Best way to deal with multiple parts

[Rocketmachinist]

I'm very inexperienced in dealing with doing multiple parts in one program. I have my dual station vice setup with the front part as g54 and the back part as g55. Where I am running into issues is keeping track of the WCS when I have the same tool doing the same op in on different parts. How do you normally keep track of what your doing to what part?

[K2csq7]

There are many ways to handle this. The best way totally depends on the situation, are you running each tool on both parts, are they identical parts that you need to machine, is there a rotary table in play here?

Transforming toolpaths is one way to go, or having multiple operations with a different WCS set inside them is another, if this is a one off deal, you may be better off just using 1 wcs & moving the geo in mcam once the fixtures are set.... Details of the process will be critical to getting you the "best" answer.

[Rocketmachinist]

Is there a way to verify multiple parts to make sure the tool doesn't crash into the opposing part?

[neurosis]

Is there a way to verify multiple parts to make sure the tool doesn't crash into the opposing part?

 

 

It is a pain in the a$$ to set up but it can be done.

[Ron Branch @ 5th Axis]

If solids not really hard save everything to a file. Then call that file for verification and all items will be used for verification.

[Hitachi]

You can use a larger piece of stock to run verify with multiple parts, there will just be excess material in between them.

[Chris Rizzo]

Draw your two pieces of material (as solids).

Save them as an .stl. (Make sure you are in the system top plane when you save these)

From verify options select a file as stock source. Point to stl.

 

 

whoops sorry this is what Ron just said.

 

Use the ops manager and toolpath groups (and subgroups) to keep organized. It can get a little unweildly dealing with the same tool working on different offsets. Good idea to use clearance plane for all ops, just to make sure the tool is up between shifts from 54 to 55. Before you post, verify ALL the ops together. When verifying single ops you might not pickup the moves between parts which is where clipping can happen.

[Mick]

Good idea to use clearance plane for all ops, just to make sure the tool is up between shifts from 54 to 55.

 

X1000. Whever I am using multiple offsets, I *ALWAYS* use clearance planes.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I don't think Ron meant to save his file as an STL. I think what Ron is talking about is saving everything to a new mastercam file and using that mastercam file for verification.

[Newbeeee™]

Rocket,

If you haven't got a gcode backplotter I'd get one.

NCPlot is real cheap and versatile (it can handle subs).

If you don't use subs, cimco is probably the way to go for cost-effectiveness.

As the others say, multi parts can get you...

[Oscar R.]

Multi part setups are pretty common here. We use alot of the practices that were mentioned above, and yes it gets really loopy and a PITA with same tools going back and forth between more than one offset.

 

Here's what my day usually looks like. Hopefully it's not to big to go thru.

MasterCam and NC. output that goes with it.

Simple OD, ID, and holes.

 

%
O0001
(MULTI PART - MULTI OFFSET - MULTI TOOLPATHS PER PART/OFFSET)
(05-11-12 7:33 AM)
(2 OFFSETS  1 PARTS PER OFFSET)
G91 G28 Z0.
G54 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 G94 G53
(  1/8 FLAT ENDMILL | TOOL - 1 | DIA. OFF. - 1 | TOOL DIA. - .125 )
( OUTSIDE CONTOUR PART 1 )
N100 T1 M6
G0 G90 G54 X1.34 Y.0025 S4000 M3
G43 H1 Z2.
M98 P10001
( OUTSIDE CONTOUR PART 2 )
G90 G55 X1.34 Y.0025
M98 P10002
G49 G53 M5 Z0.
M01
(  1/4 DRILL | TOOL - 2 | DIA. OFF. - 2 | TOOL DIA. - .25 )
( DRILL 5 HOLES PART 1 )
N101 T2 M6
G0 G90 G54 X0. Y.75 S4000 M3
G43 H2 Z2.
M98 P10003
( DRILL 3 HOLES PART 1 )
G90 X.5303 Y-.5303
M98 P10004
( DRILL 5 HOLES PART 2 )
G90 G55 X0. Y.75
M98 P10005
( DRILL 3 HOLES PART 2 )
G90 X.5303 Y-.5303
M98 P10006
G49 G53 M5 Z0.
G53 X0. Y0.
M30

O0001
Z.1
G1 Z-.5 F75.
G41 D1 X1.315
G3 X1.3125 Y0. I0. J-.0025
G2 I-1.3125 J0.
G3 X1.315 Y-.0025 I.0025 J0.
G1 G40 X1.34
G0 Z2.
( INSIDE CONTOUR PART 1 )
X1.06
Z.1
G1 Z-.5
G41 D1 X1.085
G3 X1.0875 Y0. I0. J.0025
I-1.0875 J0.
X1.085 Y.0025 I-.0025 J0.
G1 G40 X1.06
G0 Z2.
M99

O0002
Z.1
G1 Z-.5 F75.
G41 D1 X1.315
G3 X1.3125 Y0. I0. J-.0025
G2 I-1.3125 J0.
G3 X1.315 Y-.0025 I.0025 J0.
G1 G40 X1.34
G0 Z2.
( INSIDE CONTOUR PART 2 )
X1.06
Z.1
G1 Z-.5
G41 D1 X1.085
G3 X1.0875 Y0. I0. J.0025
I-1.0875 J0.
X1.085 Y.0025 I-.0025 J0.
G1 G40 X1.06
G0 Z2.
M99

O0003
G98 G83 Z-.5 R.1 Q.1 F25.
X-.5303 Y.5303
X-.75 Y0.
X-.5303 Y-.5303
X0. Y-.75
G80
M99

O0004
G98 G83 Z-.5 R.1 Q.1 F25.
X.75 Y0.
X.5303 Y.5303
G80
M99

O0005
G98 G83 Z-.5 R.1 Q.1 F25.
X-.5303 Y.5303
X-.75 Y0.
X-.5303 Y-.5303
X0. Y-.75
G80
M99

O0006
G98 G83 Z-.5 R.1 Q.1 F25.
X.75 Y0.
X.5303 Y.5303
G80
M99
%

 

+1 on the use STL to verify, if it's not a large file.

[CJep]

+100 to the suggestion on one WCS, I don't move the geom however I use custom toolplanes to work around the part.