Stock Transfer

[ahaslam]

I am new to using Mastercam lathe. I learned a few things from IHS lathe book and went to get started on a lathe job. The problem I ran into is trying to do a stock transfer. On the machine I am working with the sub spindle's turret runs opposite in Z when compared to the main spindle. When I transfer stock my Z does not flip. Is this an issue in my MD? or am I missing something else?

[The Cathedral]

You'll need to create a proper axis combination in your MD to have it set right. What kind of machine are you working on?

 

For my twin spindle / twin turret lathes there are four axis combinations: upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right. "Upper/lower" is the turret, and "left/right" is the working spindle.

[ahaslam]

Thanks Cathedral, I have been playing around with it for a few hours. I have the machine setup with dual spindle and then a left turret that reads +x as the positive relative to the WCS for the z axis and then a second turret that reads -x for the z axis. I have flipped it around and tried rebuilding it a few times but it doesn't seem to change how my T-Plane is being created. Maybe I am missing a step after I save it to update the machine?

[ahaslam]

Got it, I didn't set my axis combination up after I built a new setup

[ahaslam]

Still stuck but making progress. Moving to the post processer form for my next issue and I hope my last.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Keep in mind; with the Generic Fanuc 4X MT_Lathe post, there is a whole section that configures the axis directions, and Plane setting for each "cut type".

 

First, make sure the 'use_only_tl' variable is not set to '1'. This setting tells Mastercam to only use the Top/Left turret/spindle settings for all cut types. Make sure this is set to '0'.

 

Once that is set to '0', you can use each of the 'scase' strings to tailor the post output for each spindle/turret combination, and... each individual cut type:

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Machining position turret/spindle settings
# Switch strings based on turret position top/bottom-left/right and cut type.
# Turret position is based on the Mastercam settings (see lathtype).
# Strings are re-assigned for output in the routine psw_str_mult.
# The string variable sw_string holds the place position value to determine
# how to assign the strings.  Planes are relative to the view from Mastercam.
# Assign the 17 digit string following the alpha columns below:
# A - C axis, 1 = axis winds, 2 = axis signed, 3 = indexer, 4 = shortest direction
# B - Spindle direction, 0 = normal, 1 = reverse
# C - Plane 0 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch
# D - Plane 1 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch
# E - Plane 2 arc/comp, 0 = normal, 1 = switch
# F - Plane 0, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18
# G - Plane 1, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18
# H - Plane 2, 0 = G17, 1 = G19, 2 = G18
# Decimal (required)
# I - Plane 0, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# J - Plane 0, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# K - Plane 0, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# L - Plane 1, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# M - Plane 1, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# N - Plane 1, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# O - Plane 2, X axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# P - Plane 2, Y axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
# Q - Plane 2, Z axis, 0 = normal, 1 = switch sign from basic
use_only_tl  : 1     #Use only Top turret/Left spindle settings (below) for
                     #all Mastercam turret/spindle selections
                     #When configuring for multi-spindle/turret set to 0

#Columns-       ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ #Turret/Spindle            #Path Type
scase_tl_c1  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Turning cut
scase_tl_c2  : "11000012.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Right Face cut
scase_tl_c_2 : "11110012.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Left Face cut
scase_tl_c3  : "10010102.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Cross cut
scase_tl_c4c : "10000111.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle
scase_tl_c4  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs.
scase_tl_c5  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Left spindle, Multisurf Rotary

#Columns-       ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ
scase_bl_c1  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Turning cut
scase_bl_c2  : "11000012.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Right Face cut
scase_bl_c_2 : "11110012.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Left Face cut
scase_bl_c3  : "10010102.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Cross cut
scase_bl_c4c : "10000111.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle
scase_bl_c4  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Y axis subs.
scase_bl_c5  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Left spindle, Multisurf Rotary

#Columns-       ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ
scase_tr_c1  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Turning cut
scase_tr_c2  : "11000012.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut
scase_tr_c_2 : "11110012.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Left Face cut
scase_tr_c3  : "10010102.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Cross cut
scase_tr_c4c : "10000111.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle
scase_tr_c4  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs.
scase_tr_c5  : "10000222.000000000"  #Top turret/Right spindle, Multisurf Rotary

#Columns-       ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ
scase_br_c1  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Turning cut
scase_br_c2  : "11000012.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut
scase_br_c_2 : "11110012.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut
scase_br_c3  : "10010102.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Cross cut
scase_br_c4c : "10000111.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle
scase_br_c4  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs.
scase_br_c5  : "10000222.000000000"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Multisurf Rotary

Find that section in your post, and read the comments at the start. There is a string that allows you to setup each different possible cut type, and will allow you to configure the XYZ axis positive directions, the G41/G42 comp direction, and the G02/G03 Arc direction for each of the three planes (G17, G19, G18).

 

The Active Spindle and Turret are selected inside each Mastercam Operation, by selecting the correct Axis Combination. The NCI file sets which Axis Combo is active, and that in turn, calls the correct 'scase' string of settings, based on the active spindle, turret, and type of cut performed in the Mastercam interface.

[crazy^millman]

need to also make up the dummy one to correct an issue that is still around with doing Axis sub. Jimmy helped me back in X6 trick the system and we talked a couple months ago and you still needed to trick the system by adding one more axis comb to get correct output.

[ahaslam]

Thanks guys, I seem to have most of it posting out correctly but I am not fully understanding what you are talking about 5th. What problem crops up when using axis substitution? How is the dummy defined in the post?

[crazy^millman]

Here is what I am talking about:

#Columns-    ABCDEFGH.IJKLMNOPQ
scase_br_c1  : "11002222.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Turning cut
scase_br_c2  : "10000012.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Right Face cut
scase_br_c_2_ron : "10110012.011111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Left Face cut
scase_br_c_2 : "10110012.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Left Face cut
scase_br_c3  : "10010102.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Cross cut (cuttype = 3)
scase_br_c3r : "10010102.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Reverse Cross cut (cuttype = -3)
scase_br_c4c : "10000222.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs. Cycle
scase_br_c4  : "10000222.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Y axis subs.
scase_br_c5  : "10000222.111111111"  #Bottom turret/Right spindle, Multisurf Rotary

pltype2         #Bottom turret/Right spindle
      ##"RON_NOTE1 -------------- ",~cuttype,e$
      if cuttype = one,
        [
        #Lathe
        max_speed = max_speedl2
        min_speed = min_speedl2
        sw_string = scase_br_c1
        ]
      else,
        [
        #Mill
        max_speed = max_speedm2
        min_speed = min_speedm2
        sw_string = scase_br_c2 #case two is the default
        if cuttype =  -2,sw_string = scase_br_c_2_ron ####new _ron setting
        #if cuttype =  -2,sw_string = scase_br_c_2    ####old busted setting
        if cuttype = three, sw_string = scase_br_c3
        if cuttype = -3, sw_string = scase_br_c3r
        if cuttype = four & abs(c1_millcc) = one, sw_string = scase_br_c4c
        if cuttype = four & c1_millcc = zero, sw_string = scase_br_c4
        if cuttype = five, sw_string = scase_br_c5
        ]

Only when you are doing Lower Turret Right Spindle do you run into the issue that again as far as I am aware is still a bug all the way back to X6.

[ahaslam]

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. We only have upper turrets so I think we are safe. Thanks for the heads up.