I would look at Nakamura Tome as well. Very nice machines.

Mike

.001 TP is no joke. Like JP said, If your datum reference frame is not all done in one op, you're going to have a hard time. Especially if you have any capability requirements. See if you can get MMC/LMC on the hole and even the datums. Usually there's no functional reason not to and every little bit will help.  Pic of the part and fixturing will probably also help you get some good responses as well.

Mike

To be honest,I wouldn't care about the price on a pull stud as long as I had confidence in them. Especially on the thinner types like Haas and Robodrills. Not as big of a deal on the beefy ones. I just recently had one break and it set us back a lifetime worth of pull studs to replace the spindle.

MIke

 

 

Can anyone from In House confirm the status of this nethook?

Many a time have I heard the legend of the IHS tombstone machining application. Would love to see something on it. Would pay serious bucks for increased HMC functionality.

Mike

Nak NTRX also seems nice.

http://www.nakamura-tome.co.jp/products/en/atc/ntrx-300.html

Mike

I would look into a moving column machine (we have a Brother like this). then you could use an actual bar feed.

Mike

 

 

Thinking along these lines, and maybe this can be done ( I am not aware ), but it would be nice if we could define variables, or use tables easily to drive tool path linking parameters, inside Mastercam.  Or reference values placed in other operations by standard named variable names.

I've always wanted MC to do this. If you've ever used Solidworks, it handles this quite well.

Mike

 

 

he same way you verify/machine sim a hmc with multiple stock in MC, you don't!

Delete.

 

 

I'm sure the Okuma boys can correct me, but doesn't Okuma run a heavy duty line of HMc's called the MH line or something like that, and the light duty version is the MA line? Or the opposite of that?

I was told by Okuma that one of them is the old Okuma Howa HMC. All box way and such. Personally, I'd rather have roller guides.

Mike

 

 

It think he's referring to up thread where I mentioned we were looking at a new Makino. 

Ahhh. No doubt Okuma is a solid machine. Sounds like you got a good deal. I for one MUCH rather have a good used machine and money to tool it up right than a brand new one with nothing. Always cracks me up when I see used HMC's on the market with a T-slot right angle plate and a Kurt vise on the pallet. 

Mike

I do pretty much the same as Sticky.

Mike

 

 

 I would love to empower the operators

You must have better operators

Mike

 

 

 the boss is going to forget all about a new Makino 

You don't think you could do that on a Makino?

 

 

Weird that they don't offer one just machined on the bottom.

They won't sell tombstones w/ un-machined surfaces because they can't rely on their Taiwanese supplier to not have large porosity under the surface. That's what was told to me.

Mike

I do almost only HMC programming and can get the same results out of MC. But gosh darn it is it difficult.

Mike

 

 

There is an option to expand the MACRO variables beyond #999. I'll get the part number tomorrow. It's a BUNCH. 

Latest Makino's we received have variables #98000-#98500 . It will be a few weeks before I use all those. 

IMO though, if you've used #500-#999 , than you haven't written you macros very efficiently. Never hurts to have more though.

Mike

My experience if with the fanuc version. We've had a couple and they've functioned flawlessly. 

Mike

 

 

avoid losing tool length(H) offsets at reset? thanks

I'm sure they just had their attorney draft that up and of course the attorney is going to go overboard to cover his butt and accrue as many billable hrs as possible. It's just what they do.

Mike

Take a look at hydraulics and use a manual screw pump. Vektek has em for around $300.

Mike

 

 

I believe the Cs Contour option on FANUC controls will do this. I have not done it myself (yet) but it's a good application for this option.

It will. I've seen it done.

Mike

I remember these. Pretty cool. However, I've used some high end auto reversing tapping heads and I bet you would be almost as fast and without the two giant grooves through the thread. 

Mike

Also. There's always capto. HSK 63F to corochuck 930 pencil hydro chuck would work really well. But that setup would be no less than $1400.

Mike

FYI I've had Briney make me some HSK 63a ER specials that have very long reach. Cost usually isn't too bad. Around $600 ea. when you order a couple.

Mike