The 840D is a highly advanced controller (eg. it can machine pure NURBS data), but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be right for the job. I've used two "DMC Evolution 70" 5 axis milling machines, one with a Siemens 840D and the other with a Heidenhain control. The Heidenhain control was a much easier learning curve for the operator (it's like fill in the blanks picture stuff), but the 840D produced MUCH better finish on 5 axis parts, and the cycle times I thought were quicker. Plus the operator got used to it after a few weeks. I'd plump for the Siemens control if it's a 5 axis mill. It DOES have different cycle codes, but you'll get used to that in no time. The surface finish and cycle time reduction would swing it for me.

Colin, I had a play with that too, and it works quite nicely. Went with the easy option though, as I only need to call the parameter once. Very good to know I can temporarily change values within a post block. Will definitely come in handy! Was wondering why it wouldn't work, but then realised I was calling xabs, yabs, zabs. Stuck a * in front of each to output the value. Works find now! Why would that be?

Genius! Thank you very much!

Martin, Thanks for the response, but that changes all of the XYZ values to QX= QY= QZ=, whereas I just need the QX= QX= QZ= line once (for setting the 1st co-ordinate. The rest of the values are just XYZ. I was thinking that there must be a way to strip the letter off?

I'm in the process of making a post for a router, and to set up the initial move, it uses a line: QX=100.000 QY=50.000 QZ=2.000 In the post I'm using: "QX=", xabs, "QY=", yabs, "QZ=", zabs to output the code, but when I post, it produces: QX=X100.000 QY=Y50.000 QZ=Z2.000 What parameter do I use to output only the VALUE of the co-ordinate, not the whole string. Obviously it's not #abs. Thanks in advance!

I'll have a go at altering the machine def., but it seems that anything I do in there has no effect on the posted code. It's as though the post itself is making all the decisions. As for the local reseller, my boss contacted them, and they are arranging to make us a post for the ACTUAL machine, which works differently to the LOAN machine we have at the minute. There's a lot of politics going on, and I'm not about to lift the phone and ring them to get an earful! The reason we got a loan machine was that the machine tool reseller made a mistake about the configuration of the machine, so we're stuck with a loan machine that can only do 3 axis work, and I'm getting hassle for not being able to get the 5 axis working properly. My current position is between Rock and Hard Place. Thanks for all the help so far guys.

All sorted! Thank you Storkman! Now outputting 4 decimal places for IJKs and 3dp for XYZs. I am oficially a Happy Bunny. :-)

I want to output X, Y and Zs with 3 decimal places, and I,J and Ks with 4 decimal places, in the hope that the Fanuc 16i control will stop throwing up errors with arcs. I've changed the format statements from '2' (3 decimal places in metric) to '12', which should be 4 decimal places): # Format statements - n=nonmodal, l=leading, t=trailing, i=inc, d=delta # --------------------------------------- #Default english/metric position format statements fs2 1 0.8 0.7 #Decimal, absolute, 7 place, default for initialize ( fs2 2 0.4 0.3 #Decimal, absolute, 4/3 place fs2 3 0.4 0.3d #Decimal, delta, 4/3 place #Common format statements fs2 4 1 0 1 0 #Integer, not leading fs2 5 2 0 2 0l #Integer, force two leading fs2 6 3 0 3 0l #Integer, force three leading fs2 7 4 0 4 0l #Integer, force four leading fs2 9 0.1 0.1 #Decimal, absolute, 1 place fs2 10 0.2 0.2 #Decimal, absolute, 2 place fs2 11 0.3 0.3 #Decimal, absolute, 3 place fs2 12 0.4 0.4 #Decimal, absolute, 4 place fs2 13 0.5 0.5 #Decimal, absolute, 5 place fs2 14 0.3 0.3d #Decimal, delta, 3 place fs2 15 0.2 0.1 #Decimal, absolute, 2/1 place fs2 16 1 0 1 0n #Integer, forced output fmt X 2 xout #X position output fmt Y 2 yout #Y position output fmt Z 2 zout #Z position output fmt X 2 g74xabs #G74 X position output fmt Y 2 g74yabs #G74 Y position output fmt Z 2 g74zabs #G74 Z position output fmt I 12 i$ #Arc center description in X fmt J 12 j$ #Arc center description in Y fmt K 12 k$ #Arc center description in Z fmt I 12 iout #Arc center description in X fmt J 12 jout #Arc center description in Y fmt K 12 kout #Arc center description in Z fmt R 12 arcrad$ #Arc Radius But the NC output still only has 3 decimal places for I, J and K values. Am I missing something else?

I've rechecked the post I'm using, and I was just mistaken before. I am using the MPGEN5X post. I'm still getting the same 90 degree move on the C axis. The layout of the spindle/rotary axes is the same as this picture: http://www.nmine.com/5axis/spindle.jpg Imagining that the spindle angle can also rotate in C, and you are standing looking in the Y+ direction, that picture to me is: B-20. (or thereabouts) C0. But my machine wants to rotate the C axis by 90 degrees, so that the tool is tilted away from you. How can I correct the 90 degree movement using the GEN5X post? Sorry if my explanation is a little odd, but I've been working straight for 18 hours. :cuckoo:

Son of a Diddly!!! OK, thanks for the heads up John316! Back to the drawing board!

It's a 5 axis mill, with a tilting head (C is attached to Z, with B attached to C)

Anyone have any idea how to change the C90. to a C0.?

Hey guys, I'm modifying the mpmaster post to suit a loan machine which we have been supplied with, and as part of the test program I'm using, I want to tilt over on the B axis by 5 degrees and machine a pocket at an angle. However, when I output the code, I get a C90. for free like this: ... G0 Z10. C90. B5. X-157.507 Y34. Z-31.47 X-157.071 Z-36.451 ... It also strikes me as strange that the B and C axes outputs are reversed. When I change the 'secondary shift', parameter from: shift_90_s : 1 to shift_90_s : 0 I get the following instead: ... G0 Z10. C90. B5. X34. Y157.507 Z-31.47 Y157.071 Z-36.451 ... and all my Xs are now -Ys, and vice versa! Help!

Dave, Any luck with the search? I was in the same boat a few months back, and I know it can be a pain searching for somewhere good. Would Blackpool be too far away? I used to work for an aerospace company which had Engineering offices in Blackpool. More sort of high speed aerospace manufacturing, but it'd be a great place to expand your skills into aluminium machining. Let me know!

Colin, Any chance you might want to fly me over there, set me up with a generous relocation package, and a huge salary? I'm free this Thursday if that suits? (Wishful thinking!) Millrunner, I could bet that most of the guys on here started programming because they talked the talk, and could prove they could do the job if trained properly. I know I went into my interview knowing very little about the specifics of programming, but with the right attitude and determination. Just go for it. Get your Resume typed up nicely, and fill it full of juicy facts that employers want to see. Don't pad it out too much with lots of words. Get it sent to all the employers you can find doing what you want to do. If you're not in, you can't win!