that type of mouse the space pilot is a good choice.

[cadcam]

Spacepilot is the one to have I have two of them one for the home office and one for the shop and then a traveler for my laptop and then the PE one for my students that i train at my home office.
I go crazy without them.