Multi-Threading Manager

The Multi-Threading Manager displays on top of all other windows, Mastercam or any other program. This characteristic allows it to be thread safe in a manner similar to the Windows Task Manager. The MTM runs independently from Mastercam.

To reorder any column, drag and drop the column heading to a new position.

To resize a column, select and drag the vertical divider to the left or right.

To display or hide a column—other than the Process Name which is set to always display—right-click in the column heading row and select/deselect a column title.

Stop

Cancels the regeneration of the toolpath operation associated with the selected thread. Mastercam does not regenerate this toolpath when processing the remaining threads.

If one or more toolpaths are dependent on the toolpath you stopped (for example, a stock model operation), the dependent toolpaths are also not regenerated. When the regeneration is complete, all toolpaths affected by the cancellation are removed from the Multi-Threading Manager, and marked "dirty" in the Toolpaths Manager.

Pause

Suspends the toolpath thread until you choose Play to resume processing. If one or more toolpaths are dependent on the toolpath you paused (for example, a rest toolpath), the dependent toolpaths are not regenerated until their parent toolpath is processed completely.

When the regeneration of all other multi-threaded toolpaths is complete, paused toolpaths remain in the Multi-Threading Manager.

• The Progress column displays a yellow progress bar for the toolpath threads that are paused.
• Paused threads are still considered "active" and contribute to the maximum number of threads configured for the Multi-Threading Manager.

Play

Resumes processing of a toolpath thread that was previously paused in the Multi-Threading Manager.

Settings

Opens the Multi-Thread Settings dialog box.

Process name

Displays the toolpath number and name defined in the Toolpaths Manager for each thread created by the toolpath regeneration process.

State

Displays one of the following states to indicate the toolpath thread's processing status.

• Paused: The thread was manually paused. To release it for processing, press Play .
• Stopped: The thread was manually stopped (cancelled). Mastercam does not regenerate this toolpath when processing the remaining threads. When the regeneration is complete, the toolpath thread is removed from the MTM and marked "dirty" in the Toolpaths Manager.
• Pre-translate: The thread is active and the MTM is waiting to translate its binary NCI data.
• Translating: The MTM is currently translating binary NCI data for the toolpath thread.
• Processing: The MTM is processing toolpath computations for the thread.
• Queued: The thread is waiting in the queue because the MTM is already processing the maximum number of threads allowed; it must wait for one to complete before starting another.

States also display in the Progress column as color-coded progress bars.

Progress

Displays a color coded progress bar that shows the current State of processing each toolpath thread.

• Yellow: Paused
• Green: Processing
• Red: Stopped/Stopping
• Blue: Pre-translate
• Magenta: Translating

Status

Displays informational messages about the toolpath's processing status.

Mastercam processes toolpath threads when generating toolpaths without requiring user intervention. However, when necessary, you can use the buttons at the top of this dialog box to stop, pause, and play (resume) one or more selected threads. Other options let you reassign the priority of a thread.

To apply the same option to multiple threads, use standard Windows selection methods to choose threads in the list. Then right-click and select an option.

Right-click on any toolpath thread to Stop, Pause or Play (resume) processing. Pausing a thread suspends its processing; however it remains included in the number of threads in-process. Stopping a thread removes it from the queue.

Additional options let you set a processing priority in the queue, subject to any dependencies between toolpath threads. Changing the priority of a thread can make it run faster or slower (depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also adversely affect the performance of other threads. Choose from the following options:

• Realtime
• High
• AboveNormal
• Normal (default)
• BelowNormal
• Low

The Configure button opens the Multi-Thread Settings dialog box. You set the following options:

• Maximum number of threads: Sets the maximum number of independent toolpaths Mastercam is allowed to process simultaneously. Threads are not affected by the number of cores that your system has. However, it is recommended that the number of threads match the number of cores since a thread can utilize a fully single CPU core.

  NOTE

  Some toolpaths, such as 3D high speed toolpaths, will attempt to use all available CPU cores to process, regardless of the set Maximum number of threads.

• Default priority: Sets the CPU priority of the threads. The higher the priority, the more CPU slice time the threads launched by Mastercam get by the operating system.

These toolpaths are available for multi-threading:

Toolpath Name	Background Thread	Multiple Cores
2D High Speed Milling/Routing Toolpaths
Dynamic Contour	Yes	No
Dynamic Mill	Yes	No
Peel Mill	Yes	No
Area Mill	Yes	No
Blend Mill	No	No
3D High Speed Milling/Routing Toolpaths
Dynamic OptiRough	Yes	Yes
Area Roughing	Yes	Yes
Equal Scallop	Yes	Yes
Hybrid	Yes	Yes
Pencil	Yes	Yes
Blend	Yes	Yes
Horizontal Area	Yes	Yes
Scallop	Yes	Yes
Project	Yes	Yes
Raster	Yes	Yes
Spiral	Yes	Yes
Radial	Yes	Yes
Utilities
Stock Model Operations	Yes	Yes

Any toolpath that can compute across multiple cores can also process background threads. Mastercam optimizes the processing order and priority.