Lathe Tool Inspection

[K2csq7]

Just wondering how everyone deals with long roughing operations that require tool inspections, I know about the grooving tool inspection, but how about simple roughing toolpaths?

[horsepowered]

If an inspection point is needed, I just hand code it in. Very rarely do I need to repost a lathe job like I would a mill job due to part changes, so I don't get all hung up on having Mastercam perfect for possible future changes. It would probably be different if I was posting to several different machines though.

[Dave.L]

Break up the operation into more roughing passes and force tool change.

[K2csq7]

Horsepower- hand coding is a last resort for me, but thanks anyway.

 

Dave- do you mean create a bunch of roughing ops leaving more and more stock, forcing toolchange between them? i.e. leave .75 on the first, force toolchange, leave .5 on the second, force toolchange, leave .25, force toolchange....and so on?

[Dave.L]

YEP, but only when needed.

 

EDIT: It's often worth it even though you will go home with the turret more than you would like. It's a more user friendly program for the operators.

[Rob Dusenbury CAD/CAM CONSULTING]

X5 will have it for roughing and finish.

[calnet42]

We have a post that counts rapid moves and will put in insert change points.

 

It uses misc. integers for # of passes and compares to rapid moves.

 

You can't use a rapid lead-out though, it messes up the count so, I use a fast-feed lead-out.