This is great! Thanks for all the great info. Andy

Actually, I was thinking, (Smell the smoke), that a faster feed rate would reduce cutter wear because the cutter does not linger as much. However I cannot feed faster and keep up with the dust. I should just turn down the graphite jobs. Bad for machine if not careful. Rekd, thanks for the 1/2 suggestion. Diamond coated huh. What is that, like a diamond dust coating. I have never heard of diamond coated. I might consider that one if their not platimum. Thanks, Andy

I machined a piece of graphite 2.5 x 5 x 11. I removed about 50% of the volume of the block. 3/4 Carbide 2Fl ticn Ball EM 4000 Rpm, 20 ipm. Aproximately .300 Deep for roughing and .030 for finishing. Small stepover for finish. Ran about 3 hours. End mill is now dull. Is this normal? Graphite was AR-8 for a glass mold. We would have had a faster ipm but the shop vac couldn't keep up with the dust. We rarely do graphite. Any ideas on the end mill?

Sorry, I just read your post. We do exactly what you want. Fadal 1990 In PEOF section of post, we force "M6T1" Then, while the carousel is turning we change parts. However, all postings will have m6t1 even when you might not want it {easy to delete this line at machine)This also assumes T1 is your first tool. See ya, Andy [ 07-01-2003, 12:34 AM: Message edited by: Andy ]

Dont you just love those Mori manuals? I figure they had a english major college student in japan translate them into English. He probably never saw a machine shop. Took me 6 months to write notes in the margins once I figured out what they meant.

Being in business for myself in this trade is retirement. Everyday is exciting. I'd be bored playing golf and fishing.

Hi, I use a Fadal and we can use e1......e99 or g54.... I prefer e1, e2 etc. So for me it is an advantage to have FO #1, 2, etc Andy

Customer brings in a job. Do you have a print? -No, just this sample. What tolerance on all the sizes? -Just make it like the sample. It's not critical. So this 1/4 hole here, how close does it need to be? -Make it 1/4. So its ok if it is .01 over. -no, make it 1/4. So, .001 over is ok? It doesn't have to be that close. So, .005 over is ok? -Cant you just make it like the sample? So, if I measure the hole at .253 is .253 +-.0000001 ok? -Yes. How about .253 +-.001? -Cant you just make it like the sample. #I actually have a customer like this, and he wants it cheap too. However, if it does not fit, then he wont pay.

Larry, Actually, that is what I finally did. But I wore gloves. Are you wearing gloves??? Or is it too late? Sympathetically, Andy

Yeh Jeff, What did you send him?? Share?? Andy

Item # 2531294933 Who to tell?

Me too please, Andy

Andrew, Also, yes, I did cad the tool and contour side view to check the front clearance and had plenty of clearance.

Andrew, no, the bottom of the sphere has no hole. However we can leave a little nipple and hand finsh later. I know not to go past x0. Nmonica, We just received the same bor bar from MSC. Great looking tool. I think it will be perfect. Andy [ 05-09-2003, 11:37 PM: Message edited by: Andy ]

Thanks Andrew, Yes, we did that, on a piece of paper, should be no problem. Andy

Good thinking Chris, We were going to do that as a matter of fact I just was dead brained when I answered. I guess what I have learned in this thread that the essental answer is to use a bore bar with a vnmg insert oriented the appropriate way and we will be able to take the finish pass in one continuous cut, which is really what I was asking. I actually found one in the MSC Catalogue, page 762 I think. Looks like it will be perfect. Ordered this morning. Thanks all, Andy [ 05-07-2003, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Andy ]

We actually thought to use a ball end mill, but this is a one off, and the piece going in the chuck is already worth abou $900 and I would rather not experiment. The ball face groove tool sounds pretty good I will look into getting one. The reason we want to use one tool is, set up is simpler, less ops, less chances for errors, and we dont care how long it takes to cut. In production we would definitely rough the stock out first.

So, I need to cut a concave hemisphere in the face of a block of cast iron in the lathe. Dia=3.000 Depth=1.5 The tool is the question. Need a boring bar with an insert that does the whole job. Turns out the only tool that seems to work would be a bar with a round insert located in the correct position at the end of the bar. Most insert configurations dont seem to suit it well: like cpgm or tpg or vnmg. (clearance problems). However I cannot find a bar with a round insert. We will make one if necessary. By the way, we used the facing outside in for the maching Op in MC. and it looks good. (using a round insert custom created bar) Anyone know about the bar, or if the Op sounds ok? Thanks

Hi Mark, I dont have a tool list in my nc code, however I made one in the setup sheet. I could not get it to print in here so I will email it Andy Mori.set pwrtt #Write tool table Andy #wrote 4 lines here for tool list #7/01 If t>0, ptoolcomment #If the tool has already been written tool no. is neg. ptoolcomment #Write tool info one line per pass *"TOOL ", t," ", " R=",*tcr,"(",*strtoo =",*tcr," (",*strtool,")", e

Hugh, I think that MC just gives many choices to suit different applications and preferences. Thats what makes MC so powerful. But with that comes the need to learn all the tricks, which I certainly do not know, but am also learning gradually. Play around with the stock def. Try making the stock twice as large and then try the different stock def. choices. I have not had time to mess with that yet but I will eventually try it, and then try to remember the results. good luck, Andy

Mark, you asked for speed/feed/stepover. So far you got coolant/no coolant. In the old days, they recommended soda water as a coolant for cast iron. I envisioned the old glass selzer bottles with the metal valve on top that Charlie Chaplan used. However, HSS=90sfpm, Carbide=400sfpm for cast iron hardness <200 HB - Hanita specs- Why do I think I will end up machining that cast iron you are acquiring???? Andy [ 03-23-2003, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: Andy ]

Hugh, It looks like you have 3 Ops in the sprere69 file. Op 1: Facing-- Reverse the chain direction or rechain in the opposite direction. In the ops menu left click geometry, then right click chain1, then reverse chain, ok, ok, then regen. Op 2: Facing--Looked ok for facing. Op 3: OD Turning--Change the tool comp to "Right", also disable stock definition. Dont give up, I did many hours learning this stuff. Good luck, let us know....

Oh, come on, cant you work for just one more year for free.

10 year Elk Eureka, Ca.

Small rocket nozzle for the Navy Test Lab. They use it to test fuel efficiency etc. Hastalloy X, Lathe work mostly. Made some bench brackets for a wood bench in a museum. 1018 mild steel. From sofisticated to grunt work.