Thanks Jeremy. Thaty's some good info there

Jeremy, What are the beneffits of G54.4 over G54.2? Our Variaxis machines are Matrix controls without G54.4 option on them and I can't find any info regarding G54.4 in our manuals. Is G54.4 Matrix 2 controller option or is it available for Matrix as well? BTW, the search option on this forum is horrible!!!!

It's always good to have more info, but if you already have the one by Smid I would say don't bother.

I just finished another project using Sandvik's 390 series cutter machining Ti. I used 32mm and 54mm both mounted in Big Plus C5 Capto holders. Mill turning a fairly large part I am easily getting 1+hr of cut time per edge. Cuts like butter. Once we'll optimize the program through Third Wave we will increase that time somewhere between 20-30% and still be comfortable to run it lights out.

Sorry Todd, but I don't use Mastercam as my programming software. Somebody else will have to jump in or maybe you should contact Jeremy or Joe on the forum here. Either one will most likely be able to help you.

^^^+1 to what Mike said

We use G61.1, but without the G5P2... According to the manual you can not use G61.1, G61.2, G5P0, or G5P2 when G54.2 mode is active... The manual is wrong (at least about G61.1). With software updates we are running G61.1 with G54.2 active. Contact your Mazak app. guy to find out if it applies to G5P2 as well.

Did your probe not come with it's own software and programs? Are you using Renishaw or another brand?

We use G54.2P_ on our Variaxis' 730 with Matrix control. Here is a sample; N34 T02 T03 M6 #3901 =#4114 G80 G17 G40 G49 G94 G98 G90 G20 G0 G91 G28 Z0.0 G28 X0.0 Y0.0 C0.0 G28 A0.0 G90 M46 (A-AXIS UNCLAMP) M43 (C-AXIS UNCLAMP) (T2 - T02_1.00_CERAMIC__ALTER_RAD) () (******) (******) M33 (LASER ON) /7 G65 P9862 B1. T2 S3000 G4 #160002=0. G4 G65 P9862 B2. D02 I[1.00/2] E.03 Q.375 Z.1875 S3000 G4 #160002=0. G4 G65 P9863 T02 H-.01 S3000 (TOOL LENGTH CHECK) M34 (LASER OFF) G91 G28 Z0. G90 (******) (******) M1 (CORNER_ROUND_BOTT_I) S9897 M3 () (LEAVE .060 STK. ON SKIN) () G0 G54.1 P1 X.2439 Y-4.1622 A-88.3159 C64.6191 G54.2 P1 G43 Z12.1251 H2 G0 G90 X.2439 Y-4.1622 A-88.3159 C64.6191 Z10.1251 G1 Z9.9296 F146. X.2011 Y-4.1662 Z9.9221 X.1597 Y-4.1776 Z9.9148 X.1209 Y-4.1962 Z9.9079 X.0859 Y-4.2214 Z9.9017 X.0557 Y-4.2523 Z9.8964 X.0312 Y-4.2881 Z9.892 X.0132 Y-4.3277 Z9.8888 X.0023 Y-4.3698 Z9.8869 X-.0012 Y-4.4133 Z9.8862 G93 X-.0013 Y-4.4309 C64.6183 F8276.365 X-.0012 Y-4.4485 C64.6181 F8281.29 Y-4.4662 C64.6176 F8281.257 Y-4.4838 C64.6172 F8281.257 Y-4.5014 C64.6168 F8276.595 Y-4.5191 C64.6164 F8281.264 Y-4.5367 C64.616 F8281.263 Y-4.5543 C64.6155 F8281.264 Y-4.572 C64.6151 F8276.567 X-.0013 Y-4.5896 C64.6142 F8281.024 X-.0027 C64.6057 F71544.319 X.0213 Y-4.6503 C64.7592 F2077.641 X.0445 Y-4.7105 C64.9379 F2045.564 X.0669 Y-4.7701 C65.1414 F2015.645 X.0887 Y-4.8286 C65.3696 F1986.596 X.1097 Y-4.8857 A-88.316 C65.6207 F1964.963 X.1299 Y-4.941 C65.8942 F1945.177 X.1495 Y-4.9942 C66.1894 F1928.151 X.1684 Y-5.045 A-88.3161 C66.5052 F1914.475 X.1866 Y-5.093 C66.8405 F1904.266 . . . . . X-.2753 Y-5.2226 A-88.3166 C-85.8055 F2113.451 X-.2817 Y-5.2396 Z9.5261 A-88.3167 C-86.2032 F2161.759 X-.2864 Y-5.2518 C-86.5977 F2216.985 X-.2892 Y-5.2592 A-88.3168 C-86.9861 F2280.266 X-.2902 Y-5.2616 A-88.3169 C-87.3654 F2351.414 G94 X-.2513 Y-5.2659 Z9.5293 F146. X-.2137 Y-5.2761 Z9.5336 X-.1782 Y-5.292 Z9.5387 X-.1457 Y-5.3133 Z9.5445 X-.1171 Y-5.3393 Z9.551 Z9.7615 G0 Z12.1615 G54.2 P0 G91 G28 Z0. G91 G28 X0. Y0. A0. C0. M05 G00 G90 G54.1 P1 X8. Y-15. M00 #3901 =1 (FORCE SEQUENCE #1 INTO THE PARTS COUNTER) M30 %

Here is the books that I have... Peter Smid's book is the one I use the most.

I'm sorry Ninja, but I can't help you with the toolpath (I use NX) but I remember doing all that pretty often when I did use mastercamway back in the day. I'm sure somebody will jump in and give you the solution. Sorry

I use these cutters a lot. They work great for the right application. I don't think this is the right app. for it though because IMO you'll either gouge the part or not clean it enough in some areas. I did not draw anything out to support my comment though and I don't know what tolerance you need to hold. I would do it with their undercutting tool instead http://www.harveytoo...eywords_E_52820

^^ Yup... Late 90's... We're talking a long time ago here when it comes to CAD/CAM software.

I have used the moldbase option in the past. It was an awesome tool. Not many people are familiar with it. I believe that V8 might have been the last version to support it. FYI, the person that created moldbase worked for the same company I did @ that time. He did end up going to work for CNC Software. His name might have been Ray, but it's been too many years for me to be sure.

Pretty cool Daniel. I have inquired about that a some time ago here as well as on integrex machinist forum,but nobody was able to help me. I have also asked Mazak for help and have not gotten anywhere. Right now we use coordinate system rotation (G68) but that is the extent of how far we go with our right angle heads. I would love to be able to use TCP to be able to do true 5 axis with our right angle heads.

I always run my threadmills from the bottom to the top. It does not mean much for thru holes but I sure don't want to be doing that on blind holes, as there may be chips on the bottom of the hole. IMO, it's a good habit to be threadmilling from the bottom to the top.

What threadmill are you using? Internal or external, I have never used M04 with a threadmill yet for right hand threads. Unless you are making left hand threads you should be using M03 while climb milling.

Please excuse my ignorance, but I would like you to explain your comment (no, not the drawers' comment, LOL) Tom asked for suggestions. I offered him the information on the machines that we have that would suit his needs. You came in here belittling the product that we use (and use very well I might add) with nothing constructive to offer relating this thread. I am not commited to a "brand" , nor do I care what Tom's company decides to buy. I am interested in a tool that will do the job, and there is not that many choices out there when you start getting that big.

Yes, but I don't think that is relevant. From my understanding IHS has a very good post for those machines.

They were somewhat involved in the process, but not really pressuring us since we were meeting the deadlines. There really was no sharing of any sorts along the way. The e-1850 was actualy bought for the swash plate project.

We are machining the same swash plate for Sikorsky on our e-1850.

Please show me a mill-turn Matsuura, Mitsui Seiki, Okuma, etc... with 120" X travel, 72" Y, and 70" Z then make comparisons. We do have all those brands in here and are happy with all of them.

I am very happy and satisfied with the Mazaks that we have here, but I am also familiar with Mitsui Seiki from my days @ Pratt & Whitney. If we were comparing apples to apples I would choose Mitsui Seiki over Mazak any day, but none of the e series have failed us yet.

We have a few Okuma LU45 twin turret and LC50 single turret lathes in here. Real workhorses and never break down. Congrats on the new toy

Use the calculator @ the bottom of the page to get your power requirements. http://www.eltool.com/FAQS/Operation/HowfastcanImachine.aspx You could control your RPM by changing the size of the hole in the retention knob. They are very helpful and there is a 10 day trial policy as well.