Same file work on both horizontal & vertical?

[McLaren]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to write my programs(new shop with horizontals & verticals), and was wondering if you guys have 2 different files for the same part so it can be ran on horizontals & verticals, or if there is someway to make the same file work on both.

 

It appears the proper way to program for a horizontal is front view, but vertical is top view. How come they aren't both top view?

 

Thanks in advance for any help, it's kinda confusing.

[Storkman]

Yep, you can use the same file just create a new WCS.

[Mcam Nut]

I find it is easier to have 2 seperate programs, and just transform from the top to the front, but both ways work fine, I just find it easier to switch to the front plane.

[SLJ]

Depends on the program. I have a bunch of programs for our vertical Daewoos that also run on the Horiz. if we hit a schedule snag. As long as there is no rotation of the tombstone we get by with it. Our verticals are split table pallet style machines and I generally run the first side of a part on the 1st table(G54), and the back side of the part on the 2nd table(G55). I don't have to switch planes and have even gotten away with putting a 3rd fixture on the backside of the tombstone by inserting manual insert code commands to rotate the table.

[McLaren]

Terry can you elaborate please? Do you draw the part like on a vertical, normal WCS top up? And then when you want to run it on a horizontal create a new WCS with front up and make all of the toolpaths reference that wcs?

 

How come the post processors for horizontals don't use the same plane as verticals?

[G Caputo]

Mclaren,

There is a switch in the post so that you can program horizontals with the top view as your work plane. I program both horizontals and our vertical in the top plane.

[Charlie Pierson]

I do our verticals from the top , also the horizontals from the top (90 deg rotate to front, the other 90 deg rotation to the back w/ x axis sign reversed.)

 

as long as the code is OK, stage left, stage right, potatos, potatoes.

cp

[Storkman]

Yes, create a view with the top being the front view and set this in your planes for a horizontal. I believe they do it this way to simulate the machine view for backplot and verify.

[Bryan Johnson]

program Horz and Vertical the same. Both from Top view.

The only difference is in the post for rotary. Horz rotates about Y, Vert about X.

 

I have never agreed with the idea of programming a Horz from the Front view. It adds much complexity to the post and the proccess, and what is the advantage?

[Storkman]

quote:

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what is the advantage?

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Looking at the part as if you were looking in the machine. Much less confusing if you ask me.

[rickt23]

I always program from top as if your looking thru the spindle. I found it is a lot less confusing if you look at it this way, especially if you bounce back and forth between horizontals and verticals

[specv]

I always position the part as it sits on the machine, I program mostly horizontals, but we do have verticals. its much easier to visualize the parts and the fixturing that way. especially if there is a lot of indexing.

[McLaren]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm going to look into programming from top view. Seems easier to post the same file to a horizontal or vertical as needs dictate.

 

Thanks again, I appreciate all of the responses.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

quote:

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...I have never agreed with the idea of programming a Horz from the Front view. It adds much complexity to the post and the proccess, and what is the advantage?...

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Can I PLEASE get an Amen!!! ???

 

For the life of me I can't see why they effed this up. The only benefit is for the goobers that didn't know or didn't want to take the time to know how to create tool planes IMNSHO. If you're one of those goobers and I've offended you... sorry, but not really.

[Greg Williams]

Well that Makes three of us

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Can you tell I'm just a little edged over this???

[Thad]

Same file for both machines. The spindle is always looking down the Z axis whether the machine is crooked (horizontal ) or straight.

 

Thad

[PeterM]

Amen Thad. What is the big deal anyway? With one or two simple edits I can run any vertical job on a horizontal, I can program a vertical job from the front view, what is all the fuss about?

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

If you want to use some of the advanced features in Mastercam you're hamstrung to do it the new school way. That's the big fuss.

[PeterM]

CNC Apps guy,

Please elaborate. I am NOT interested in sticking my head in the sand, old school, new school is meaningless to me, I just want to make good programs faster and better.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

It all depends on what you want to do.

 

If you envision yourself doing 4 and 5 Axis stuff, you need to go with WCS Front as you "Base" WCS, then rotate youe planes about the front plane. Rt. Side = B90, Back = B180, Left Side = B270, etc... If not, you can go with how it's setup on the machine. It does not become a problem until you start indexing.

[specv]

James,

whats the difference if I use front or top as my base WCS? What "advanced features" am I missing if i use top as my WCS and front as my B0 index?

[PeterM]

I do 4 axis all the time using axis sub on verticals and custom views on horizontals. I'll admit that I haven't gotten comfortable with using the WCS yet. I did just get solids(finally) so I plan on diving into Wcs again during my learning curve on using solids, and seeing if it is as great as you all keep claiming.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

If you use Top WCS and Top T/C Planes, your simultaneous 4 axis and 5 axis stuff will be wacked out. You can't use Machine Sim either.

[specv]

I use top wcs and front,right side, back, and left side (or any named planes for other indexes) for T/C planes. Am I doing something wrong? Or is that what you are saying.