Hey Chief. Nice to see you back here. No more Nakamura? What happened there? -Keith

one word, coolant

Vectorize all your raster images, for free. Very cool, save down as a .eps or .svd Click this link

Put limits on image size in signatures.

Yes, Check tool side offset and tool orientation

I re-wrote a Spot Drill cycle to use as a bar-pull routine. This is in 8.1. Works very well but edits are all ways needed in the final code. I really should clean up some issues with the clearance and retract planes. But, it works. -Keith

Go with what Chris says. Or, Use a secondary offset at the control to adjust taper. -Keith

Oops, I resized that image above. And below are a few parts from the machine. Also Andy: quote: We used misc int to get a stock puller going. quote: # Post Name : MPLOMNI # Product : LATHE # Machine Name : OMNI-TURN # Control Name : GENERIC # Description : GENERIC 2 AXIS LATHE POST WITH CANNED CYCLES # Associated Post : NONE # Mill/Turn : NO # 4-axis/Axis subs. : NO # 5-axis : NO # Subprograms : NO # Canned Cycles : NO # Executable : MPL I did the bar puller routine by re-writing a canned drill cycle in the post. works well. And seeing as we have the C-axis I also wrote reversing tap cycle. John. The machine is really easy. But I understand the need for a Hardinge VLH. We got about 8 of 'em. The Best, bar none. -Keith

Yes. We have GT-75 series III. c-axis. I use it all the time. good for what it is. -Keith

Engraving tool = finer lines possible. Ball mill = more durable but line width varies more with uneven surfaces. For .125 high letters i dont go deeper that -.002 or -.003. with a .031 ball mill Center drill = durable but better for larger line width. for really fine stuff I use a diamond engraving tool. 0 rpm.

I lock mine almost every night. The cleaning crew is less than honest. My PC does not lock automatically. I do it manually as you described above. Win 2000 Pro. -Keith

WooHoo! We have 2 of these machines, same vintage. a 75vmc 20 x 40 and a 45vmc 18 x 30 with pallet changer and Reinishaw probe. 20+ years old and that controller still rocks. read/writes are a little slow and storage is limited but that was the norm back then. Smit: quote: Let me know and I'll send it tomorrow. I would also like to check out a copy of your post, please. click my name above my avatar for mail link -Keith

the holder and the tool(insert) should each be a separate closed chain. i think. -Keith

Izzy! We do Macor on a fairley regular basis. Macor is basically "Green" ceramic. Machines pretty easily with any sharp tools but is is very abrasive as you might expect. So coated carbide tools will last the longest. Regular soluble oil for coolant. Most importantly you want to machine "onto" the material. THis will minimize chipping on the part edges. have also seen chipping downward into the base material when too large base cuts are used. Cleans up really well in an ultrasonic tank with a little alkaly cleaner. -Keith

We have a Vertical machinging Center with a W! 2 really. "W" used to be hard coded till i got tired of that. I now use Misc. Real #1. works well -Keith

My experience shows them to be a light duty machine that is simple, flexible and reliable. The CNC 88hs controller is not my favorite but it gets the jobs done. '97 3016 dc servos. grease fittings. linear ways. "0" mainanance issues. runs every day. Extended memory card vibrated out of the slot once. no biggie. I overheated the "Y" axis motor once. thermal protection did its job. 2001 3016. linear ways, Bijur Lube. spindle controller replaced. no other problems. runs everyday. 2003 6030 boxway. Bijur Lube. never a problem. runs almost every day. -Keith

We use double faced tape from 3M It is .004 thick, 1" wide PAPER backed. I say this because they also make the same tape in plastic back and it just doesnt work at all. I dont know where our purchasers buy it. Perhaps Newark electronics or Graingers.

i like Pro/E, a lot. I like MasterCam a lot. just another tool in the box.

Really SHARP tool. Dont let chips pack, ever. We use Blazocut soluble oil for coolant. No problems. Fire polishing is a method used to smooth machined edges of acrylic and polycarbonate. Use a torch, Bernzomatic propane type is fine. Use a soft flame and play it aginst the machined edge. It will melt the surface of the material and leave a very smooth and shiny finish. You will also ruin many parts untill you master the technique. -Keith most often i just use a soft cotton buffing wheel with Tripoli compound.

My son and I are building an electric guitar. I will soon be cutting Mahogany for the body and neck I would like to do it right the first time. I will be using a FADAL 6030 with a 10k spindle. I am asking for recommendations on Speed, feed and DOC and what might be the best choice in cutters. My big concern is splintering the end grain at the break-out of the neck pocket. I will cut a test piece in Poplar first. I talked about it initially in Thread. We are going to build a Copy of a Gibson Flying Vee Using a Very nice set of plans that i bought from This web site. Here is a link to a thumbnail of the plans Thanks -Keith

Hello alex888, welcome to the forum use a radius on lead/in-lead/out large enough so the tool will gently pull off the walls of the groove and set the angle small enough so that the tool doesnt hit the opposite wall when it swings out. .012 isnt much room. Dont use a straight leadin-leadout. hth -Keith

or set home, or ref point so the tool will drive to or from that point on entry or exit.

Also, to answer part of your original question. Yes, you can use negative offsets in a FADAL control. If the code posts correctly. -Keith

quote: N190G41D3X3.475F35. N200G40 Lead in all you want but look at the code. Comp is cancelled on line n200 immediatly after it is called on line n1900. Like jleal said. cancel the comp after the path(or portion thereof). not after the first move. hth -Keith

I did something like this years ago. It was letters of word "skiing" down a hill, like a train, seen from the side. It was time consuming. all geometry was positioned manually. Drag, rotate, whatever suited the positon of the letter. In my case, and in yours the letters were not font but regular geometry converted fron artwork. -Keith