The Edge Factor is a high energy television series that brings to screen an inside look at real people using extreme technology to create the world we see all around us. You will see astounding engineering challenges that are normally invisible to the general public.

Featured in Gnarly Metal is a cutting-edge manufacturing facility (Straitline Components), which makes parts for some of the top slope-style mountain bike riders in the world. Straitline Components uses SolidWorks® and Mastercam to design and cut their top-rated parts.

Straitline came up with an idea to make a new type of pedal for the mountain biking market. In an experiment, they compared a consumer grade pedal and those from Straitline. The consumer pedal bent and actually broke, which could seriously injure the rider. Those from Straitline withstood the pressure with barely a bend. And, with double the pressure, it still didn’t break!

In Gnarly Metal, Straitline is challenged with making a gyro hydraulic system that eliminates brake line cables (typically cables get wrapped around the head tube and therefore the rider can’t spin their handlebars around as much as they need to complete a trick).

Watch the development, manufacturing, and first competition test of a new design. See how Mastercam helps Straitline complete their challenge of making a gyro. Click on the graphic below to watch the video.

Macdac Engineering and Verisurf will be showing its new Master3DGage product at the Feb 17th X6 Roll Out. This product is more than a gage arm; it is a way to fully integrate your inspection into your manufacturing processes. We are planning a special after-roll-out event to showcase this product. If you’d like to attend and see this new inspection tool please call Alan Duprey or Dave Matuszek or email sales@macdac.com.

Master3DGage offers:

• Fast Inspection: rapid inspection directly to 3D CAD model
• Easy To Use: No metrology experience required
• 1.2m (48″) Working volume ideal for parts, molds and assemblies
• Shop floor rugged: portable, lightweight and easy to setup
• Precision: high precision CMM

Macdac Engineering is proud to announce a new training facility in Nashua New Hampshire at our Sub-dealer R.S. Machine. Come see the new facility at our Feb. 3 X6 Roll-Out or at our next Mastercam Class being offered there.

FYI R.S. Machine is an ITAR Facility and attendees to classes and other events will need to bring a Photo ID and be from the U.S.

Here are some Training Highlights for every one:

• Mastercam Mill 2D class in Nashua New Hampshire February 6-8. Easy access right off of Rt3!
• Mastercam for Solidworks 2D and 3D classes are on the schedule. These are now separate- 2day classes at $600 each
• Coming soon! Mastercam Featured Based Machining One Day Class. Call for details.
• Anyone interested in a night class? Let us know!

Please see our website for an expanded training schedule and course outlines.

For more information call us at 860-749-5544.

Introducing Chris Mendicino

Chris has been interning with Macdac Engineering since June 2011 and is now moving into a full-time position as Macdac’s Mastercam course instructor. Chris has an associate’s degree in Engineering Science from Manchester Community College and is studying at University of Hartford for a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has previously worked for QuEST Global as a project engineer for Pratt and Whitney, East Hartford. There he worked in the F119 turbine engine department writing flight test letters for Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In his spare time Chris enjoys writing and playing music, leading worship at his church, reading historical books, and traveling to his favorite cities.

We will be holding our next X6 Rollouts on:

*    January 20th at The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
*    Feb 3rd at R.S. Machine’s Training Center in Nashua, NH
*    Feb 17th at Macdac Engineering in Somers, CT

Each event begins at 10AM, will have light refreshments, and is free to attend. If you would like to come and check out the new Mastercam X6 please either call (860) 749-5544, email sales@macdac.com.

So, CNC hit the “pause” button and used the time to correct the problems and provide a couple of additional improvements we were looking to put in a future release.

As a result Mastercam X6 is now available for immediate download on the Mastercam website. To run Mastercam X6, you must have an active Mastercam maintenance contract or have purchased Mastercam on or after October 31, 2011.   Mastercam X6 installation packages will be shipping from CNC to customers that qualify. For specifics on what X6 has to offer, go to http://www.mastercam.com/Products/Enhancements/Default.aspx.

If you have any questions about whether you qualify for this release, or would like to purchase Mastercam X6, please contact us today.

Beginning with Mastercam X6, CNC Software will be taking a hands-on approach to testing the quality and usability of its software with live usability tests. These tests allow Mastercam team members to review user performance measured against predefined goals that show strengths and weaknesses in the software, everywhere from interface and workflow design down to how individual features work.

User participation is a key component to the testing process at CNC Software and since Macdac customers are so close to the corporate Mastercam office we want to extend an invitation to participate. If you are interested, either remotely or in person, please fill out the Usability Study Participation Form. If you are chosen to participate, CNC Software will contact you to schedule an appointment.

If you have questions regarding the process, you may e-mail them to UserExperience@Mastercam.com.

You can view a video about this experience by clicking here.

Mastercam’s What’s New information has been transformed from a static printed document into an interactive multimedia experience! The What’s New in Mastercam X6 DVD offers a menu-driven interface and a rich graphical design. On it, you’ll find information on all new features in X6 for every product including these highlights:

• In-process stock model creation and use
• More powerful dynamic milling
• Highly efficient “OptiRough” rest roughing
• Specialized multi-blade part programming
• Variable roughing for ceramic inserts

There are also many explanatory videos, along with handy links to our website, the Mastercam social network, and the eMastercam.com user forum so you can continue to get all the latest X6 information.

As part of CNC Software’s commitment to the environment, they are reducing the printed materials in favor of greener, more earth-friendly formats. What’s New in Mastercam X6 comes “in the box” on a separate DVD. (One DVD per site. Contact us for extra copies.) This latest change eliminates the printed document from the packaging. However, if you prefer a more traditional format, the DVD includes a printable, searchable PDF file.

To get started, simply launch the DVD and begin exploring! (Internet Explorer 7 or higher and Adobe Flash are required.)

With the upcoming introduction of Mastercam X6, the Mastercam X release will no longer be supported and you will not be able to purchase the latest Mastercam version at preferred rates. If you are a Mastercam X user and you update your system to Mastercam X6 now, you can take advantage of the special pricing available only to current Mastercam customers, which provides significant savings. The deadline to update your Mastercam X system is December 31, 2011.

Mastercam X was created and released almost a full decade ago. The technological advances and time-saving techniques added to not only Mastercam but machine tools and tooling in that time are numerous. Although Mastercam X still gets the job done, you’re missing out on dramatic enhancements, features, and toolpath motions that weren’t available at that time.

Just a few of the latest enhancements include:
•    New roughing strategies that can increase productivity by 75% or more.
•    Dramatically faster solids programming with Feature Based Machining.
•    Better finish and longer tool life with new High Speed Toolpaths.
•    The power to open a variety of CAD files, including native SolidWorks, Inventor, and SolidEdge files.

And that is just the short list. Check out the complete list of advancements and time-saving tools included in Mastercam X6 at www.mastercam.com/update and don’t miss out on the chance for incredible savings while keeping your Mastercam investment intact. Contact us today for your update sales@macdac.com or (860) 749-5544.