Custom lathe tool

[generaldisarray]

I am having trouble getting this to work.

 

I am using a Kennametal A16SVMBR-3 boring bar with a VBMT332 insert .

There was not a predefined tool in the libraries.

 

I drew the tool on a seperate level like I have done in the past for custom tools.

 

The problem is Mcam will only let me compensate the tool to the center of the nose radius.

 

If I lie to the machine with offsets will the part be good.

 

I am turning a spherical radius down in the bottom of a cavity.

[generaldisarray]

Are those crickets I hear?

[chris m]

We run hundreds of custom tools in Lathe, but I always create the tool as its own file; no help

[Mike S @ S4A]

Got a file we can see?

[generaldisarray]

file is under "mcx mr2 or earlier" on ftp

name is cavitynose.mcx

 

Chris m, are you able to compensate custom tools to the corner of the nose? and not the arc center.

 

I have a feeling if I lie at the machine with offsets my radius will be bogus on the part.

[chris m]

General, I am not sure that I fathom your question. We use comp in the computer 100% [no TNR comp in the machine] so MC comps for the radius and generates code to the theoretical sharp corner.

[generaldisarray]

Right Chris.I always comp in computer also. Mcam will not let me comp to theo-sharp on this tool.That option under the parameters tab is grayed out.It will only use tip radius center.

[chris m]

I'm running V9.1SP2 so I can't look at your file, man; sorry

[Colin Gilchrist]

Your problem is how you have the tool drawn. You drew the center of the insert radius at X0 Y0. The edges of the insert go beyond the origin line.

 

Move the insert and the holder +.032 in Z so the edge of the insert radius is tangent to Z0.

 

Now move them both -.064 in D so that the radius edge is tangent to D0.

 

Once your geometry is in the right place, you need to adjust some parameters.

 

On the "Geometry" tab of the Define Tool dialog box, click on the "Tool Center" button. Now pick the center of the insert tip radius. The values underneath the button should now read:

X-0.0320 Z0.0320

 

Now when you click on the Parameters tab, you should have two options available for Compensation; Corner and Edge.

 

NOTES AND QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF:

 

Is this tool mounted with the insert facing "up" or with the backside of the holder facing up?

 

You need to draw the tool exactly as it will sit in the machine. Mastercam uses two different colors for inserts by default.

 

Here is the help file entry for custom lathe tools:

 

The Lathe Tools dialog box lets you define custom tools. These are tools that cannot be defined using any other tool types. To do so, you must be able to select geometry which represents the profile of the custom tool. This geometry can be located in either:

 

a separate Mastercam file

 

a separate level in the current Mastercam file.

 

If the file is located on a level in the current Mastercam session, then the tool insert and holder geometry must be the only geometry on that level.

 

The geometry must meet the following requirements. It must:

 

consist of two closed boundaries: one for the insert and one for the holder

 

consist of only lines and arcs

 

The insert must be drawn in one color, and the holder must be drawn in a different color.

 

Once you have the insert and holder geometry saved to a file or to a specified level, you can begin to create the custom tool using the Lathe Tools dialog box.

 

Important: It is strongly recommended that you use the default insert and holder colors. The default colors are: 14 (insert up color), 55 (insert down color), and 116 (holder color). Select Tools, Configuration from the main menu to set the default colors.

 

Notes:

If you are defining a custom tool that is mounted at an angle in the turret, the tool geometry should represent the tool mounted at 0°. You can then define the tool angle in the Setup Tool dialog box (choose the Tool Setup button).

 

When defining a custom boring bar, you should use orientation 4, not 8.

[generaldisarray]

Colin, do your coworkers know youre the man?

That worked. I feel so stupid.