Ted, you have mail...

Everyone, I thought I'd share with you what we did with I.H.S. to the HTML set-up sheet. We modified the operation list to output length & dia. offsets, comments, drill cycle parameters, rpm, z & xy feedrates, r-level/feedplane and Z-depth data for each operation. I thought this might be something others would be interested in. Of course the post is encrypted in the .psb file to our companies hasp #'s so you have to go to I.H.S. to get this. We thought it would be good for easily checking the program and something the operator can follow. I can email an example to you if you want. Email me at [email protected] Scott

Garen, Russell did a post for my 3000C control that needed vectors, not an easy task. We are very happy with it so we can keep running that 30 year old piece of iron! Also, can I ask who is working on HTML set-up sheet mods? I've been waiting quite a while for one and it is very close to being finalized. I've been going through Chris Kozell at Shopware, our reseller but I wish I could email the developer directly like I did with Russell. Our 3000C post would have taken 2 years if I had to go through a middleman like this. Scott

Tried that, it won't allow it since they are used by some operations. When I try to do an edit common parameters then go to coordinate, and choose a different view, it does nothing. I wonder if this is another bug. Scott

Honestly, I don't even know how I got these extra WSC's. I realize Top or D+Z+ is what I need. I have 1 extra one called LATHE UPPER LEFT [+D+Z [TOP]] 1 I believe it is a copy of D+Z+. Like I said, I'm new to lathe and am used to how Mill works with the WCS's.

I'm new to the Lathe in MC and am trying to get rid of some extra WCS's. I went to common parameters, coordinate, and tried to change the view but it won't stick. I hate how these WCS's work or don't work in Lathe. I wish they were like the mill. Thanks, Scott

Thanks John, that looks like it. I saw that before but I guess I just didn't look close enough to see what that section was for. I'll give it a shot. I knew there had to be a better way. Scott

Basically, how do you switch an MP Master lathe post to output X-? I'm close. I got the X- part by switching the multiplier to -2 but I need to switch the G2/G3's and M3/M4's. There is a postblock called psw_str_mult that I believe has something to do with this but I'm not sure. I know I can hardcode the G2/G3 switch and even the M3/M4 switch as well but was wondering if there is a better way to go. Thanks, Scott

Why can't MC come out with a chamfer option similar to that for contouring that lets you pick an arc and give it a chamfer size? Then whatever Z depth that arc is at it will work. This would also be done in one operation and have the option to sort by hole size (efficient code for small parts) or by an optimized path for large parts (save positioning time). As long as the tool is larger than the (arc + chamfer size + a small cushion), this should be an easy improvement. The best thing is the arcs are at the level they are needed. It is very easy to make a mistake by drawing the points at the incorrect Z-level (anyone remember SmartCam?) Scott

For version X on, go to your control definition, misc. values, and set it in there. I also went into my operation defaults and set them in there for any ops that apply to that machine type. I almost got burned by these misc. values. Also, some posts you can set them in there permanently. Do a search for mi1, mi2 or whatever in your post.

I'm trying to define a holder for a "K" style parallegram insert. The insert # is KNUX160405R-11 The Holder # is CKJNR-12-3C Mastercam always wants to insert on it's side instead of the way my holder is in reality. I tricked it by setting the I.C. to about 2 times what it should be and it changed it's orientation. Hard to explain without seeing the file. I had this set-up pretty good but after I save the holder and I recall it there is one dimension that is always being changed to something I don't want. This is a Sumitomo holder and is not available online.

Thanks for the info, hard to believe they can't give you verify in a basic lathe package. I thought I had an operation it didn't like because I created this file in class on level 1. I guess I'll go with the backplot for now and see how it works out. Thanks!

What does Lathe entry not have besides the C/Y-Axis and live tooling support? I can't find anything on mastercam.com that is very specific. Thanks, Scott

I'll try playing with that. Thanks for the tip.

Allan, How does it shorten contours??? Wouldn't it have to change both the start & end locations?? Unlike extend where you can add moves, this HAS to change the basic contour start//end locations. Scott

Ok, we see that filtering doesn't work for tangential lead-ins or extend/shorten contour and we know the workaround. Would it be that hard to get the NCI to add those moves by changing the start & end of contour info internally and then filter it? Maybe I'm oversimplifing but it doesn's look that tough to me to fix it. Scott

You might get one "lead-in move" but how many total? I just tried using both extend contour and tangential lead-ins (separately) with a facemill, no comp on either, just center of the cutter. I still get (3) X-moves with each way. I had the filter on as well, isn't that filter for arcs anyway? To me, the extend/shorten feature should work regardless of comp/no-comp. That's what the lead-ins are for. The lead-ins should be applied after the extend/shorten contour is taken into account.

Brett, Seems like the post will always output a Q even if you don't want to peck tap. How do you change it to NOT outout if Q=0 ? Our Fanuc 16i-M will tap with a Q0, I just tried it so this is not critical. Also, ours has a dwell as well, it will dwell at the bottom of the tap motion and at the R-level. How do you add a dwell in a cycle? Thanks, Scott

Thanks David, If Mastercam can filter splines into arcs, I would think adding a filter for linear contouring would be a piece of cake. All it has to do is a vector compare and if they are equal then output the last coordinate. Sound like it is working in Lathe. I bet it is because if you have a parts catcher, on a cut-off move there is an M code for the catcher, extra moves would screw the timing up. I had this problem with Gibbscam a long time ago. As far as it being functionally NO different, that depends which side of the code you are sitting. I always think of the set-up man as my customer and if something bothers him, then it bothers me (within reason of course). I will just have to alert them about this idiosyncrasy of mcam's and hope they change it in the future. No big deal, I just wanted to know if this bothered anyone else. My 2 cents.

Brett, yes, i saw that in the post I'm modifying for my Kuraki horizontal.

The only thing not mentioned here is space limitation on a vertical. If the 4th axis is like a tombstone then you have to worry about the clearance between the part and the machine table. Unless you are only working on 3 sides of the tombstone and do not need to rotate 360 degrees.

I agree with the roll forming, I worked at a job shop where we did a lot of s.s. and we roll formed everything, especially blind holes. Where I'm at now does mostly S.S. but the old machines don't even have rigid tap wheras or new Kurakis all do. According to the manual the dwell occurs at both the bottom of the hole and at the R-level. I assume you could put a 15 second dwell to let you blow chips out and lubricate the tap or whatnot. I can see this as a plus. Thanks, my operators who aren't green by any standard were questioning the need for it. Thanks for the input! Scott

Can anyone give me an example where peck tapping is helpful. Also, how about dwelling at the bottom of a tapped hole?

We have highly skilled operators that don't just put on their crash helmet & hit the "green thingy". We machine very large castings & weldments that aren't cheap. It's not like you just go to the saw and cut off a another chunk and try again. So yes, if the operators desire to single block through who can blame them? It's their arse if its scrapped. Think about it, if you have a facemill and you are single blocking through, wouldn't you expect it to go across the part in one block of code? I would. If it didn't I'd say what the #$$% is this? That said, I just think that with the amazing 3d stuff Mastercam is capable of wouldn't you think it could do something as simple as this? I don't think it gets much simpler. It's similar to arc filtering but with lines. I know it can be done it's just not enough people have squawked about it. The sqeaky wheel gets the grease.

Like I said before, if the operator is single blocking thru the 1st run and is not expecting 3 moves where only 1 is necessary in my case, the facemill will stop over the part and leave dwell marks. Now this might be a minor thing but it depends on the surface finish requirements. It's just something that when this function was added the software jockey said, 3-moves, who cares. Trouble is that odds are that software jockey never made a chip in his life so to him it didn't matter but to the operator it could. Also, not everthing in the machining world depends on the processor speed of the control. In the 3d world yes but in 2-1/2D processor speed means diddley. We have a 27 year olf Fanuc 3000C that still get's the job done day in & day out and it doesn't even have work coordinates, look-ahead capability or helical interpolation. I wi