Well now that you ask that, I'm not sure. I'm assuming the MT is is geared directly to the multi axis cutting. Does it work just as well for simple stuff? Ive only used Mastercam v4 & down with mill & lathe. Used a blend of Mastercam, Esprit, Delcam & CamPlete to get what I needed. Never used Mastercam's MT package.

Do you guys have working posts for new Okuma Multis & MacTurn (osp300) & Mazak Integrex machines? Who did you get it from? Did it need much tweeking out of the box? Not the simple 2 axis turn & mill flats, c-axis contour, drill holes stuff. I'm referring to the more complex end of these machines...part hand off, pinch turn, multi axis, 2 spindle turn & b-axis contour etc. I'm adding a couple more CNC's here & we are also adding a couple in another facility. The other facility will most likely follow my lead. Looks to me if they do I'll be helping them get going. I'd like to have things as simple as I can get to keep them going & allow me to do my own job here. Thanks!

I just got some Guhring metric taps from MSC - they were 6 though not a 7. But one was M3x.5 the other M6x1.

Do you have G17 or G18 called out? How about loosing the G94 & G93 ... just make sure there is a feed (F549.9) on the a-axis line & feed )F10.) on the next XYZ line. Or cant you set the rotary diameter in the parameters then just use a common XYZ type feed.

How about G17?

1st is G41/G42 active? Or some other comp? Next try adding G0 G90 in front of the the G71 line. Then loose the M54 after the drill pattern. Also try G53 Z50. after the G80 line. Do this in 3 seperate steps to nail the correct issue. I'd guess there is some modal code active when running & its canceled with Reset.

I like the Okuma's. I've been running many machines in my 25+ years. Okuma's are pretty tough & reliable. Now if you baby your machine with light cuts etc I do like the Mikron's - but they cant cut like the Okuma's. We are pretty tough on our equipment here...as in run 24 hrs, tool changes every 45 sec., max RPMs' etc. Our Okuma MA500 sold us on the robust & quality of Okuma's. We ran that machine at 6000-12000 non stop. It made 1 complete part every 2 min. It ran 6 tools in that 2 min. 4 of them were 49# each & they spun at 6000rpm. We ran that machine, sometimes non stop for 2 years that way. No crashes or anything bad, just work work work. Then sold it as a turnkey & that buyer is doing pretty much the samething. We now have 2 more Okumas running 24 hrs. And were looking to add 2 more this year here & 2 more in Ok. My only issue with Okuma is getting the odd parts. Most of the ODD stuff is stk in Japan not NC. That sucks when your machine has a issue. Even with that said I'd still buy another Okuma if the boss gave me the go ahead.

If you are still looking for a speeder, I have one I'd like to sell. I tried to sell this with my CNC but they didn't want it. I believe its a Precise 40k unit. Has the control unit & chiller. Best part is I want it sold & it'll be less then about anyone else. For that matter if anyone is interested in it IM me.

www.cgstool.com I deal directly with Kevin. Excellent service & quality. They do a great job of accomidating our unusual cutters etc. Also have done a great job of "tweaking" cutters for optimal tool life.

Use a custom macro in the CNC. I could help you whip one up in Fanuc B or Okuma. What control are you running? E-mail or IM & let me know.

I dont remember exactly how but cant you load a program into the machine memory & do a .sdf program with pselect MD0:test.min(or ssb)? I cant recall but I did this on a 5020M & ran a massive elipse program from the BB0(or BB1) I also think the programs needed to be a certain size to load into the auto memory (320k?) assuming that is what free space there is in the main memory. The system side was huge. I think the 5000's used BB0/BB1, others used HD0/HD1, MD0/MD1 Someone here has a 7000 & can verify. Good luck!

Get the manual & write in your notes. I went from Okuma & Fanuc to a tnc530 pretty quick. Back with Okuma's now though. But if you can machine a part on a CNC picking up a new control, like a 530 isn't hard. They all have their pluses & minuses. It seemed to me the 530 program was a lot of sub calls. I really liked the tool def page. And the drill cycles were a little weird, but you'll get used to them. Also if you make edits to your program you still have to activate it into auto run (this got me often). HSM400u LP - is that a 5axiis? I ran a HSM600 *** very cool machine.

Personally I love the Zoller. We ahev the base & it is awesome.

National Diamond in Westlake Ohio - www.nationaldiamondtool.com

If you are already ISO certified then adding AS certification wont take that much. I've always thought the AS was just more documentation. In past experiences we had a person who had nothing more to do than the ISO & AS certs. Both places were heavily into aerospace so it was basically a full time job taking care of certs etc. Most aerospace type shops & just shops in general that have good documentation are almost already "doing" things per ISO & AS. The book you asked about, is more of a document from SAE. If you subscribe to SAE stds already I think it costs less, as in if you are not in with SAE subscribe & then order the spec - again if I remember correctly sign up 1st. There are others out there if you want to spend more, and there are companys that will get you certified too for a price.

I have a GX1000 here that is awesome. Have plans to bring another in within the next couple months & add another in our Solon office.

And if you pull the trigger soon you should be able to get it close to 90K. They are quoting me 2 more at this moment. Who is your salesman? Shoot me a e-mail & I'll forward you the promo they sent me this week.

I'm going with the GX1000 OSP too. Some here will argue the Fanuc control is better or the OSP is better etc... But when you compare a Fanuc 21iM to a OSP200M you have a strait arguement. When you are comparing a OSP P200M to a Fanuc OiM the OSP is a clear choice. I've run plenty of OSP mills & lathes and Fanuc mills & lathes, it all comes down to what are you getting for your money. A Fanuc O control is their basic cost cutting option. A loaded OSP P200 rocks. The GX1000 is std with a very well equiped P200. You'll be very happy with the Gosiger team too. Go with the 1 week training at their Solon office! Thats included in you machine purchase.

Okuma's here. They are built very good/reliable. We abused our's for three years & it still held tight tolerances. Abused as in over worked not smashed. I had 6 tool changes per part and 4 of them were 50# cutters. The SLOWEST rpm was 6000. Cycle time was under 3min per part. The machine performed excellent & was pushed 24hrs 6-7 days a week. Also service support plays a MAJOR role in what machine tool company to drop 400,000+ per machine! We have five 630 Mazak Horiz running in our other facility & they rave about Mazak over others. Personally I rave Okuma. We have Gosiger support here & they have Shelton there. Both Okuma & Mazak get paid out of the same office.

"James WELCOME back" I thought the same thing while looking through here. James did I read that correct, yep I did. Welcome back!

Did you check the braker in the cabinet? I had that issue. Seems the t/c isn't a Hardinge item & it's a purchased assy. It's connected to the control but has a few "disconnects" like the braker is tripped & nothing shows on the control. On my (GX1000) the braker is on left side of the cabinet close to the middle height.

It thickens. The parameters were "adjusted" on one of the machines. I'll have to table this for a little, need to let production run their machines for the rest of the day. Someone has the tailstock barrier & turret barrier over tweeked. As soon as I try to jog the t/s it alarms. Disabled it'll move. It would be so much easier if these machines were locked. At least I'd have a reason to be yelling at myself - although arguing/yelling at myself does keep people away.

Thanks Chris. I'll try it.

All you Okuma guru's... I have a couple LB4000's with w-axis tailstocks. I can get the t/s to advance & retract, jog, handwheel etc. But I'm wanting to get the t/s to advance in at a specific time & stop at a location(with no pressure on the part), run the program & then retract back at end of program. I should refer to this as the t/s w-axis because I removed the t/s & replaced it with a alum mounting block & air driven tooling. I keep getting alarms. My Okuma rep is telling me it needs to see pressure on the t/s in order to run. I'm not buying it. Any ideas? Thanks, Tim

256k on a 5-axis machine is weak. 256MB sounds a little better. Running a full 5-axis program off a card isn't so hot either. I've seen 1st hand the advantages of equiping the control correctly & unfortunately the disadvantages of going the cheap route. Now if the machine is going into s lean cell where it'll only do a specific set of parts it's entire service life - then only buy exactly whats needed to do that.