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!

Brilliant guys! Will do a bit of re-programming using a square finishing cutter, and come back in to put the rad on last.

Semi-finish then finish also sounds like a reasonable idea.

Lots of testing to do now, but I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thank you very much for all your help guys!

Sorry, using a 10mm (0.4") tool with a 3mm (0.120") corner rad.

Haven't tried anything bar slowing the spindle speed down. Thought about a full depth cut, but worried that it might increase the chatter.

I'm trying to finish a part with pocket walls 25mm(1") tall by 2mm (0.080") thick using waterlining, and a 3 flute mitsubishi carbide endmill. I'm taking 0.5mm (0.020") off the wall, and stepping down in 3mm increments.

Currently the speed and feed is S25000rpm F10000mm/min (400imp) and it's chattering like mad as it gets toward the middle (least supported) sections of the wall.

Help! I was hoping to reduce chatter, not make more of it!

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I've been following the manufacturers reccommended speeds and feeds, and the Makino Mag3s have plenty of coolant flow to keep the heat down at the cutting edge.

Basically, the full story is that I'm testing a 25mm 3Flute (1/2"(ish))cutter, which is cutting at 33000rpm F18000m/min (700imp). At that speed, I don't fancy ramping very hard, but I am also aware that I can produce quite a bit of heat if the cutter is not cutting effectively.

The general statement by this other guy seemed a bit off the top of his head, hence all the questions in this thread.

Just another question - Mold100, what are data flutes?

Thanks for the help guys!

I'm working a lot with forged billets at the moment, and they can bow and twist quite considerably depending on the machining technique.

From speaking to a very wise learned Engineer in a different company, he reckons that by ramping at a shallow angle, you're grinding or smearing the material off, and generating a lot of heat within the stock. By ramping or plunging, you heat the ships, and keep the billet from warping.

Is it that simple?

For all the guys machining Aluminum or Aluminium (depending on whether you think it's a gray color or a grey colour), what ramp angle do you use for entering pockets and why?

Make a copy of the file and delete all the solids. Save it and close Mcam, and open up the file again. If it opens without the error, there might be a problem with one solid which is showing as being 'clean' but Mastercam can't load properly.

Go through your solids tree deleting several solids operations at a time and saving and closing the file. When you've deleted the solid causing the problem, the file will open without the error.

Had to do that on several occasions, where I've had lots of 'copy of copy of copy of copy of a solid' in my ops tree.

+1 Mic

We use G43.4 on our 2 Mag3EXs and 2 Mag3s, and run SGI at the same time.

I've heard of another option to use SGI on both simultaneous and tilt and lock, but the bosses here decided against it because of the cost.

Never heard it called "5X RWH" though.

Whoops! Post takes out stuff in '< >'!

(me) "Yeah, just watch this next move in that end pocket. It'll tilt over and machine it 5 axis..."

(Feed control at 10%, operator straining to see through coolant at a $50,000 spindle gets closer and closer to the part wall)

(me) "You wanna take your lunch and come back to it?"

(operator) "Can I leave it for night shift?"

Virtual pints of Guinness sent to Crazy^Millman! Used your idea just as you said and it kept the tool vectors exactly where I wanted them to be.

I'd tried machining on a toolplane Cuda, but it clipped the walls no matter how I set it up because of the move between planes.

Need to buy a new pack of diapers (sp? We call em 'nappies' over here!) for the machine operator though: (me) "Yeah, just watch this next move in that end pocket. It'll tilt over and machine it 5 axis..."

Thankyou!