Hurco M20 Command and Indexer

[Tinyfxds]

I need to machine a part on three sides and I will be using our indexer to do this.  We've never used Mastercam to do this before, only PRO-E.  The former programmer used a main program to call out an M20 between the sub programs.  What I don't understand is that there isn't a rotation command after the M20 nor is there a rotation command in the sub program.  There is only one offset call out as well. 

 

When they run this PRO-E program, the operator doesn't have to enter anything into the indexer, it will automatically rotate the part after each program with just an M20.  So...what is telling the indexer to turn to 90 degrees or 180 etc etc? 

 

If you need more information let me know.

[bal]

The M20 command is just telling the indexer box to turn. The indexer control box is setting the angle.

[Tinyfxds]

So basically at some point, some one programmed the indexer.  I'll have to look into how that things work.  Maybe you can have different programs set on the indexer

[tim_h]

So basically at some point, some one programmed the indexer.  I'll have to look into how that things work.  Maybe you can have different programs set on the indexer

 

I have seen this before, yes.

Seperate program in the indexer control box... Then just sub call to it to read the next line of rotation.

[Tinyfxds]

I have seen this before, yes.

Seperate program in the indexer control box... Then just sub call to it to read the next line of rotation.

Yep.  Just talked to my boss today about it.  He forgot to tell me that we'd have to program the indexer for the rotation angles we'd need in order for the m20 command to work.

[Roger]

I did this same thing at another shop I worked at. We had a CNC repair guy come in and wire the Mori-Seiki mill to use the indexer when M25 was input. It was a Haas rotary.

 

On a side note: The indexer was purchased used, and someone had changed the parameters, so you had to input a rotation of 3 times what you wanted. We contacted Haas and got all the correct parameters, and I was happy every after.