Cycle Time Estimating

[GREG]

Ive tryed using MasterCam to estimate cycle times for quoting purposes with out much luck.Is there a way of adjusting this to suit various M/Cs.

Is there dedicated software for this.

We are trying to minimise the

Some we win ,Some we lose aspect of estimating machine run times.

Cheers

[Michael Reynolds]

Hi Greg! First, do you have your post setup right? I mean, are your rapid rates, tool change times, and max rpms set correctly in your post? (File, edit, pst, close to the bottom of the page).

I've had some problems with cycle times, but that's always the first place to look.

Hope that helps!

Mike R.

[Lucky]

Many newer high-speed mills will automatically slow down in order to maintain accuracy and fine detail in sharp corners and small radii. The actual feedrate will be reduced any time there is an abrupt change of direction. A tolerance is usually called out in the NC code and the machine will decelerate as required to maintain the tolerance.

Actual cut times can exceed Backplot estimates by 15% to 100%. We are cutting steel and graphite on a Mikron HSM with 42,000 rpm at speeds of 400 ipm.

We have become fairly good at taking the Backplot time and considering the amount of detail in the cut and "guessing" the actual time.

[JAMMAN]

Being that your machine adjusts feed outside program, there is no way to get backplots exact. However, I'm certain you can get them MUCH CLOSER than you have them now. Fool it in your post (as Michael described) by giving it slower than normal rapid speeds, longer average tool change time, etc. I played with mine and it is so accurate now we use it often for quoting, it is within two minutes an hour at 100% feed!

Jim