monday lathe-easy answer

[Mr. Dayshift]

Morning,

 

New to lathe programming. What is proper way to process both ends of a 2 axis lathe part in one file.

 

What is happening now is that when i go to rough side 2 features it will only toolpath the difference in geometry between side 1 and side 2.

 

Sure this is an easy one, but it's monday.

 

Thanks.

[Ray H.]

no real easy way it invloves stock flip and whatnot. I would just program one side at a time.

[Mr. Dayshift]

Ray,

 

2 separate files?

[Bryan Johnson]

When using "Stock Flip", I recomend using "Levels" option and NOT "Blank" for geometry.

[Ray H.]

ya I would use 2 files, you can try the stock flip but I find it too cumbersome to be warranted. I take it this is for verifying purposes only. Or if you wanot to use a sub spinble that is another story.

[gcode]

Stock flip is sweet once you figure it out.

I let it copy all geoemtry to seperate levels.

Keep in mind that the stock outline is controled

by the red arrow..

It helps if you make a seperate toolpath group for the second side.

 

[ 04-13-2009, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: gcode ]

[Mr. Dayshift]

I'll try this out later this morning, thanks.

[chris m]

Stock Flip works well as long as you don't edit anything on the first side after you use the stock flip operation; if you change something on side one it seems to screw up the file. I always end up deleting and redoing the stock flip in these instances. if you aren't actually machining both sides of the part in one program I suggest having separate files.

[Guest]

Course the nice thing about X is if you choose the method Chris laid out you no longer have to use 2 files, it can be done in one file using different machines.

 

So instead of maintaining two files it's just two machine groups.

[gcode]

One thing that can give stock flip

brain damage is copying your first side

facing op to side 2..

In V9 thru x3 that can really mess things up.

It's working OK in the currrent X4 beta

[Jmick]

Gcode is right. After you figure out stock flip its a piece of cake. Create a new toolpath group,then do the stock flip

[Mr. Dayshift]

That should do it, thanks everyone.

[Ron Branch @ Verisurf]

I always use 2 programs for flipping. Hear me out before you go screaming how stupid I am. We use a naming convention here with our files. We have the name of the Mastercam file the name of the machine the log number (Which is our program log number) then we have the operation number. That way it is real quick to go see what is what and you can go from there.

[Chris Rizzo]

IMO stock flip is worth it to get a completely verified part. Especially with milling ops or a milling machine in their. Just be gentle with it and it usually works.

[chris m]

Chris, you can get a completely verified part if you use the 'outgoing' side one part as stock for side two. We typically draw geometry for each operation to give the operator a sketch of what he is actually supposed to produce, so it is easy to just copy the first side geometry into the side two file and chain it as stock. You could also verify your side one, create an stl, and then use that to verify.

 

The only time I use Stock Flip is if I am actually turning one side, M00 and flip the part in the jaws, turning the second side; other wise it is always 2 files because of the reasoning that Ron spelled out.

 

C

[JPensack Acker Drill]

Stock flip is useful and works well once you get used to it. I use copy to another level and I dont blank my geometry. I also creat a second toolpath group if I'm doing 2 seperate operations. If I need to make a change I just Move the red arrow below the operation that I am altering, and just regen each operation seperatly. I have had no problems using this method. As far as facing the second side it is so qucik to do a facing toolpath that I dont even worry about copying it.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Here is my 2¢,

 

Stock Flip is a great function when used properly. I also like the "copy to a level" and not blank. It works great, as long as you don't need to make changes to any of the operations before the stock flip, as others have mentioned.

 

I'd really like to see some improvement in the "Stock Flip" toolpath operation. Currently the toolpath is broken in the respect that it will not allow you to modify previous operations without forcing you to have to regenerate all the operations (and I don't just mean re-generate, I mean go through and totally redo your stock, it is a royal pain).

 

So, the solution I suggest is JP's: Use two separate machine definitions in a single MCX file.

 

This gives you both sides of the part, and two "Stock Setup" pages that are independent. I think it is pretty cumbersome to have to modify your geometry, then open another file and modify it's geometry when you get an engineering revision.

 

Why not just have one set of geometery for the entire part, then have multiple MD's loaded in your ops manager.

 

This is exactly what we do. Now I totally believe in personal preference. If you prefer having multiple files with your own naming convention, then that is cool with me.

 

I still can't see a single valid arguement from all the posts above as to why you would ever want separate MCX files for the same part. (Aside from the aforementioned personal preference.)

 

You can load as many copies of the same Machine Definition file into your ops manager as you wish. You can also give each machine a unique name (so Ron, your naming convention could still work inside a single MCX file. I'm not trying to get you to change your ways by any means, just pointing out some functionality inside the product for everyone's knowledge).

 

We actually have a NetHook that runs inside of Mastercam that we use to load and configure MD's when checking out a new job. No, I can't share unfortunately, so please don't ask, thanks.

 

I think the same thing might be possible with VB, but I'm not sure.

 

Anyways, just my 2¢,

[JPensack Acker Drill]

Colin,

 

How do you set your stock for your second side? There are alot of parts that I do that it is useful to see where I'm overlapping or for such things as clearance for milling and turning. Or do you just figure that all out inside your head, because most of the time I use this only for graphical representation only. Also, I do agree with you that Stock flip needs improvement, they have the right idea cause the stock recognition is great but I've had some parts where its bitten me in the behind.

[Bryan Johnson]

quote:

---

Currently the toolpath is broken in the respect that it will not allow you to modify previous operations without forcing you to have to regenerate all the operations (and I don't just mean re-generate, I mean go through and totally redo your stock, it is a royal pain).

---

I use stock flip alot, and I do not see this.

[Colin Gilchrist]

J,

 

When doing it in two separate MD's, loaded into a single file I save an STL of the first part, rotate or mirror it (Xform STL) and then use the "File" option in the Stock Setup of the second Machine group...

 

Kind of a pain at first, but it goes pretty quickly once you get the hang of it.

 

You really only need to do this on parts where you want to check the overlap though like you mentioned.

 

Most of the parts we do this way we just use cylindrical stock for both end and don't worry about visualizing the part complete, but you can if you take the time to use Xform STL...

 

HTH,

[Philcott]

Brian and Colin,

 

It would probably be helpful if you could take the time to right out your procedure (step by step would be nice) and post it here. I have been frustrated with stock flip so many times I just gave up and do it Chris's using two files.

 

It would be nice to try again to get this working the way it is meant to be.

 

It would also be nice if CNC had some good examples on these features.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Methinks a video is in order...

 

I'll see what I can do to create one and get someone to host it. I'm going to have to pony up the money and get my own copy of Camtasia...