X axis Flipping using the Machine Def???

[crazy^millman]

Has anyone been able to get the machine def to do this. I got the post from In-House for our Machine. It is a good post, but not to my liking and I am trying ot get MPLMASTER.PST or the GENERIC FANUC 4X MT_LATHE.PST to flip the X axis on the lower turret and not having much luck. I have been trying to do it through the Machine def and coming to the collusion that is just a waste of damn time. The lower Turret has to be positive numbers in X axis and I can make this work doing everything from the top turret and just using switches in the post to do what I want for wait codes and all of that is working like I want with either post, but when I try to do it the correct way and define my tools on the lower turret I only get X negative numbers. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[tryon]

i have been trying to figure that out myself for some time now.

 

Have you tried under this section of the post. I havnt yet but it seems like a possibility.

 

#Machining position turret/spindle settings

# Switch strings based on turret position top/bottom-left/right and cut type.

# Turret position is based on the Mastercam settings (see lathtype).

# Strings are re-assigned for output in the routine psw_str_mult.

# The string variable sw_string holds the place position value to determine

# how to assign the strings. Planes are relative to the view from Mastercam.

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

Ron, Been timkering with this a little and seem to have the same problem. I have tried to make a new toolplane to toolpath in, but it always goes to lathe upper.

Will dig some more tomorrow

[Steve Arteman]

Ron,

in the post there should be a line:

dia_mult : 2 #Multiplier for output on X axis (Neg. switches sign of X)

 

Change the 2 to -2, I can't see this setting in MD/CD

I do have a short lathe video on www.cad2cam.blogspot.com I show how to set the plane in MD/gen mach parameters. I think this is what you were asking.

Steve

www.cad2cam.net

[crazy^millman]

Jimmy, Try_on, Steve thanks for the replies so I think we all agree this is not working through the MD and the post is the only way in which to accomplish this. Steve thanks for pointing me to the right place in the post.

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

Ok this is what I have come up with:

You cannot effectivly change the toolplane.

You can fix simply in post by:

 

#Machining position turret/spindle settings

# Switch strings based on turret position top/bottom-left/right and cut type.

# Turret position is based on the Mastercam settings (see lathtype).

# Strings are re-assigned for output in the routine psw_str_mult.

# The string variable sw_string holds the place position value to determine

# how to assign the strings. Planes are relative to the view from Mastercam.

# Assign the 17 digit string following the alpha columns below:

# A - C axis, 1 = axis winds, 2 = axis signed, 3 = indexer

# B - Spindle direction, 0 = normal, 1 = reverse

# C - Plane 0 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch

# D - Plane 1 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch

# E - Plane 2 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch

# F - Plane 0, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18

# G - Plane 1, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18

# H - Plane 2, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18

# Decimal (required)

 

# I - Plane 0, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

 

# J - Plane 0, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

# K - Plane 0, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

 

# L - Plane 1, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic # M - Plane 1, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

 

# N - Plane 1, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

 

# O - Plane 2, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic # P - Plane 2, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

# Q - Plane 2, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic

use_only_tl : 0 #Use only Top turret/Left spindle settings (below) for

#all Mastercam turret/spindle selections

#When configuring for multi-spindle/turret set to 0

 

#Columns- ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ #Turret/Spindle #Path Type

scase_tl_c1 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Turning cut

scase_tl_c2 11000012.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Right Face cut

scase_tl_c_2 11110012.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Left Face cut

scase_tl_c3 10010102.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Cross cut

scase_tl_c4c 10000111.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle

scase_tl_c4 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs.

scase_tl_c5 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Left spindle, Multisurf Rotary

 

#Columns- ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ

scase_bl_c1 10000222. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Turning cut

scase_bl_c2 11000012. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Right Face cut

scase_bl_c_2 11110012. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Left Face cut

scase_bl_c3 10010102. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Cross cut

scase_bl_c4c 10000111. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle

scase_bl_c4 10000222. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs.

scase_bl_c5 10000222. 1 00000000 #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Multisurf Rotary

 

#Columns- ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ

scase_tr_c1 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Turning cut

scase_tr_c2 11000012.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut

scase_tr_c_2 11110012.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Left Face cut

scase_tr_c3 10010102.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Cross cut

scase_tr_c4c 10000111.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle

scase_tr_c4 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs.

scase_tr_c5 10000222.000000000 #Top turret/Right spindle, Multisurf Rotary

 

#Columns- ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ

scase_br_c1 10000222.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Turning cut

scase_br_c2 11000012.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut

scase_br_c_2 11110012.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut

scase_br_c3 10010102.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Cross cut

scase_br_c4c 10000111.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle

scase_br_c4 10000222.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs.

scase_br_c5 10000222.000000000 #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Multisurf Rotary

[crazy^millman]

Thanks Jimmy, I looked there but changed I, L, O and did not just change the I only. I will try that and see what I come up with Thanks again

 

On a side note do you think the MD would be were this is suppose to work verses having to do this with the post??

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

That was the first place I tried, but gave up when I figured out that I could not get the toolplane to flip.

 

The nci file has top plane (not lathe) coordinates so the post should flip according to the component settings (where you are picking the y- vector for pos direction) by writing to the scase... strings.

 

Also note my setting:

use_only_tl : 0 #Use only Top turret/Left spindle settings (below) for

#all Mastercam turret/spindle selections

#When configuring for multi-spindle/turret set to 0

[crazy^millman]

Yes Jimmy I seen that and have that set the same.

[Steve Arteman]

Ron, Jimmy

I will keep looking, there are two of the companies I contract at use these settings I had to set up the post like above seems to work fine for now I also changed -D+Z in the plane located in the machine def, General Machine parameters Button. The next thing was to change the tool libraries to come in from the bottom side. I will let you know if I find something else.

Hope this helps

Steve

www.cad2cam.net

[Steve Arteman]

Ron, Jimmy

I will keep looking, there are two of the companies I contract at use these settings I had to set up the post like above seems to work fine for now I also changed -D+Z in the plane located in the machine def, General Machine parameters Button. The next thing was to change the tool libraries to come in from the bottom side. I will let you know if I find something else.

Hope this helps

Steve

www.cad2cam.net

[Post dept]

While there are options to set the positive directions of movement in the machine definition, the post would need to be setup to read the machine definition and alter the output accordingly. At this point in time I'm not aware of anyone who has written a post that will utilize this feature of the machine definition.

 

Chris

[crazy^millman]

Yeah well Chris seeing how the documentation is not yet up to par I could not really see how anyone who is outside of Mastercam could without knowing all of the parameters. Maybe you guys know, but doubt the average person like myself will see that anytime soon.

 

Steve thanks for the Information hopefully the coming down the pipes will address a lot of these situations.

[crazy^millman]

Ok I am lost here maybe someone can point me in the right direction here. I am doing the lower turret and I get positive and negative X moves all in the same operation. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated on what is going on here.

 

Here is the code for this grooving operation:

code:

---

O0000

(PROGRAM NAME - L88950)

(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 24-08-07 TIME=HH:MM - 06:22)

(MCX FILE - C:V M1621(CAM-LATCH)MFG-13L88920.MCX)

(NC FILE - C:MCAMX2-MR2LATHENCL88950.NC)

(MATERIAL - NONE)

(POST DEV - IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS INC.)

(POST LICENCE - IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS INC.)

(TOOL - 5 - VHR 211 10 4 - VIPV .0938 .04675 - OFFSET - 0 - INSERT - VIPV .09375 .04375 - HOLDER - VHR 211 10 4)

G20

(TOOL - 5 OFFSET - 5)

(VHR 211 10 4 - VIPV .0938 .04675 INSERT - VIPV .09375 .04375)

(L88920-1)

G54

N5 T0505

G18 G99

M109

G97 S512 M03

G0 X2.61 Z-2.6398

G50 S2500

G96 S350

G1 X2.32 F.004

G0 X2.61

G1 Z-2.5907

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.6388

G1 Z-2.6888

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.5917

G1 Z-2.5417

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.6879

G1 Z-2.7379

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.5426

G1 Z-2.4926

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.7369

G1 Z-2.7869

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.4935

G1 Z-2.4435

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.786

G1 Z-2.836

X2.3207

G0 X2.61

Z-2.4445

G1 Z-2.3945

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.8351

G1 Z-2.8851

X2.3328

G0 X2.61

Z-2.3954

G1 Z-2.3454

X2.32

G0 X2.61

Z-2.8841

G1 Z-2.9341

X2.3606

G2 X-2.3328 Z-2.8851 R.3281 <----------- Changes here WTF

G0 X-2.61

Z-2.3464

G1 Z-2.2964

X-2.32

G0 X-2.61

Z-2.9332

G1 Z-2.9832

X-2.4063

G2 X-2.3606 Z-2.9341 R.3281

G0 X-2.61

Z-2.2973

G1 Z-2.2473

X-2.3237

G0 X-2.61

Z-2.9822

G1 Z-3.0322

X-2.4749

G2 X-2.4063 Z-2.9832 R.3281

G0 X-2.61

Z-2.2482

G1 Z-2.1982

X-2.414

G3 X-2.3237 Z-2.2473 R.0681

G0 X-2.61

X-2.6195

Z-3.1104

G2 X-2.51 Z-3.0569 R.1

G3 X-2.4883 Z-3.0399 R.0619

G2 X-2.4749 Z-3.0322 R.3281

G0 X-2.61

X2.61 Z-2.1228

X2.5523

G1 X2.4109 Z-2.1935

G3 X-2.31 Z-2.263 R.0731

G1 Z-2.7132

X-2.34 Z-2.7282

G0 X-2.6514

X3.464

Z-3.152

X2.6514 <------------- Changes back to positive

G1 X2.51 Z-3.0813

G3 X-2.4808 Z-3.0433 R.0569 <-------- Changes back to Negative

G2 X-2.31 Z-2.8205 R.3331

G1 Z-2.6554

X-2.34 Z-2.6404

G0 X-2.5523

X-3.464

G28 U0. V0. W0.

M05

M30

---

[crazy^millman]

Ok I got this to work with a grooving operation using the lower turret with the MPLMASTER post. I had to change the C,D,E, and O to 1 on the columns. But now a basic OD operation using the lower turrert is still keep the X negative. I tried the Generic 4axis Lathe post and nothing happened so MPLMASTER seems ot be working correctly with regards to the columns where as the Generic 4Axis lathe post seems to not work when you make these changes.

 

Really bugging me I can get one operation to work with the lower turret and then another one goes back to negative. HEY JAMES WHAT WERE YOU SAYING ABOUT ESPRIT. LOOKS LIKE I AM GIVEN THEM A CALL.

[crazy^millman]

Ok if you post the operation that is a problem by itself then the X axis comes out positive where as if I post it all together I get the X axis negative. So now to get through this I will post my 17 different operations as 5 different files and paste them all together.

 

Yes I have a trail post from In-House and they have offered to customize it, but money is tight right now and since I am salary they have asked me to try to come up with something so just want to throw that out there. I also want to thank In-House for having the MPLMASTER post to use because nothing from Mastercam at this point is working.

[Steve Arteman]

Ron,

I had to put a neg in the home X position. If you don't do this you will get a Negitive number in the home line. Seems to be a bug but not sure.

Steve

www.cad2cam.net

[Steve Arteman]

Ron,

I also had to change the G2 and G3 around in the one of the posts I use, but that shouldn't cause the negitives in the arc.

Send me the ziptogo file I will look at it.

[email protected]

www.cad2cam.net

[crazy^millman]

I did have negative home positions in the operations that used the lower turret. Like I said it was weird it would post fine in an operation by itself, but when it was posted as a complete operations it would give it a fit. When I changed the O to 1 in the setting this took care of the Arc moves being all over the place. I will do a dummy file since the file in question is under non-disclosure by the government.

 

Thanks for the offer.

[Post dept]

Ron and all,

 

Yes, the default posts (generic Fanuc 4-axis and mplmaster) do less than a good job of handling the bottom turret.

 

Our posts built specifically for the machines use those strings that Jimmy Wakeford was showing to do this stuff. Just make sure you set them for all appropriate axis combos and op styles.

 

Only other thing you may want to do is stream the files out to make seperate upper and lower turret files.

[crazy^millman]

Brett I was able to use the lathetype to control upper and lower output since MPLMASTER or the Generic Fanuc 4 axis lathe post does not have in there.

 

I then did this:

 

code:

---

prdbturret     #Added to output Upper & Lower Turret Codes

if lathtype = one,

[

"G14", e$

"(UPPER TURRET)", e$

]

if lathtype = zero,

[

"G13", e$

"(LOWER TURRET)", e$

]

 

 

ltlchg$ #Toolchange, lathe

toolchng = one

gcode$ = zero

copy_x = vequ(x$)

pcc_capture #Capture LCC ends, stop output RLCC

c_rcc_setup$ #Save original in sav_xa and shift copy_x for LCC comp.

pcom_moveb #Get machine position, set inc. from c1_xh

c_mmlt$ #Position multi-tool sub, sets inc. current if G54...

prdbturret, e$<--- Added 8-27-07 RDB

 

mtlchg$ #Toolchange, mill

toolchng = one

gcode$ = zero

copy_x = vequ(x$)

pcom_moveb #Get machine position, set inc. from c1_xh

c_mmlt$ #Position multi-tool sub, sets inc. current if G54...

prdbturret, e$<--- Added 8-27-07 RDB

---

I am then using mr for my PXX codes since I want them at my home_type positions. I took and modified the mi5 to do my M110 and I got a post so far doing what I need. When I get done I will send you guys a copy so you can see how bad I chopped this up.

 

Again thanks for putting the MPLMASTER out there or it would have taken me a lot more time to get this going with the Generic post.

[crazy^millman]

Update to above I was getting redundant G13 and G14 posting at each operation. I got that fixed then I was getting the same for my upper and lower comments so this is the fix I came up with. Anyone is free to use that how they see fit. Use at your own risk. This has been added to the Generic as well as the MPLMASTER here and works perfect in both. If you only want to have the upper and lower turret comments then just do not use the parts where the G13 and G14 are used.

 

HTH

 

code:

---

#Turret Slection Variable

prturret : 0 #Turret Selection for elimation of redundant calls

prturretcom : 0 #Turret Comment Selection for elimation of redundant calls

 

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Select Turret Call Codes

sg13 G13 #Upper Turret Call Code *DEFAULT*

sg14 G14 #Lower Turrer Call Code

sgturret #Target for string

 

fstrsel sg13 prturret sgturret 2 -1

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Select Turret Call Codes

sturretcom1 "(UPPER TURRET)" #Upper Turret Comment

sturretcom2 "(LOWER TURRET)" #Lower Turrer Comment

sturretcom #Target for string

 

fstrsel sturretcom1 prturretcom sturretcom 2 -1

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

prdbturret

if lathtype = one,

[

prturret = 1

prturretcom = 1

sgturret, e$

sturretcom, e$

]

if lathtype = zero,

[

prturret = 2

prturretcom = 2

sgturret, e$

sturretcom, e$

]

---