We have the post for our HTML.set set up sheet doing almost exactly what we want except for one column. We've added an EDP# column for easy re-ordering of tools. The problem is that even though the tool number and other tool info advances to the next tool the info from the EDP# column (mfgtcode) does not get info from the next tool. I know we're close but I don't know what I need to do to make this work.

As it turns out I was not trying to rename an existing plane but I WAS trying to name a new plane an existing plane name. duh Thanks for the responses. All is well.

I go into the plane manager, right click on either of the 2 planes I've created, selected "rename", watched the name change into the name I want it to be and hit enter. Then I watch as it goes right back to the name I was trying to change. Not trying to change the names of any of the standard planes.

Restarted it and even logged off and let it think about it overnight.

change the names of the planes I've created.

It's not that uncommon to output H & D on the G43 line. A few of the shops I've programmed for do this with zero problems.

I remember having to buy a $500 "math co-processor" so I could run engineering software on my old 80286. Making a $2500 home computer into a $3000 home computer. Then writing batch files to start programs so my wife could use it.

Even with only 25 tools it's not too hard to use some standard tools. Use the first 10 tools as standard then the rest for job specific tools. In most of the job shops I've worked in there is a fair amount of repeat work. Figure out the most used tools in the majority of work you do and pick 10 for the standard tools. A pre-setter is a must in set up time reduction. Having a tool set up person is also a great way to reduce set up times. Also a shop foreman or lead man that has the next job with all the tools, vises, set up sheets etc. ready to go will help.

I have a NH5000 with 120 tools and 6 pallets in a pool. I have 50 or 60 part numbers and 120 tools is not enough! The NH doesn't have full 4th like the NHX does. The next machine we get, and that will be soon, will have 250 tools. The boss is so happy with the spindle on time of this machine he's already shopping for another. We also just bought 3 more pallets so we can get more work on the machine with a quick change over time.

This is how I've always seen it done as well.

using X6 before the MU1 release?

I changed my post so the D is on the same line as H. For example: G43H200D200Z2. After that I would call the sub program. The last shop I worked in they used subs for EVERYTHING. Even sections of code that did not repeat. Kinda silly but they liked it. By posting the D call at the same time as the H before the sub was called you never had to put a work offset, diameter comp or H offset in a sub program. (I think that was a safe thing to do).

If you have a calculator that will tell you the surface finish based on a step over then just use step over on a flat surface and look at what the scallop height is then use that and you will get the surface finish the calculator said regardless of the angle you're cutting. When you fill in the step over amount the scallop height field fills in.

.0001/.0002" I thought at one time I found a chart somewhere that gave a surface finish that corresponded to scallop height. I don't have that anymore though.

I use scallop height because that's the most telling as far as what my de-burr people are going to have to finish. I don't have to guess what the finish is going to be and a scallop height stays the same even if I have to change over to a different size ball mill.