My shop has been 60% off for 3 months now. Many of my customers are even worse off. I think it will not improve anytime soon. However, don't need much work to stay in business luckily.

Glad we could help.

Jeremy, That boring bar is a BHP-EC-600, Kennametal. It is 5/8 dia. and uses a 35 degree insert. I have used it many times. Might work good on this job for boring out the bigger ID and leaving a 45 deg. taper on the plug and then using a second boring bar to turn the OD of the plug in the center. Depending on the depth of the groove one might have to use T1 then T2 then T1 again and T2 again. In lathe rough you can change the angle you rough turn taper type toolpath. In this case a rough bore angle or rough face angle. You have to play with the settings until you get the path you want.

You dont have to click fast point every time. As above but press enter key to complete first point, then start typing next entry and fast point window opens for next point automatically. So, no mouse. Number Comma Number Enter Repeat

I have a tool library for most every material I cut in lathe and mill. About 6 libraries in each. Yes, same tools in all libraries. Drills are the most numerous entries to make. It is alot of work, however, I now can concentrate on the job and not worry about feed speed coolant etc. I only occasionally have to save a new tool to these libraries. I made the decision to do this 7 years ago and hoped I was right. I had doutbs but it turned out to be the right decision. (got lucky)

Graphite?

Send an email here also. Thanks, Andy

I used .5 deg, 1 deg, 2 deg, 3 deg. All produced the same path, x2mr2

In my system for lathe, I can use x,y or D,Z in CAD and the post outputs what the lathe needs. (X,Z)

John, That is what I thought the mp.dll was. I just didnt understand what it had to to with pathing a cam. I now understand the connection. Thanks

Get the user manual at the Fadal site.

No, at the command screen. CS= cold start. Moves to the nearest axes marks. You need to Jog to the axes markers (close) then CS and enter key.

Thanks for the info Jim. X2MR2 until the forum quiets down. I simply do not have the time when X2 is already working perfect for me. V9 to VX was even more troublesome and I gave up after 2 months. I waited 1 year and all the problems I encountered were magically gone. CNC got on it.

I use e,7,2 and the console command is ta,1,2 I have used MC and Cimco both. [ 08-20-2008, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: Andy ]

John, What is MP.DLL

Dats why I wait too!

How do you fall back in Lathe?

Thanks Bernie Thanks Bryan

Bernie, What else can I use Rhino for if I get it? Andy Htm01, I dont think I will be getting Art but it makes sense that cnc would put it in art. Andy

Couldnt find studio in vx2. Trial tested rhino, worked ok but don't want to learn yet another software. Wish we could do it MC.

Thanks Bernie I'll try in X2, but I dont remember seeing studio? Andy

I know in v9 we could not do this the last time I checked but, can we now have a raster background and draw on top of it? I always thought this capability would be useful for quick raster to vector work.

Keep in mind that there are some small shops who would rather occasionly hire a programmer than have full time employee constantly on payroll. I know I hire outside contractors occasionally to do special jobs for me. (More complicated 3d jobs than I have time for.) Of course the hard part is finding clients and then proving your value to them.

Very good crazy!

Maybe maintenance on lathe should be cancelled! I think lathe is no longer important to cnc (Sales curve).