Opti-Rough Stock Model Toopath

The Opti-Rest toolpath uses Mastercam’s new stock model feature to create efficient tool paths without wasted tool motion. The constant engagement ensures consistent chip load and the programmed side step is never exceeded. Watch this video below to see it in action.

Come See Master3DGage in Action – Without Leaving Your Desk

We have a short demo of the Master3DGage in action on our YouTube channel. Please take a few minutes to watch the video via this link.

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

Meet the Staff – Jennie Duprey

Jennie started at Macdac in Dec 2010 as our inside sales representative. Before joining Macdac Jennie worked at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. as a health insurance benefit analyst and later as a church secretary. Jennie is Alan’s wife and mother of Macdac employees Tom and Jenal.

When not at Macdac she is involved in several ministries in her church including the welcome committee and nursing home ministry. Jennie also likes to read, dance, dine out, play cards, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

Jennie can be reached at 860-749-5544 or JennieD@macdac.com.

Meet the Staff

Jenal started at Macdac in November 2010 and is our inside sales and customer service representative. She handles our maintenance reminders, access codes, class registrations and quoting. She wants to be sure all of your needs in getting Mastercam running are met. In her spare time Jenal enjoys photography, gaming, and is active in her church. 

Jenal can be reached at: 860-749-5544 ext 23 or jenald@macdac.com.

Dream Machine Launched to Mars

Andrew Tool and Machine, a Mastercam customer, helped to build the Mars Rover. The company credits Mastercam for making the transition from titanium to VascoMax an easier process than it would’ve been without the software. Specifically, the project resulted in Andrew creating all of the actuator components, first in titanium and then in VascoMax, only on a much tighter, more demanding timeline. Very deep pockets (almost a 20:1 ratio) and small radii were the hallmarks, along with extremely tight tolerances, many of which were tied to multiple gear pitch diameters.

Being able to successfully partner with Forest City Gear in Illinois was absolutely critical to the project’s success. Positional tolerances of 0.0002″ diameter, geometric control of 0.00008″, and size control within +/-0.0001″, even on relatively large (5.00″ range) dimensions, created plenty of challenge. Additional issues related to deep pockets with small tools in nasty material added to the challenges.

You can read more about this story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45389165/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.TtY4SGPNm-U

Mastercam X6 Preview #5 – Blade Expert

The Mastercam Blade Expert add-on greatly simplifies the toolpath creation process for any multi bladed parts, including fans, propellers, impellers, turbines, marine screws, and more. There is no limit to the number of blades, splitters, or sub-splitters that can be programmed. A few highlights include a variety of powerful and flexible multiaxis roughing strategies; precise cut pattern control on blade, fillet, and floor finishing; automatic tool axis control, ensuring smooth machine motion; and full machine simulation to aid in getting the most out of the machine. Blade Expert eliminates guess work, gives you smooth toolpaths, and dramatically reduces programming time.

Watch Blade Expert in action and hear a little more about it in the video below:

The Edge Factor: Gnarly Metal

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.

Come See Master3D Gage

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

Training In New Hampshire

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.

Meet the Staff

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.