That did the trick. Thanks, Bob

That appears to post it as it has been. Here is an example: N1930 G1 G40 X.0371 Y.1923 N1940 Z-.3724 F50. N1950 G0 Z.1 N1960 M5 N1970 G91 G28 Z0. M9 N1980 M01 ( 0.375" - .06R BULL MILL TOOL - 4 DIA. OFF. - 4 LEN. - 4 DIA. - .375 ) N1990 T4 M6 This is how I would like it to be: N1930 G1 G40 X.0371 Y.1923 N1940 Z-.3724 F50. N1950 G0 Z.1 N1960 M5 M9 N1970 G91 G28 Z0. N1980 M01 ( 0.375" - .06R BULL MILL TOOL - 4 DIA. OFF. - 4 LEN. - 4 DIA. - .375 ) N1990 T4 M6 The way it currently works is it shuts off the coolant when the spindle reaches Z0. and I would like the coolant cut before it begins retracting to Z0. Can this be done? Thanks, Bob

How would I modify my post to shut off the coolant before the spindle retracts (in Z) for a tool change or at the end of a program? Currently the spindle retracts and shuts off the coolant just before the tool change. It retains a little residual pressure during the tool change. My mill is a Haas VF2. Thanks, Bob

I have heard a lot about macros but I am not quite sure exactly what they are or what they do. What application would typically require a macro? Thanks, Bob

Well, I have the settings as such and when I run the program I get an error "rs232 buffer overload" or something to that effect. So for flow control... Enable DTR? Enable RTS? Advanced Port settings... Check Parity? Any ideas? Thanks, Bob

Okay, I downloaded and installed a Cimco demo but I can't get it to communicate with my Mill (Haas VF2). The Com port settings are correct so what gives? There are numerous settings for transmit and I don't have a clue what any of them mean. Bob

I have a seat of ProE with the ProNC package which is a complete assembly modeling CAD/CAM package. The problem is that the CAM portion of it is such a pain in the @ss that it was worth the cost of Mastercam for the CAM side of things. It would be really cool if a company could get something to do both things really well.

I am running several parts DNC via MS Window's Hyperterminal and after a few hours it stops sending code. This is bad news because I need to run these parts lights out over the next few days to get them done. Any ideas as to how I can fix this? The mill has its own dedicated computer whose sole purpose is to send the code. It sits about 4' from the RS232 port and is connected via a Predator cable. Are some of the DNC programs more stable at this sort of thing? Are there demos I can download so I can get these done? Thanks, Bob

Parametric... How about changing a part in a CAD ASSEMBLY and having all of the related parts' geometry and toolpaths update :-) The real power is CAD is with assembly modeling.

It worked great. Thanks, Bob

Okay, Here is that section of my post... psof$ #Start of file for non-zero tool number pcuttype toolchng = one if ntools$ = one, [ #skip single tool outputs, stagetool must be on stagetool = m_one !next_tool$ ] "%", e$ *progno$, e$ "(PROGRAM NAME - ", sprogname$,")", e$ "(DATE=DD-MM-YY - ", date$, " TIME=HH:MM - ", time$, ")", e$ pbld, n$, *smetric, e$ pbld, n$, *sgcode, *sgplane, "G40", "G49", "G80", *sgabsinc, e$ sav_absinc = absinc$ if mi1$ <= one, #Work coordinate system [ absinc$ = one pfbld, n$, sgabsinc, *sg28ref, "Z0.", e$ pfbld, n$, *sg28ref, "X0.", "Y0.", e$ pfbld, n$, "G92", *xh$, *yh$, *zh$, e$ absinc$ = sav_absinc ] pcom_moveb c_mmlt$ #Multiple tool subprogram call ptoolcomment comment$ pcan if stagetool >= zero, pbld, n$, *t$, "M06", e$ pindex if mi1$ > one, absinc$ = zero pcan1, pbld, n$, *sgcode, *sgabsinc, pwcs, pfxout, pfyout, *speed, *spindle, pgear, strcantext, e$ pbld, n$, "G43", *tlngno$, pfzout, next_tool$, e$ pbld, n$, scoolant,e$ absinc$ = sav_absinc pcom_movea toolchng = zero c_msng$ #Single tool subprogram call Now where should I insert that line? Thanks, Bob

pbld, n$, *t$, sm06, e$ Duh, I missed that when I read the replies. Thanks Greg. Bob

Tool staging is enabled. Any idea how to modify the post? It seems to be just fine on lengthy programs, it is just the quick and dirty ones where it is an issue. I'm not in the office right now but I will post that section of my post processor this evening.

Earlier today I created a quick program in Mcam to machine a simple 2D circle. This incolved one tool (tool 1) and one depth and finishing pass. When I posted the program the NC code did not include the tool change to tool 1 (T1 M06) so the mill attempted to run the cuts with the current tool in the spindle, tool 24, my edge finder. I caught it before any cuts were made but I am wondering if this is due to a setting or something. It is the second time it has happened and they were both simple programs like this. Any ideas? Thanks, Bob

Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear it is not the machine :-) I will make sure I leave a healthy amount of stock for finishing and I will slow the finishing cuts down considerably.

Well, I was making some round parts on the new machine (vf2-ss) and they were coming out a little obround (.001" wider in Y than X). The part is 1.25" in diameter and I was cutting with a .38" MA Ford end mill @12k RPM and 150 IPM with a .05" depth cut and a .003" multipass finishing cut. Is it unreasonable to expect better accuracy at those feeds? Anyways, I got the indicator out and measured the table's reaction to jogging back and forth at .0001" increments. The X axis was fine with what appears to be .0002" backlash but the Y axis was doing funny things. When I reversed the direction of the jog wheel the table would jump back .0005" with a bit of a clunk, though not very loud. I ran the same tests on the Mini Mill and both axes were the same as the VF2's X axis, tight and predictable. Any ideas? I'm not an expert at this stuff and I'm asking so I don't just accept this machine as is when I maybe shouldn't be. Any thoughts? Are my expectations too high or is my technique flawed? My whole purpose in getting this machine was to run parts faster. My Mini Mill would produce great parts all day long, though only as fast as the 6k spindle would let me feed. It is kind of a waste to have a 12k spindle if there is no accuracy at the higher feeds. Thanks, Bob

I just checked the pressure and it has 120psi to the machine with the machine's regulator set at 90psi. There is virtually no pressure drop with a tool change. Looks like I will be calling the service department Monday. I also have an inquiry into the answer man at the Haas web site. Thanks, Bob

Yes, it stages tools great. When it pauses it is just sitting there doing nothing. What typically happens is the pivot arm grabs the tool holders, rotates 180 degrees and sits for several seconds before loading it up into the spindle. So it really is right smack in the middle of a tool change it will occasionally have a strange pause.

Just as it is sitting. I will have a look at that though. Thanks, Bob

I'll look into those. I have been running the same parts all day though and sometimes it pauses and sometimes it doesn't. I would guess that it has sat there for up to 10 seconds at times and I just scratch my head...

yeah, the air to the machine is at or above 100psi and there are no alarms, warnings, or anything like that.

My new Haas mill (VF2-SS) has a new user interface and it appears that the operating system or control system has been revised. The mill is doing some funny things like strange pauses (~5-10 seconds) during tool changes or retracts, etc... It still makes parts just fine but this is a little unnerving. Is anyone else experiencing these sorts of issues? These issues are intermittent and pretty much occur at random intervals as well. Also, I am aware of the prevailing opinion on Haas machines so there is no need to enlightn me on that. My Mini Mill has been bulletproof, so far :-) Thanks, Bob

I don't think this would work for the Mini Mill because with the umbrella style tool changer it is not swapping tools like the side mount changer does. This would only be for the new mill. I checked the tool staging box and gave it a quick go and it worked perfectly. Thanks, Bob

"There is an option in the mastercam machine parameters" Would this be the "enable staged tool routines" option? Would anything need to be done to the post for this to work?

Which method would be easiest to implement? I would like to modify the post so that during tool changes the next tool pocket is ready in the correct location. I would like it to post like this automatically, every time. 99% of the editing I do is at the computer and not at the machine, in case this makes a difference. Thanks, Bob