I'd suggest a 5X Flowline or Multisurf path with a Taper Ballnose similar to the tool in the video. Watch your surface normals if there are several surfs in the selection. HTH Josh

quote: but usually once they see the cost, they usually "find" the CAD Model Isn't it amazing how those mysterious CAD models seem to appear when the cost is over budget???

I'm very green with it but Partmaker looks like it supports this type of toolpath.

Too freaking COOL! Man that is a trip! The 2nd Video was wild! I wouldn't know where to start... let us know how it goes. Very interesting

I wrote the Bar Puller logic into the Stock Advance section in my posts. It was a little tricky for the Mazak because we use the sub-spindle (B Axis) to advance. For the Hardinge Lathes (Fanuc 16T) it was simple, M codes for the Chuck Clamp/Upclamp and the Advance Length in MC is processed. I did find that when I used different tool numbers for the Puller it posts 2 tool changes. I used to have the tool number hard coded (T1212) but quickly fixed it. Be careful how you write the sequence and pay attention to the output... one wrong clamp/unclamp and you could pop the puller. HTH Josh

I use Pro-Engineer or UG NX-5 to do all of my modeling. We are getting into Solidworks but I'm most comfortable with Pro-E.

We have a couple of the NSK HS Spindles and they work great. Someone had the bright idea of turning our Hermle into a Jig Grinder so we ordered 2 of them. Pretty easy to use.

Thank you JMC! By playing with the opcode statements I got it to work how I want it to. I knew it had to be something in those statements. In regards to Dan's question, the reason for using the lock/unlock commands is for free movement on the 5X paths. If you don't use the M11/M13 unlocks with true 5X work the machine will dwell for the brake release which (in some cases) will gouge the parts. I'm using inverse feed rates on the rotarys and unlocks to try and smooth out some of the porting work we've been trying. Thanks for everyone's help! Josh

Ok Guys... I've worked on this for 8 months and I still can't get it right. I'm using the Haas Trunion MD in X3 with minor changes (props for it being super close!) and its the same problem as before... No M11/M13 and M10/M12 on 5X paths. Works great on 3+2 paths but not on true 5X. This is weird! I can't find it anywhere in the post and from what I see the logic is the same. Can someone help? We're porting heads soon and I don't want any issues. Thanks in advance, Josh

quote: is that an open can of worms I smell??? worms spilling... people cursing... it's MADNESS I tell you... MADNESS!!!!

Xform - Rotate 3D

+100 to Colin I almost always do exactly what he just mentioned on all Surf Finish Parallel Paths that are open. The Tangetial Line Length extention works great. Josh

EDM Hole Popper! Nuf Said

quote: Simplifying the geometry is completely unnecessary, you are creating more work for yourself That is not always the case Colin. Adjusting the toolpath filter tolerance does not always work... espcially on 3D splines used on multiaxis toolpaths (ex. 5X Curve). Simplfy may be more work in some cases but will solve all of the above when importing spline curves from other file formats. Just to clarify... No offense to the veterans (Gcode or Colin) but adjusting the toolpath filter tolerance does not work in all cases. Josh

Import your SW file into Mastercam. Click on the Edit button on the top of the screen. Select Simplify. It will prompt you to select the spline. Once you have your spline selected adjust to the tolerance you need and go. If you have any trouble email me the file and I'll see what I can do. BTW: Welcome to the Forum!

Edit-Simplfy Works like a charm! HTH Josh

You can always cheat and hard overwrite the "G30" to a "G28".... works like a charm!

Thanks Taper! I'll chase that rabbit today! Looks interesting. I could probably fudge something out in MC Lathe but the "Blend" feature in the SpinCAD demo would be hard to duplicate and every flow form program I've seen running uses that type of path as a staple. Thanks again!

Hey Guys! We are getting a WF Machinenbau Verticle Flow Form Machine and I'd like to get some info about it. There is little info on their website and no word from customer service as of yet. Linky We are getting this for low volume runs. This is the smartest move my company has made since I've been here! I've been appointed the "Programmer" role for this so I'm trying to dig up as much as I can. People have been forming wheels, pulleys, splines, etc. on these machines since the early 80s so there has to be a modern way to program it... I just haven't found it! There's got to be an offline CAM system for these things somewhere! Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated! BTW: for those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about... Enjoy!

ISCAR Shredmill works good too. Don't use the serrated inserts in Aluminum though... they will clog up. HTH Josh

Add "Estimator" / "Quoter" to the list. Our sales dept will use estimated cycle times from MC to quote jobs

quote: 304 mainly flame cut plate That's gotta SUCK!

If you are dead set on using R instead of IJK I would strongly suggest breaking the arcs into quadrants. Sometimes the control interprets the code much like Pip's illustration and the arcs get screwed up... most of the time this has happened to me in a case where the arc is more than 180 degrees. Breaking at quadrants would solve this case and alot of the issues stated in this thread. My guys like seeing the R's and so I've left the posts alone. I agree that IJK can be more accurate but it really depends on personal tastes and application needs. HTH Josh

Thanks guys! I'll give Mr. Wakeford a call Josh

Sounds like a bad format statement... I'll check my Heidenhain posts and get back to you tomorrow or tonight. Josh