Hi Joe, To reduce your set-up time on these machines, it might be wise to look at modular tooling. Quick change jaws and also download your offsets (geometery and wear). If any tool is broke down such as drills and taps you could make sure the lenght of those tools are recorded and give instuctions as to the tolerance allowed if reset up and then touch those tools off that are broke down. Your programming department or a qualified individual, then could attach the offsets that are downloaded to the program, after the M30 or M99. This would be in a from of a G10 listed that the machine will read on the next set-up. We have done this on a few of our machines here. The first run was always slow proving clearances and timing of turrets (12 hrs) but, after we captured the set-up data any operator qualified to run the machine could follow the set-up data and the machine was cutting chips within 1.5 to 2 hrs and without scrapping the part. What we found was if the job warranted going to these machines it also warranted more control in the set-up and capturing the data. This machines we really need to look at how to reduce set-up time more closely. Once set up they can out preform and reduce lead time thru out the shop. As to the question of running one turret then the other, yes you can do that on he first piece however, run the second with the same amount of detail. becuase I have see these machine crash because the operator switched the rapid over ride from 25% to 100%. What they thought was going to be enough clearance between the two turrets was at 25%. Again this is why we document. Jerry

I Agree with CNC Apps, purchasing a system is needed first, and there is a good possibility that they have a Macro B program for there system. This is because they know that their product is only as good as the software running it, and to insure you get the most out of there product.

Yes John, Thats is how we are handling it right now. I just thought it was odd to get the option if SolidWorks was not open. Jerry

Hello to all, We have noticed that when we have a part configuration open in SolidWorks. We do not get the option to select the configuration in Mastercam. It only opens the file in the configuration that is open in SolidWorks however, if SolidWorks is shut down the option to open the file in what configuration will appear. We are currently using 6X MU1 and SolidWorks 2011 x64 edition. Has anyone else noticed this, and if so, has this been address? Thanks Jerry

Can SpaceClaim take an STL file and dimension it or convert it to something that will allow you to? Jerry

Well if I might add. The first time that I ran a CNC was in 87" on a brand new Truab. In the two years that I work for this company we had issues with the X axis jumping 2mm at a time. NO offset adjusted and NO operator influence. Just take the parts out of the catcher and mic the parts. Now this went on for two years the tech came in and combed the machine over. This machine recorded all keyboard entries this is the only reason why the believed me that I made no changes. Just before I got done at that shop they found the problem, which was a power spike and over time all the x axis boards were fried. So if you are comfortable with your operator, look hard at your power. Jerry

I understand what you are asking. I just need those who have the means to change these features understand what we are up against. After viewing my post I should build safe guard into my post a flag me of when the WCS changes. This way we could look and tell if we accidentally move it or fail to move it. Jerry

I hate to be the one to ask that they do not remove this warning! Right now the shop that I am working in they do not use multi work offsets, and along with that they request that the machinists or operators to set G54 in several locations while machining the part. I have been with this company for 9 years. In that time the senior programmers would only use cam to program one tool or just one feature on a given part. They would not program a complete job until just a few years ago. In fact the lathe programming was drafted in CAD with tool comp. and then written by hand. Now I am the senior member in this group and the longest one using Mastercam. This warning has saved my butt, I do not want to explain to the owner why a warning was removed and why we have a part with features out of place because one of us here failed to set up our WCS wrong. I had a to pull teeth out of a Lion to get a CAM package here. While I will admit it would be nice to turn off that. I will not request it because it will bite me hard. I like what Ron said in using Verisurf. This way you can have your cake and eat it. At the same time you are not in my kitchen. Jerry

Chris, Ron is correct, you will need to set up a post that would take the values from the NCI file and convert them by using a mulitplier. On top of that you might also need to format the values from a 4 place decimal to a 3 place. Jerry

I would contact a rep for that machine or a similar one and ask them? 4" as already stated is thin, I work at a shop that the fork truck broke the floor with a 4" slab. Jerry

Do you enter a groove at the end of the Keyway? If so can you use a G77 or G90 can cycle (depending on what G code system on fanuc controls). Jerry

Thoob, No I do not believe there is. What I have done in the pass is write a macro on the machine to do what you are looking for. I tailored it simalar to a G76 thread cycle retracking in the X axis to a safe point. But if you are pressed for time you may want to do what John mentioned used the finish cycle on lead in out. Set the Finish stepover to your desired depthof cut and the Number of passes to what you need to finish the keyway. After you post it out edit the code to retrack in X the same everytime. Jerry

Larry, To an extent, yes you are right. However, looking at Kennametal and Sandvik both make their insert to a class 6h thread but they use different standards. While both may cut the thread. The form may be slightly different then want your engineer wants. There is also the possibility that there could be a mistake on the print. Like I mentioned before, in that case, the engineer did make a mistake and we caught it before it was cut. Jerry

Larry, here is the norm on that thread callout I also provided the class 6h. The info is from gage maker. Jerry Thread Class 4h & 6h.pdf

Larry, What are the specs on your customer print? How is it clalled out, do they just call the thread and class or do they provide the pitch, major, and minor diameter also. I have found looking at a thread callout that they made modification that might be out of the norm. So with getting burn once I allways look at the complete form. Case in point, I had one thread that was a special. They called out the pitch daimeter with .01" total tolerance, however, after looking at the minor diameter and the root radius we had .002" to get the pitch and minor to fit within there spec. You might also want to make sure that you are using an insert that will produce a root with of .250mm. which is what they call for in a class 4h, you are using a class 6h, you should be fine. Jerry

I believe that X7 will not run on XP or Vista when that is released. So it does not matter if you are on a nethasp or not. Jerry

John, Yes you are right that does make the most logical sence. Look for one condition verses three, therefore, you would not need the statement in the peof$. Jerry

John, Would it be better to In the pretract section if nextop$ = 1000 | 1001 | 1002, [ pbld, n$, sg00, "G53", "Z0." e$ ] then in the peof$ pbld, n$, sg00, "G53", "Y0", "Z0." e$ kunfuzed, 1003 is the g code in the NCI file that tells the post you are at the end of the file. 1000, 1001, and 1002 tell the post toolchange whether it is a new change or null. Jerry

Well gcode, All the Okuma lathes that I have ran use Fanuc controls. If this is the case a G71 is roughing in Z axis you would need to change that to a G76. Also is this lathe in a dual can cycle mode or singular. Looking at the feed I would carry it out 6 places, granted it probably is not needed being a short length, but I always carry the feed on a feed 6 place unless the decimal terminates before that. Being an O.D. thread you might have the taper value as a negitive, but check the machine manuel if that is correct. I am not sure if the machine has a "B" and "H" value that depends on the machine tool builder, again check the documentation. If you don't have the documentaion ask your customer what the control type is. Hope this helps. Jerry

Thanks Guys, I been looking for a C hook that would do this. This is the last piece of the puzzle to revamp our thread cycles here. Jerry

Hello, I would like to know more about this also. We do many API Rotary shoulder connections here for the Oil field industry. Are you able to share this info or is it proprietary? Jerry

Yes you seem to understand what is going to be needed. However, looking at your lot size 1 to 5 pieces is small even for your larger runs of a 100 is small for what you are looking at. That is unless you have repeat work that will be there to payoff the investment. With that said, how long are your setups right now? Maybe taking a look at what you can do to reduce setup time would be a big boost to your production hours each week. by investing in fixtures and dedicated tooling, Up load your touchoff, the goal would be a set up in 15min vs hours. We have a dual turret and spindle lathe that will take up to 12 hours to setup on a new job. But after that we are under 2hrs without breaking a sweat. That is TEN hours of time we gained becuase we looked into reducing setup time. By look at it this you are going to invest the money now in the machine, tooling, and fixtures. Get ahead of the game by the fixtures and tooling. Also look into having your tools with micro chips installed, so that you can start that library, and if someone loads the wrong tool it will shut the machine down and not ruin your month. We even have installed those on our older machines, we have a 4 turret lathe that machines a jet engine shaft that we have to hand load roughly 15 tools for one operation. The operator is forces to read each tool with a wand before the machine will run that tool. Jerry

Okay, I am going to ask a dumb question. So why are you calling out an "S0" amd shuting off the spindle with an "M05"? I would think it would be okay just to call the "M05" without the "S0". Jerry

We also require every program to be up-load to the DNC after each run at the machine, and then deleted at the control. Reason for this is to stop machinist from making edits and not carrying through in notifying us about the change. This would fall under process control. The DNC package we use is Cimco, which will compare the down loaded file to the server if there is any change it notifies us in programming. Each Job package that goes to the floor has a cover sheet that instructs the machinist the program he needs to run, tooling sheet, sketches, and any other documentation needed; wherefore each is control by version level. If a change is made, then it needs to be documented by the machinist, area supervisor, and a member of programming on the hard copy that is in the package. Please bear in mind our parts are high dollar and months go into one component. If there was a change, we then scan the hard copy. This is kept for reference with who made the changes and update the package, and if the change was to be carried to other machines doing similar work. Therefore, that is documented and a compare print out a compare of the program so the machinist will be able to know where the changes came from when he is running proven code. With all this said, before you start making changes to how you document thing. Get a few people that you trust together and see what they think. Also, get the approval of those above you in any changes that you would like. Generally, people do not like change and they start to tear at those who do make changes. Be patient with everyone and make to changes small so they can digest them. When you back a year or two you will find those that resisted the changes are going to be the ones that complain the most when you do not follow the changes you made. Jerry

Depending on your machine if you have macro programming ability you could write a cycle. I have done this in the past with the cycle to broach a 5" lenght on a tapered slot. Jerry