I've run across a situation where I need to machine a part on our 5 axis MX-520 at multiple C angles because of stroke limitations. This is an A,C combination trunnion machine. I have WCS set to top and T/C planes set to Top for one operation and C180 for another. When I post using Generic Fanuc 5AX or MPMaster I get no C rotation. Anyone know why? What can be done to fix this? It appears that the output isn't in the NCI either as we have tried posting with Camplete and no dice.   

Are we no longer able to create new topics in the Job Posting Section?

Are there any configuration settings that allow wireframe to be seen better when they are on a solid edge? It seems this only changed when we went from X9 to 2018. When i hover over a wireframe entity it shows as dashed where it's hidden and doesn't pick easily where it is not hidden. 

I am trying to finish the OD groove on this part. If you look at the attached file from the A90 view you will see the ball mill contact points I am roughly trying to achieve. I have a chain setup that I feel closely represents using from chain to drive the path. I am trying to do a stepover of some nominal, roughly .003", amount anywhere the tool contacts the surfaces in between the .005" radii. I would like to use tool 2. I was thinking using 5 axis morph or parallel but I am having trouble trying to get exactly what I want. Any help? Suggestions?

TEMP.mcam

On 10/27/2017 at 2:59 PM, C^Millman said:

Nope a non round surface will not work in this example. This is Axis substitution so I am in essence wrapping the toolpath around an Axis using the process which means it will have to follow a Cylindrical surface or shape. 5 Axis Roughing is pretty much the same thing the difference is you have stock you can use for roughing to control air cuts and you can have a better visualization of the process. What I have seen is it works best on Cylindrical Shapes or Surfaces and have not seen it do we will irregular or free form shapes. In those cases I will try to fit a cylindrical shape as best I can use it to rough the material out fo the way in 5 Axis then I will come back and use Parallel to get the rest. Not Peel Mill Motion like I did in this example, but still good enough to rough parts efficiently and effectively. 

Lets say you really know what you want for motion and really want to dial down your toolpaths what can a programmer do with Mastercam they realy can't with most other CAM Software. You can draw the moption and have Mastercam do it in 5 Axis for you or you can use convert to 5 Axis and do soem really trick things. Let your creative juices flow and go outside of the normal cookie cutter stuff and make it bend to your will and not you bend to it.

Check out our instagram feed! Got it to work on our Matsuura MX-520. Used 5 axis roughing in MC2018 and Camplete to post and verify. 

https://www.instagram.com/tkmsusa/  

Thanks for the inspiration!

1 hour ago, C^Millman said:

Another couple likes to this one so here is it bumped again.

Can you look at my post above? Wondering if a toolpath can be wrapped along  wireframe. 

Are you able to wrap a toolpath along a contour? Say you want to create a toolpath like this that follows on non round surface. Or in my case wrap the toolpath along a curve that has a straight lead in from air into the material and wrapped around a cylinder.  I've tried using 5 axis roughing in 2018 but can't get it contained the way I want to. 

54 minutes ago, GoetzInd said:

Wow! Great work guys. Did you guys do the cell controller yourselves?

 

Mike

Thanks!

No, we did not. Long story short, hired one group that pretty well walked out for a higher priority job. Brought in someone to finish it up. It works well, i'd just like to pass the variable from the cell controller to the machine to be read a a sub program number. M98P#556. #556 will be filled based on what you put in the controller when you load a pallet. Eventually to be done with RFID.... Hopefully. 

The rest of the 5 axis cell was done by us. CHUCK on the machine and the pallets is a product we're bringing to market with KORE. Signature below. 

With the help of a generous person at Fanuc, we wrote a VBA in excel to send a variable to the machine. Hoooray!

Now we need to figure out how to get a variable from a PLC, Allen-Bradley, to the VBA in excel. Or create an application that takes the variable from the PLC and using the FOCAS libraries send it to the machine. 

Any thoughts out there on where to begin?

You can see the cell on our Instagram account below... 

Haven't updated yet. Still on 2015... 

Will do. Thanks. 

HI,

I'm trying to figure out how to send a variable to a Fanuc 31i control from an external device. I need to do this while the machine is either in cycle or in memory mode. Any thoughts?

1 minute ago, JParis said:

After unblocking, for me a double click just opens it

Didn't know how to unblock it from the desktop until a few minutes ago. Thanks. 

On 9/19/2017 at 7:02 PM, JParis said:

Here is the link, this is the Moduleworks help file from 8/2017 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gs6vmw7cpq9yhn2/ModuleWorks_-_Documentation.chm?dl=0

 

When you download it, you will most likely have to right click on it and unblock it...

 

A double click opens it for me

What program are you opening this file with? I get nothing when opening it in the default help menu type program. 

Nevermind. Right clicked on the file on my desktop and unblocked. Never had to do that before- cool.  AND THANKS!

Bring to life an old topic. How do you use a pmesh as your stock setup for verify? Any way to do this? X9

Standing one sounds interesting. My posture was suffering a bit from sitting and leaning on my chair back constantly... So I cut the back off and have basically a stool. It's helping. 😊

Test bar on the way... Figure it will be money well spent. 

3 hours ago, BoscoDrummer said:

If you have a MX-520 then you probably have CAMPLATE and all the machine parameters should be in there to view.

Where? I do not think all the machine parameters are setup in Camplete. 

2 hours ago, Mark @ PPG said:

Even with EZ5, you don't necessarily will get good number, as it depends on your probe being setup perfectly.

We run a test part for that purpose to verify the parameters.

 

James, can you share that with me as well? I'm after any and all info/tricks that can get me to as perfect numbers as possible.

 

TIA

Can you share the test part you cut? I've got something is mind, but would like some feedback on what others have used. 

I don't believe at the time of install that our probe was setup perfectly. I know it is now but not sure what I need to change on the EZ-5 side of the equation to compensate for a now perfect probe.  

I would also like to check the physical machine alignments to make sure they are at factory spec. Still searching for info on this...

8 minutes ago, gcode said:

We bought a 5X alignment package for our Okuma,

you mount a tooling ball in one corner on the table, tag it with the probe a couple of times

launch the app and go get a cup of coffee.

Was this a Renishaw add on or Okuma's?

I have something similar on our Matsuura. I just don;t believe it or the probe is potentially setup properly. 

With a tooling ball and indicator- What steps do take to check the machine? Any documentation or steps to follow? This is what I'm looking for. 

Hi,

Does anyone have a process they follow for checking axis alignments on a 5 axis? How do you manually find center of rotation of the trunnion? Table, table. Any documents with steps out there floating around? 

Is a granite square necessary? I would certainly think it would be. 

I'm trying to educate myself on how this is done at the factory and how I should be doing this on an ongoing basis as part of our preventative maintenance/ machine health check. 

I have ez-5 on our Matsuura MX-520 but am finding it may not be the end all be all for finding center of rotation, or maybe it wasn't set up properly. 

Thanks,

TK

Mostly simple parts for now. Trying to eliminate handling parts multiple times and give us more unattended time. I would prefer a true Y axis machine for clearance reasons. 

I'm curious about the sub spindle setup on the NT-1000W. I recall reading somewhere that it was;t a very rigid setup when being used as basically a workholding device at 45 degrees for milling work. 

We're looking to add a mill turn to our shop. I don't know that we would stretch for a new machine with some of the other financial obligations that we have. Wanted to get some feedback from users on a few specific machines. 

Mori Seiki NT-1000W

Mori Seiki NT-3150 or 3200, preferably a SZ model

Mazak Integrex iv st

Okuma Multus B300w

Anything else that would be recommended? Looking 2007 ish and newer.   

15 hours ago, MIL-TFP-41 said:

Fanuc robot....

Cellro?