We have a HAAS VF3 with the pallet changer. It is very nice for running two diferent jobs at the same time. Also it's great for when that rush job comes in while you are in the middle of a large run. If you have enough tool pockets left you can just pull the pallet out set up and run the rush job. Then when finished you can continue right where ya left off. It's great. I run the VF3 with the pallet changer as well as a VF2 and program MC9 . Gets to be quite stresfull! Sometimes it works well, other times it is just imposible to do so many things at the same time.

I have never used it. I use a contour toolpath for milling slots. It seems to be the same thing (I think?). You can tell it to ramp down so you do not need to drill a clearance hole first. It works great!

I also like to use wear comp when programing. It is nice when you have to machine in tight areas and do not have the space for large leadin's and outs. In the HAAS it must be over half the tools dia. So if you use wear the leadin only needs to be long enough to allow for tool adjustment. ie. If you are using a 1/2" tool your leadin and out can be realy small if needed like .01" instead of the usual .260". It is also nice to use wear because it is one less thing to have to remember to set! [ 11-27-2002, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: Eric Sman ]

Does that work on the inside corners? It seems that the tool stops at it's center line. Will this not cut a chunk out of the side the chain connects to? Eric

Hello I have also had this problem in the past working on our HAAS VF3. It happened when the leadin/out line is shorter than at least half the controls dia. offset value, or the line is too long to fit inside slot or pocket that I was machining. I have also had problems posting arcs with IJK's. I like to use R values and still had the same problem. To fix it try changing your post to break arcs into quadrants this solved my problem. Also check to see if it is set to create arcs in all planes. well I hope this helps. Eric

I have tried to select edges but it does not make one long chain? It machines one edge at a time(with leadin and out) I may be doing something wrong... ? Is there a way to chain a solid edge so this does not happen?

Well I have found a way to cheat and get the toolpath that I want.(look in the ftp solid folder named 3D CHAMFER END2) I had to trace the solid (yellow lines) then I could use the 3d chamfer and chain it without soilds. There must be an easier way? The new file will show you what I am looking for. Thanks. Eric

Hello I am new at soids so any advice that you may have for me will be apreciated . I am using MC version 9 with solids and was wondering if it is possible to chamfer the end of my part with one toolpath? I have put the file named 3D CHAMFER END in the ftp solids folder for you to have a look at. Please ask if you need more info. Thanks in advance. Eric

Well thanks for your help! I figured out what is going on now. It was just late in the day yesterday! Thanks again. Eric

Could this be a problem with the updated post?

I have tried ti change the number of active teeth from 10 to 1 it just did that many more leadin and leadouts.

Hello all I am using MC Version 9 and a thread mill toolpath to mill a M36x1.5 thread. The tool is only making one revolution then moves back to center of the bore,then back into the cut again?? What gives? I would like it to feed in then cut the thread without coming out until it is done the whole thread. I have done this in the past in version 8 and it worked fine. Any ideas of what might be causing this? Thank you. Eric

Dave, have you recieved the email I sent?

I have the quick mode on. My axis of rotation doesn't go over 360 deg. It goes to 164. deg. and then it has to unwind to go to -164. deg. In the post I added the line: rev = 0# in the 'pcoutrev' section of mpmaster. And this helped a bit. My tools go along 2 contours 2d, and i'm using axis substitution, substituting the y axis. If this helps anyone.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how to make my Haas 4-axis rotary movements more efficient. I'm using the mpmaster post. My problem is that whenever a new operation is to be done, either with the same tool or another, the rotary unwinds the whole 360 deg. around the part, to get to a position that is only 20, or so deg. in the opposite direction. Is there anything I can put in the post to have the rotary "swing both ways" , and not have to reset. Thanks.

go to -screen configure -CAD settings -Globals -Dimension text -in the font box click on the add true type® button here you can change the dimension font. Hope this it what you were looking for.

Anybody know how to make this work with the mpmaster post? The one I have has been edited to work perfectly for me (well until this new problem ). Kind of a bummer.

That's cool but does this window have any use? I am not sure what it would be used for?

Do you think maybe it is a problem with the post updater?

I thought I might be able to help you out but when I tried it for the firt time for V9, I also had the same problem . What gives?

Everybody has there own "style" of machining. There are a few factors that I use to determine to use step drilling or not. Tolerance is the main issue but also the finnish of the bore will most likely be better with step drilling(if this matters). Another thing to take into account is the can you afford a broken drill stuck in your part and number of parts that you are going to make. If there is not too many them I would suggest step drilling so you do not have to waste time messing around with the feeds and speeds of the drill to get it to break the chips properly. Also there is a much better chance of getting the first off right. If there are many parts to make and the tolerances are large enough then try to drill straight thru. Just adjust your speeds so the chips break and not wrap around your drill. Using a good coated hss or carbide drill (Carbile being prefered) will help the drill take the heat that is going to be generated at the tip and keep the drill alive longer! This would be faster and "time is money"

Seems like a reverse chains function may be a want to add to version 10. [ 10-17-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Eric Sman ]

Ditto Andrew. Thanks MMG, your idea seems to work well until you get other entities mixed in with the contours that you want. I am sure it will come in handy though

I am not using a spot drill cycle. I am using a contour toolpath because the dia. of the holes are too large for a spot drill. This is not exactly for a job that I am doing at the moment. I have just had the need to do this in the past and I could not find a way to do it.

say I have 100 chains. Is there a quicker way?