Yes, I am using control comp because everyone in this shop does. There must be a problem with this machine because no one ever uses it. I have not been here long enough to know the history.

Yes, it is a straight G41 G1 Y-.0492 D5 F1. The offset is .036 but it moves -.0492

I had to use a far east clone of a 3-axis mill today. No one here much uses it but was the only thing open to do a quick job. So it did two good holes with a small tap but when it got to the third hole the tap snapped off when it reversed. I figured the control needs a tune-up and went to look for a floating tap holder. No such luck. I decided to change to a thread mill, a nice long .072 single point. The tip snapped off in the first hole. I re-ran it without the tool and noticed the cutter comp was not happening. It comped like the offset was zero. I looked at the g-code and it has the correct D number on the G41 line and the correct offset in the offset register. Any ideas, what is happening?

Sorry, I did not use the 3D Chamfer toolpath. I should have added, I used a 3D Contour with comp in the computer and just tweaked the stock to leave and the incremental depth. That only took a few minutes trial & error. In this example, I used a .500 diameter tool, an incremental depth of -.375 below the inner wall of the part and a -.040 stock allowance to make the cut.

chamfercrosshole.bmp

Try a lollipop mill like this: chamfercrosshole.bmp

I like the new feature in X9 to create a center point of a rectangle . Used to be, I had to draw a diagonal line across and then put a point at the midpoint of the line. Now, all I have to do is hover over one endpoint until it turns to a green X and then hover over the other endpoint and voila, a red X appears at the middle.

That will take two custom tools. One to cut the front and another one for the back.

I think it's kind of a poor man's 5-axis. Start the drill point in the work, then move until it's pointed the angle they want, then feed in that direction. When it's done drilling, just reverse the process.

https://youtu.be/KaMmVjTcAbw?t=1m52s

I'd get it plasma cut. The bore is not a cosmetic feature, so hold it there, face, finish the outside and drill the holes. Then flip it over onto an angle fixture and finish the other side.

They should add it. It's already in Lathe and that does roughing and finishing.

Use Circlemill, check Roughing, uncheck Helical, uncheck Finishing, check Depth Cuts, make Max Rough Step 20.0, # Finish Cuts 2, Finish Step= 1.0, check Keep Tool Down Then on Linking Parameters Top of Stock= 0 absolute, Feed Plane= 0.5 incremental, Depth= -13.5 absolute. This will take three cuts at Z-11.5, Z-12.5 and Z-13.5

I downloaded the free student version of Surfcam 2015 a couple weeks ago. In about 6 hours I felt competent using it, but it's not a great learning aid because they don't include toolpath verification.

If your machine is like the one I have been using, the probe uses a parameter setting for calculating probing in Z, which should be the same as the Z tool offset. You should be able to use any offset number but might want to have a line that sets it just in case it got changed. G10 L10 P34 R5.5169 (sets tool offset 34 to 5.5169) Also put in a G91 G28 Z0 before the G90 G54 X0 Y0 so in case it does not actually do a tool change, it won't crash into something. When ever the probe is close to the part, it should be positioned using a protected move. On a Haas it would be G65 P9810, on other machines it might be G65 P9510 or something else.

Usually to get a good finish (32 or better), it's best to use a dovetail cutter slightly undersize. Mill the first pass down the center and with a few tenths stock on the floor. Then a finish pass along both sides, climb milling each way. Harvey Tool and others sell these undersize dovetail cutters.

Besides, the solids are not always in the middle of the tolerances given on the drawing. I create my wireframe in the middle of the tolerance zone.

http://www.rentaltoolsonline.com/Zinko-ZJJ-5013-50-Ton-Steel-Journal-Jack-p/101748.htm

Would something like this work? 50 tons, buy or rent.

Might be able to comp the bore in two halves and tweak the location of each half to get a bore in tolerance.

Some times I want to squeeze a job into a machine that's already set up. Put a vise at the end of the table sideways with most of it hanging off. Then just add G68 and rotate the whole program 90 degrees.

Settings/Customize (Category dropdown) Machine Definition/ click and drag Control Definition icon to any toolbar. Control definition sets the communication parameters.

Awesome! I just did a "Rectangular Shape" using an "anchor" in the center of the rectangle and set the Height as 0 (zero) It creates ONE line, centered on the point selected. Very cool......

Thanks for your input Ron. That's probably too much for me to deal with and still sleep at night. I used to do temp work back in the 80's but that was all handled by an agency and they gave me a paycheck. I suppose the only real contract work I've ever done was a paper route when I was a kid (that dates me). The publisher sold me the newspapers and I sold them to the customers on my route. At the end of the month, I went door to door in the evening collecting their payments. I've worked on some big jobs in the last 20 years and the most I've ever received for doing good work, is an email saying "thanks". I resist the to urge to say, "No applause, just throw money" I could use some more empowerment in my job, but I suppose I'll have to get a new one if I want it.

I just saw a job advertised for a contract programmer/machinist. I've always been an employee, so have no experience with this. I'd be interested in any input, positive or negative on the subject.