This page covers the errors that come up during installation and the first run. Most of them have a single cause, and the fix is the same every time.
“Could not load image” when you first run it #
RockCAM starts, then reports that an image could not be loaded.
The NX dialog reporting that an image could not be loaded.
Work through these in order:
- Check that Windows is 64-bit. RockCAM does not run on 32-bit Windows.
- Check that you installed the right build. There are two, one for NX 10–12 and one for NX 1847 and newer. A newer NX cannot use the older build, and an older NX cannot use the newer one.
- Check that the install path contains no non-English characters.
- Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable, both x64 and x86.
- Check the
PATHandUGII_BASE_DIRenvironment variables.
The Windows “Environment Variables” dialog with PATH and UGII_BASE_DIR visible.
“Cannot request an online licence” #
RockCAM runs without an internet connection, but the first start still needs a licence. On first launch it tries to request a trial licence online; if it cannot, you will see this.
The dialog telling you that an online licence could not be requested.
The message tells you what to send: open About, copy the machine code, and send it to support. Support returns a licence file for that machine.
The RockCAM About dialog with the machine code ready to copy.
Support sends the licence file back by email.
“transfer shape — timeout” #
On a complex part, NX may report transfer shape — timeout and stop.
The NX message reporting “transfer shape — timeout”.
This means RockCAM ran out of time while reading the geometry, so it never reached the toolpath stage. It happens with broken faces or other modelling faults, or simply with parts that are too complex — the more intricate the shape, the more likely it is.
There is no setting that clears this. For the parts RockCAM is built for, one-off prismatic work, it is rare. When it does happen, program the part by hand. RockCAM does not claim to handle every part on the market.
No RockCAM menu in NX #
NX starts but the RockCAM menu is not there.
The NX ribbon without the RockCAM tab.
- Check the environment variables. Create any that are missing, and save.
The environment variable list showing the entries RockCAM needs.
The “New System Variable” dialog with the missing entry filled in.
- Restart NX.
- Check whether the NX menu bar has been hidden.
- Restart the computer.
- If it still does not appear, start RockCAM from the launcher in its install folder. Another NX add-on may be conflicting with it.
The install folder with the RockCAM launcher selected.
You cannot select a body when programming #
The one-click command runs, but there is no body to select.
The selection prompt with no body in the model.
This is a modelling issue rather than a RockCAM one. Create a new part file, then import the model that had no body into it.
A newly created, empty NX part file.
The import dialog bringing the original model into the new file.
Some formats need their options set during that import.
The import options dialog for a format that needs them.
Still stuck #
If none of the above applies, contact us and include:
- Your NX version and the RockCAM build you installed.
- The exact message you are seeing.
- Any log or report file RockCAM produced.