Really appreciate your insight on the actual machine. It is rare to find anyone with real experience. I cannot say we have crashed this machine but I will certainly keep this in mind. My leadership mission is that above all, we do NOT crash equipment!!! I very much realize most get wound about deadlines, faster, more, and more. I realize that one crash can set you back months plus new machine costs. Couple that with my pucker factor of lathes in general.....lol They run so sweet and quiet.......until something bad happens, and then they are a bomb.

Thanks Colin. I will check for a more dialed post but not likely. I think my post edit work mostly came out of need and I would not say I reinvented anything, just worked with switches and position of code within the outputs. For instance, we had a minor issue with getting coolant to the nozzle before milling on one machine so instead of hand coding or programming a dwell, I just added a G4P0. somewhere after an M3/4. It was then easier to go add time to P0 as needed. Really basic stuff but coming out of other computer programming helps. It's piddly stuff that takes less time to go edit the post than even make a phone call. I do find it extremely helpful to try to track an output all the way to a machine because sometimes it is simply a programming issue and not even a most matter. I never understood why people just go program part before actually running through testing of simple features to ensure procedures are well understood. I like to play around with code and see what it looks like and does at a machine so we can build some confidence.

Thanks. Yes, I think the Mitsubishi hardware is good stuff. I was totally blown away with their tech manuals and even phone support. Wish the rest of the machine was that nice. I think I know what you are saying on the turret. They use a cam to index the turret so damage there could be a disaster?

You are correct that codes are extremely close to Fanuc. This machine runs NEC axis cards and Mitsubishi drives and motors. Obviously we are on borrowed time with the whole thing anyway, but if you have priced a twin spindle, Y axis parts maker lately, we at least want to try here. When you say MPMaster, do you mean the MPLMaster?

Thank you and I do agree that I might need to run this up the chain a bit to maybe contact other vendors as I can certainly understand not having a "perfect" post, but close would be my hope. I am going to go absorb some of your vids to maybe refresh myself there. At least for me, I have found huge benefit in being able to edit and tune a post to my liking. I think I might consider doing my own post for this odd ball machine as an educational piece, but at the moment I am not sure if I start with MPLmaster, Hitachi 2x, or what. I will absorb and think on this. It's not urgent, but something I want to get solved. I simply hate at-machine edits and patchwork programs.

It does seem that the Y and control mfg may in fact be more rare than assumed. Thus the reason for post complications. I guess that is why I was reaching out to see if anyone else has encountered them. Doesn't seem like it.

Though I have not pursued this at all, one thing that has caused major frustration is the loaded tools on the turret having a conflict with the stock, that is not fully realized until AFTER all programming and setup has been completed. In at least one case, I think we could fix some of this by ditching the 3 jaw chuck for a collet, but as soon as we do, we will have chuck work! lol Never fails. I have not tried to model up a turret and not even sure that is possible in MC. In a mill, all other tools are not a problem. Not the case with a lathe. My personal goal has always been to eliminate any need to edit at the machine. I realize minor stuff is normal, but I have had to resort to cut/paste programs just to get things done.

I am not new to post editing, but has been quite a while. As I understand it, our MC rep said they did not have an exact post for the machine, and wanted to build one. I guess I find that hard to believe, and questioning if that is a sales tactic. I think if I could get close, I could tune it in.

It is my understanding this machine has a Hitachi control. All boards just say "Seiki" or "seicos" on them. Never worked with a Yasnak, so that could be the confusion if the language is the same. machine is a 23B, with sub, Y, ejector, catcher,

Years ago, I came to the conclusion that this just doesn't exist for Seicos 3 but figured I might ask here. Another shop was messing with this drama and reseller just kept sending posts like "oh, try this"...."nope"..... I am at a point of splicing code because I can't get reasonable output for fanuc stuff (hitachi doesn't have fanuc control). I mean, if I knew one was out there that was even 90% close, I could probably tune it up, but so far it seems the live tool stuff just makes a mess.

Serious question, and I hope to find people that have used other programs. It is probably a BIG sore point with me with MC. Every rev promised "better", but it is still clunky IMO. I am not talking about simple 2 axis paths. I am talking 3 axis live tool, Y axis stuff, and all the extra prep codes that come with lathe work like running the turret to the work to bump stock to, bar pulling, parts catchers, etc. I think it is inherent to program at the machine, but I strive to minimize that. I am probably exaggerating a touch but really curious if you guys have found your 'happy' with MC in lathe stuff? Because outside this forum, it would seem my thoughts are shared by many, and most won't even touch CAM for their lathe work. I can't imagine mill paths by hand.

Sort of drinking from a fire hose here. Long story short, we don't use probes in machines right now. However, we have an older machine that came outfitted with an OMM/Mi12, but no probe. Very confident previous owner was using it. Not on the machine for show. I I took a crash dive into macros and probes. I still cannot get a clear answer which probes are optimal to own, and I am sure we will buy used, with no rush on this. Someone mentioned the newer heads use strain gages that are delicate, so older probes are probably preferred anyway. Recommendation was the MP10. I have a tiny book showing a few of the heads and looks like the main difference is the way they turn on/off? As well, the control in question is a 16MB, and I have read that having 'high speed skip' would be a really good idea. Would anyone have information on what parameters to check to see if this is turned on, or if that is more than just a parameter set? I am told the main difference here is just how fast you can go and still get an accurate measurement. As well, I got nothing but crickets from Renishaw regarding the add-on with MC. I am not sure what revision of MC that even became a thing? But I saw a couple videos that seem to be able to do arguments and variables right in MC. Not sure how that works. Really not interested in paying for it if our older machine cannot benefit. One thing I am questioning on the programming side is if it is even beneficial to have all the probing data in the main program? Is all the macro work easier to manage in a subprogram maybe? I am just wondering if the MC probing is really the right path forward?

We don't use X5 to program this simple fanuc 2 axis lathe much. Have a very simple profile and figured I would try it. I brought the part in as an IGS, then used transform rotate to get the part on its side. Then used create>turn profile to create the 2D geometry for the profile. I am using a WNMG insert. I generated a facing op to face the bar with Toolpath rough. I then tried to generate about anything, first starting with the whole profile I wanted, then resorted to just a single line chain on the OD of the bar. All the tool will do is come in, touch the start point of the line, and pull out. I will not follow along the OD in the Z axis direction at all. I am sure it is a simple fix as I don't use CAM much for this. I did go to planes and select X+ Z+, and move C and T planes to that. Nothing has made a difference. I have selected OD for the roughing pass but have tried nearly every combo. Almost like the tool settings are such that it won't allow Z direction turning. Thoughts on how I can home in on the issue here? I am kind of wondering if I got the part rotated incorrectly and may have an issue with my turned profile geometry.

I was in error on this for some reason and should have checked the programming manual first. The manual indicates G8 is standard for the machine. No indication of what all it does but I am sure it will help.

Dang it, sorry to drag up this old thread but we are reviewing this machine. We did buy it and have in the shop and been too busy to mess with it much until now. We are running tests on it and seems we really need some look ahead. You can hear it get cranky. Again, a 16MB control, and verified in the 9000 params HSM is not turned on, and neither of the two look ahead options. Still a bit unclear on them but I am certain we do not have the RISC processor so if that totally terminates the use of G5, we will have to excuse that see if there are other options available? Not sure if any parameter testing is going to require wiping out the memory or not? We have not tried a G5 or G8 in MDI but if it is not enabled in the parameters, it would not work, correct? We also have linear accel, not bell, and seemed that was preferred for HSM work? Not really wishing to tune servos right now but since we don't have work on it yet, it seems to best time to figure out if we can get more from the machine.