Didn't I hear that X3 was demo'd at Westech???? why would they unveil it if it isn't close? I'm waitin for some lathe stuff.....

I just ran a job on one of my turning centers. Cuts very nice. I think I cut most of it at about 500 sfm. Ran sweet.

I have mill 3. entry lathe, and solids. Talk to your reseller. I got into Lathe entry for short dollars.

Send it along. jwhipple at pbmwgroup.com

The speed comes from how you set up the software. Take the time to build tool libraries of YOUR tools. Use dedicated tooling lists. Turn on coolant with tool, set up all your common variables to be the way you want them when you open mastercam and you'll get a lot faster.

You can believe I'm goin there if I get this Colin....

I am in the midst of bidding a pretty good sized project. It's a couple million dollars. I'm trying to forcast cutter useage. Does mastercam capture the volume of material removed for each toolpath? That would be a pretty kewl thing if it did.....

Interesting stuff. Nick Moffitt from Verisurf was in my little tightly packed shop this morning and he's got some good stuff.... I think his software (which is pretty kewl I might add...) and an arm will do what I need pretty easily. I also think I'm going to need a CMM to keep the eye candy guys happy. I think I'll be adding one to my shop in the near future. I understand it will write probing routines for my horisontal as well. Good stuff.

There's a guy on the PM list what just got a new CV600. He's delighted with it. http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/showthread.php?t=154720

All Righty then....

I have a sign in my Inspection dept that says "Mil TFD-41 will apply" Make It Like The F'n Drawing for once.....

When I was in QC, I made it a point to not be the cop. But to be an education function so to speak. Man...that was a long time ago.

Gawd ain't it great? And all this time I thought it was just me....

Ya just gotta love em Eh James?

And you are correct Tim My point is that accuracy of a CMM is assumed to be better than it actually is and that very few people will doubt the results and double check themselves by using another method such as a surface plate. I once had an inspector tell me that she could not inspect a part because we did not have a CMM. I asked her how they would have inspected it prior to the invention of the CMM. She had no idea. Many buyers are the same.

I'll send it in when I wake up and have my coffee in the morning. I'm officially done with my latest 84 hour week. Where's the beer?

But of course....

I have a simple lathe toolpath. It's a bore with a step at the bottom. Two dias. The tool will only rough the larger of the two. I just had this happen the other day and my reseller told me I needed to adjust stock. I have tried that. Does not work. WTF am I doing wrong????

quote: Lipstick on a pig, still makes it a pig

Well Kevin, This is obviously going to work. But I also know that as you said, buyers like to know how you are going to check their part. A CMM will be a valuable addition to my shop. No question about it. On the other hand, I know full well how easy it is to call something good that is not. There's a big difference between buyin parts and sellin parts. But this CMM will give us faster inspections for first articles. More confidence in what goes out the door, and that'll be a good thing... One of my customers is a group of Phd Physisist They like eye candy.

Well Tim. I'd imagine you'll know next week. I am terrable with names. But your nW guy who is in Port Orchard (I believe) is comming by next week. We'll see. I have a couple of customers that no diddley about machines. But they seen CMM's in shop QC departments. Sometimes ya got to go with what the customer wants ya to have. We'll see.

Good stuff guys. Verasurf is comming out next week. We'll see. I am aware of the older software issues. I also see a lot of machines updated with Open DIMIS and PCDIMIS. What's the difference between them and what are your thoughts? I also have seen a little B&S machine for short bux... I'm of the opinion that a CMM is really eye candy for your buyer. I worked in inspection for a good number of years. I can chase that .005 around with you watching and show that the part is good. My customers want to see one on my shop floor. Are they a good thing? Yes, properly used. Are they the last word? Nope.... Do I need one? Yup...

I did. Your NW guy is meeting me on Monday I think. Why are all the days running together??

Yea. Just got a call back from my reseller. (Bless them!!!) it was the adjust stock that needed to be done. Got it taken care of.

Lathe will not generate rough passes on an ID bore. Drill a .75 hole, Take a .5 boreing bar and rough ID to 1.417 Will not generate rough passes. Goes right to finish. Set the rough passes at .05.... What the heck. The customer is on the way. Stock is defines as 1.75 Won't rough the id. Put a hole in the stock def. No go....