I just ran across this the other day. I'm not sure of the price, but it definitley looks like a nice machine. Hardinge Gang Tool Lathe

Check this out, it is exactly what you are looking for. Topic Link

Jerry, What type of holder is it?

We run it all the time. It is a gummy material, so we run it a little slower and with a lighter DOC. 400-500 SFM with a .100 DOC for roughing. Feed .010 - .012. Finish passes - same SFM, leaving tool nose radius for DOC. HTH

Time off for fishing sounds good. Do you get to call in with that: "Hey boss, not gonna make it today, the salmon are running!"

Sorry Randy, I haven' been able to get on here lately. If you cannot modify an existing insert, than you will need to create a special tool. In Lathe you draw the insert at a seperate color than the tool holder. Check the help files for the exact colors. Save those and modify from there.

Randy, For grooving inserts, I just modify one of the existing and save the insert. I haven't had to create a new threading insert, everyone I have ever needed has been in the library. What type of threading insert are you trying to create?

Hymen, You can get around editing the program after by using the Approach Points in the finish canned cycle. Hit the button and then enter the D & Z point that corresponds with the start point from your Rough Cycle. This is a bit of a pain, and that is why i don't use the finish canned cycle anymore. We scrapped a $900 pc and a 1.25" Boring Bar because I didn't set the approach point correctly. Now I don't use the finish cycle anymore.

What about Graphical Toolpath Editing? HA HA HA!!!!!

As far as the job tracking goes, get the barcode scanner. Without having your employees time in and out with a barcode scanner, you'll spend all night entering time tickets to keep up. As far as the rates go, just use the rates you're using now. The only thing I found we needed to do was break them up (overhead and labor to get true cost analysis. Costing jobs is easy in E2, enter the job number and presto. Again, the barcode scanner to have employees time in and time out would be beneficial here. If they don't, all you'll see is the outside services and material.

When I tried messing with it, I set the Retract moves to .015 Inc. This is a snippet of the code I got: G0 G54 X1.7 Z-.63 G50 S3600 G96 S200 G99 G1 X1.1742 F.01 G0 X1.2042 G1 X.8485 G0 X.8785 G1 X.5227 G0 X1.7 Z-.7218 G1 X1.1742 G0 X1.2042 G1 X.8485 G0 X.8785 G1 X.5227 X.5595 Z-.7035 G0 X1.7 Z-.8137 With a retract move set to .015 incremental it only moves .015 off of the piece at a rapid, then starts to cut again. Unless you are having issues clearing the chip, this would work.

Try these www.sgstool.com Look at the Ski Carb and SCarb tools. These things are awesome.

We just had a crash by us today because of something like this. The Fanuc control likes to have the same starting point for the rough and finish cycle. These need to be set using the approach points. In a situation like this, canned cycles can be dangerous, but they allow for very simple modification on the shop floor.

On Iscar's website, they offer DXF's of a lot of their tools. I have used them when programming with an off the wall tool. www.iscar.com

Randy, Create a line the length of the circumference of the circle in the direction of the y axis at Z0. The line needs to be at the correct location on the X Axis. Create a contour of the line, turn cutter comp off, turn lead in - lead out off, Depth = Z0. On the rotary parameters, turn on axis substitution in the y axis, set the rotary diameter to the diameter of the bottom of the v groove. HTH

Randy, Are you using an inserted drill? The inserted drills I use are nearly flat on the tip (about 160 Deg). If this is the case, go to the parameters for your path and play with the "Adjust Contour Ends". I have never had to use this, but it seems like a logical place to start.

I assume you are talking about a lathe? If so, you are probably using a canned rough cycle and a canned finish cycle. The finish cycle will always follow the rough. Change the finish over to a straight finish pass and rechain the geometry.

quote: I know when I was looking for "part-time" time, I had a guy hand me test. I looked at him and said "you're kidding right?" I would feel the same way. We don't give them to everyone. Usually just asking a guy to hold a mic will tell you a lot.

quote: Tim I don't think you are supposed to link to Jay's site. Thanks for putting the files up there, though! Sorry 'bout that, I must've missed that thread. I think Thad had posted links to the MCPO & TCPO test at one time also.

I posted the files on the FTTP under the training folder. Linky They are PDF's and I can only get them to show when you view the FTP in Windows Explorer. If you have trouble I will email them to anyone who needs them. The file names are: MCPO Proficiency Test (Machining Center) TCPO Proficiency Test (Turning Center) Inspection Test

A lot of these "operators" come from jobs where they ran one job on one machine for 5 years. Ask them if they know how to run a machine, and the answer you get will be yes. They do know how to run a machine, but not to the standards that we have. Same thing happens when asking about reading measuring equipment. "Sure I can!" they say, but they were only told if the mic reads this, it's bad, if it reads this, it's good. So know the guy thinks he can read a mic. I put together a simple test with pictures for checking a guy's inspection knowledge. I have also found two CNC tests on line. I give those to prospective employees. You can definitely find out a lot that way.

Even the stock disappears in backplot, it shows up fine in verify. I don't htink you are doing anything wrong. I don't see any crashes, weird home positions or anything of the sort. The only warnings I get are when it is boring the hole. Usually when something like that happens, Mastercam is starting the tool from a position within the piece. When I change the Mach Def I get all kinds of errors so I can't check the posted code, but just be careful of the facing tool starting out in negative Z after the stock flip.

On the circle mill toolpath - use Multi Pass instead of Roughing. This will allow you to set the number of roughing passes and stepover, without cutting air. As John said though, using a helix path will cut faster than a drill.

It's not letting me on the FTP, so I'll explain it. You used a pocketing routine and then transformed 7 times on the Z axis. Doing that is the same as doing depth cuts. This can be done in the pocketing routine as well. The feature you are trying to machine is more suited for the circle mill toolpath with roughing set to 75% Stepover and Depth Cuts set to .125. There is a box to check on the parameters that will allow your toolpath to start in the center of the circle.

Try using the Circle Mill Toolpath. I put my changes in the same folder called POCKET HLP TIM.MCX