MCAM Northwest

Streamingteacher Tech Tips for Mastercam X4

mcamnw — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:55:07 +0000

Do you have questions regarding installing or configuring X4?
Do you know the best way to set up your PC and graphics for X4?
Are you migrating from an earlier version and want to know which update options to use?

The free tech tips channel providesd you with roughly 45 minutes of videos that can help you with your X4 installation.

Access Streamingteachers free tech tips for X4 – CLICK HERE

Mastercam X4 – MU3 Update

mcamnw — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:54:48 +0000

X4 Maintenance Update 3 Product Release - Third update to Mastercam X4 – Web Download – Self-Extracting EXE mastercamx4-mu3-web.exe 02/01/10 286MB

NOTES:
Mastercam X4 MU3 is a cumulative installation that contains all of the bug fixes in X4 MU1/MU2 and more. All of the translators have also been updated to the 2010 versions. This must be installed on top of Mastercam X4 or X4 MU1 or X4 MU2. If X4 MU1 or MU2 is already installed on a system, the “Mastercam X4 MU1 (or MU2)” entry in Add / Remove Programs (Programs and Features in Windows™ Vista and 7) will be replaced with the MU3 entry. If MU3 is uninstalled, your Mastercam version will be rolled back to X4.

You must have maintenance through 12-31-09 to run X4 MU3. The Mastercam.exe version number is 13.3.0.22.

Remember, all X4 third-party add-ons or CHooks must to be rebuilt with a Mastercam X4 MU SDK. Please contact your vendor for updated versions of these applications.

To install:
Click on the mastercamx4-mu3-web.exe link and save it to your computer.
After the download is complete, double click on the *.exe to begin the installation.
Follow the installation instructions.

Hardware for Mastercam X4

mcamnw — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:52:43 +0000

This is the most common question within the past few weeks, “what hardware do you recommend to run Mastercam?” I won’t even mention minimum hardware requirements because nobody asks “what is the least I can get away with” and as far as I can imagine, there is no maximum. So here I will attempt to give you just a common sense guideline for selecting a new PC.
Quality hardware: Purchase from a company that has a good reputation for customer service. Intel or AMD, doesn’t seem to matter much as far as I can tell.
Operating System: Win7, unless you want to stay in the pool of XP-PRO for
administrative reasons. Since Win7 is out I would recommend you skip Vista.
Graphics: NVidia 512mb minimum – do not spend a pile of money here.
Price is not proportionate to performance. For example, a $200 GeForce card
runs nearly as well as a much more expensive Quadro in my opinion for the
way that Mastercam utilizes the card and for the way that most users work in
Mastercam. The gaming market has helped us all here, driving down the price of graphics performance.
Memory: 4gb RAM or more
Processor: The more cores, the better. the HST toolpaths in Mastercam will process proportionately faster, especially on regen. Multi-Processor support is not part of Mastercam at this point, but may be in the future.
BACKUP System: Make sure you have a bullet-proof backup system in place, and shadow copies set up, your IT person can help with that. This way, you can roll back files easily. To test this, try saving a file, change it, save over the top, now ask for the last version back. it should be quick and easy.

Feel free to post your comments on this one.

Find out how to Go Beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping, see Autodesk Manufacturing solutions in action, and get expert tips

mcamnw — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:14:19 +0000

Autodesk Virtual Event

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Time: 8am PST – 3:00pm PST (11am EST – 6:00pm EST)

This is your FREE opportunity to interact with Autodesk experts, watch live demonstrations, network with your peers, download product information, connect with local Autodesk resellers, and more.

Join Autodesk executives, product representatives and technical experts including Lynn Allen, AutoCAD Technical Evangelist, and Daryl Corelli, Autodesk Inventor Technical Specialist, for this live, one-day virtual event.

Attend the Virtual Event and earn chances to win one of ten iPod Touches to be given away after the event concludes. Points will be awarded for your participation, and every 100 points you receive will give you an entry in the drawing for the prizes. 50 points will be given for submitting the Autodesk event survey, and 25 points will be received for every Autodesk webcast or moderated chat you attend. Check out the Prize Center for more information.

Sign up now. Registration is free, but you’ll need to register to gain access to the event.

MCAM Northwest – Autodesk Press Release

mcamnw — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:46:46 +0000

OREGON CITY, OR, Dec 7, 2009 – MCAM NorthWest Inc., the northwest’s leading provider of CAD/CAM-related products, services and training, announces its becoming an authorized value-added reseller (VAR) for Autodesk, a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

With the addition of Autodesk’s broad range of digital design software solutions – including AutoCAD software, its flagship design and documentation solution – MCAM NorthWest now is able to offer its current and potential customers a much more broad range of CAD options as a compliment to its line of Mastercam CAM products.

Tim Rowley, the co-founder of MCAM NorthWest who expects the addition of Autodesk to double his company’s sales by 2012 as a result of the Autodesk affiliation, says, “MCAM NorthWest is dedicated to offering our customers the very best CAD/CAM solutions and services available in the marketplace. The addition of Autodesk’s fine array of products to our current offerings is proof of our commitment to excellence.”

Earning the distinction as an Autodesk VAR means MCAM NorthWest’s staff demonstrates in-depth technical and industry knowledge and a commitment to customer service. It also has proven that it provides its customers with the world’s leading 2D and 3D digital design software solutions, as well as the highest-quality training and support.

Based in Oregon City, OR, MCAM NorthWest was founded in 1998 by Tim and Lori Rowley. The company provides CAD/CAM-related products, services and training for companies in Oregon, southwest Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. Its customers serve many industries, including medical, aerospace, tool, die and mold making and woodworking.

Autodesk carefully selects VARs to help ensure a strong partner network capable of superior, responsive service. Today there are more than 1,700 resellers serving more than 9 million Autodesk users worldwide with exemplary proficiency in the demonstration, installation and support of Autodesk products. Authorized Autodesk VARs gain a dependable partner in Autodesk, receiving incentives, marketing support, training for sales and technical representatives, and business planning and management guidance.

Autodesk Focus Group – Portland

mcamnw — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:09:32 +0000

Attend an Autodesk Focus Group in Portland Oregon
Participants Receive an iPod Nano 8GB

Are you an Autodesk software user in Portland Oregon area? If so Autodesk wants your input on improving its products at a focus group or visit to your location. If you’re selected to attend you’ll receive an iPod Nano 8GB.

Research will be conducted in late January/early February. Focus groups will be conducted in a downtown hotel in each city at approximately 6:30pm – 8pm on a weekday evening. Customer visits will be conducted in the day time and will last approximately 1 hour.

If you’re interested in participating and helping us improve Autodesk software let us know by completing this form.

Autodesk Simplified Upgrade Pricing Begins March 16, 2010

mcamnw — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:18:47 +0000

Autodesk is introducing a new, streamlined upgrade pricing model on March 16, 2010. Under our current upgrade pricing model, the price of your upgrade depends on which product release you own. After March 15, 2010, your upgrade from any of the three previous software releases will cost 50 percent of the price of a new license, no matter which release you own.

Each new release of our software is designed to help you work smarter and faster. That’s why we always encourage our customers to upgrade. The best way to get current and stay current is to upgrade your Autodesk® 2007, 2008, and 2009 software with Autodesk® Subscription before March 16, 2010.

Upgrade Today with Autodesk Subscription Before Simplified Pricing Begins
Autodesk Subscription is the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your software up-to-date.

Customer FAQ

Bobbi Thompson joins MCAM Northwest

bobbit — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:30:54 +0000

Bobbi Thompson

I am very excited to join the team at MCAM Northwest! I have been providing technology solutions to businesses for over 10 years and have 4 years of experience assisting the manufacturing industry with determining the proper tools needed for everything from Conceptualization of Ideas to Production and Marketing once those Ideas have been fully developed and engineered. My knowledge and passion for the Autodesk products, coupled with the Northwest’s leading Mastercam experts at MCAM will allow us to truly provide a complete Digital Prototyping Solution to our clients.

US manufacturing expands at fastest pace since April 2006, but construction spending slips

mcamnw — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:53:54 +0000

See full article hosted by Google

Technical Support Overview

nic_for_mcam — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:42:07 +0000

Technical Support Overview

Please use support in the following order:

Documentation: Please read the Installation Guide, Transition Guide (if migrating from an earlier version) and the Getting Started Guide for the current version. These documents are very helpful for the installation, set-up and familiarization of your Mastercam system.
Mastercam X4 Built-In Help: Mastercam has a built-in Help System that is a great resource. Use the keys “Alt+h” to access the help system. This help system will index itself to the specific topics relating to your location within the software. This makes finding help very quick and easy to use.
E-mail: You can send MCX or Z2G files to support@mcamnw.com. Z2G (zip to go) files are preferred because they give us more information about your machine and control definitions, libraries and system information. Make sure that your e-mail explains the problem completely, includes your SIM #, name, company name and the version of Mastercam that you are running. If your email is in regards to an existing customer service case, please be sure to include the HQ# in the subject line to expedite your case.
For Phone Support:
- MCAM NorthWest Technical Support
- (503) 653-5332
- 8am to 5pm – Monday through Friday
- Calls will be answered in the order they are received. If no one is available for immediate assistance you will be forwarded to our tech support voicemail. If your call is in regards to a customer service case that already exists, please be sure to include the HQ# in the voicemail to help us expedite your call. If you are in need of urgent help, (ie. Mastercam system is down), then please let the receptionist know this with your initial call.

MCAM Northwest has implemented the following Mastercam support program.

Full Support / Updateable:*

Version X4 (Current Release) includes maintenance and non-maintenance customers.
Version X3 (Previous Release) includes ONLY maintenance customers and 90 days from current version release date for non-maintenance customers.

Limited Support:

Version X2 (Media Replacements available) Support is limited to hasp setup questions and response time is determined by availability.
Version X (Media Replacements available) Support is limited to hasp setup questions and response time is determined by availability.

No Support / Updateable:

Version 9 (NO Media Replacement, NO support, Updateable)

No Support / Not Updateable:

Version 8 and all previous versions (NO Media Replacement, NO Support, NOT Updateable)

*Note: Mastercam System Down Errors take precedence over other support.

Thank you in advance for understanding how our program works. This program will continue to help us achieve an efficient and timely return for technical support responses.