Z axis for Swiss machine

[Brian Pallas]

Hello,

 

I am working on setting up a post for our Tsugami Swiss machine.  I would like to be able to have the part in MCam as it sits in the machine, so I need to invert the Z values for both the main and sub spindle. What is the best way to do that / how do I do that?

 

Thanks.

[Guest]

Contact your reseller, check out Swiss Expert

[Colin Gilchrist]

+1 for Swiss Expert. The problem with programming a Swiss machine is that there aren't any "Swiss" specific tool paths available. I know some people have hacked together a post that will give them output that is close, but you are better off getting a software package that was made specifically to program those machine types...

[Charlie Pierson]

Here is how I did it many moons ago. Notice z_mult !

 

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Machine Specific Settings

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Machine axis switches, initial

y_axis_mch : no$ #Machine has Y axis, 0=no, 1=yes

old_new_sw : 1 #Switch old (6T), new (0T+) cycle formats, 0=old, 1=new

wcs_origin : 0 #Always use the WCS origin for coordinates

dia_mult : 2 #Multiplier for output on X axis (Neg. switches sign of X)

y_mult : 1 #Multiplier for output on Y axis (Neg. switches sign of Y)

z_mult : -1 #Multiplier for output on Z axis (Neg. switches sign of Z)

dia_shift : 0 #Shift for output on X axis, radial entry

y_shift : 0 #Shift for output on Y axis

z_shift : 0 #Shift for output on Z axis

map_home : yes$ #Use home positions as enterd or map to machine axis

[Brian Pallas]

Very cool. Thanks Charlie.

 

Colin - What type of toolpaths are the "swiss specific" toolpaths?  I am new to this whole Swiss thing and haven't been able to find much info out there.  Just watching You-tube videos and looking at the sample programs in the Tsugami book.  Seems like the main idea is to that there are no roughing passes, so we are cutting right by the guide bushing, so you basically complete everything as you are traveling in Z?  IE, turn to a groove, put the groove in, go back to the turning tool...etc  

[crazy^millman]

Very cool. Thanks Charlie.

 

Colin - What type of toolpaths are the "swiss specific" toolpaths?  I am new to this whole Swiss thing and haven't been able to find much info out there.  Just watching You-tube videos and looking at the sample programs in the Tsugami book.  Seems like the main idea is to that there are no roughing passes, so we are cutting right by the guide bushing, so you basically complete everything as you are traveling in Z?  IE, turn to a groove, put the groove in, go back to the turning tool...etc  

 

Yes that is pretty much the idea. I have put parts back through the guide bushing that required it, but the 2nd Spindle came up and grabbed it and supported it. On long parts it is good to grab with the 2nd Spindle to eliminate whipping of the parts when they get up to a high rpm. Another thing is it will help the pusher if removing a lot of material.

 

Thinking Swiss is totally different and you have to approach the parts in sections not completely. Have done different things and all would have never been done they were done on a Swiss on a real mill/turn or lather and then milled secondary. Break it up and then section each area of the part and if features need to be real tight then look to TGP (turned ground and polished) verses just traditional bar stock. Seen some companies cheap out and get normal bar stock verse TGP. Problem is the size can change too much for the guide bushing and require constant adjustment. Then you start losing accuracy and tool life will suffer greatly.

[Zoober]

Swiss is a different animal. We've got 13 of em. We don't use Mastercam. Not so much Swiss specific tool paths as much as a Swiss mindset. The single pass turning is a function of rigidity. You don't want to draw back and forth thru the guide bush with cut stock, as there is no longer guide bushing support. As Ron said, use ground stock. The clearance between guide bush and material should be .0001-.0002. Max .0005 for best rigidity and accuracy.

Another thing to watch for is when turning, if you draw a smaller dia into the guide bush too far, you may fall out of the bushing and smash up the material when it tries to push the material forward again.

You could prolly kludge thru with Mastercam, but I wouldn't rev omens it.