Tim, reading your reply, brings up a dissicussion we are having at the present time at our shop. We are new to 4th axis programming and at the present time there are two trains of thought. At the present time the way we work is around a template tombstone that has been created around the machine WCS, At the time of programming we place the part on the tombstone (any given place in the working envelope). The work offset is then located from a given point on the work piece, this is normally X Y Z zero with B 00 (G54 P??). The machinist will indicate the given point off the part. If the work piece is rotated ( B90), a new zero point is set from the new face and this will become G54 P??+1. The WCS always remains the same, all programming is done by creating new construction and tooling planes, which are assigned new work offsets. It was mentioned that if all machining was programmed from the centerline of rotation there would be no need for multiple work offsets. Is there any advantage to working this way?. I am not sure how this would be accomplished and it would seem to me to create more risk, with a bigger chance of error than the present system we use. I would appreciate input and advice from anyone who is more familiar with 4th axis work than we are at the time. Thanks All! Larry

All, I am really starting to think that there are one or two really thick people out there, and that I am both of them!!! I created a new C/T plane programmed to it and it worked out fine. Checked the earlier plane and had my x and y planes reversed. I was always told "There is no sense being stupid if you cannot show people". Well I guess I sure showed the people. Thanks very much for the help and assistance. I am sure I will be back, perhaps one day I will redeem myself. Again Thanks Much to All Larry

John, when trying to connect to the FTP Site I get a message saying " Unable to connect". The address I am sending it to is "www.ppcadcam.com" is this correct? Rick, I create the c plane using existing geometry, or geometry I have created for this purpose, G view does look correct when set to the c plane.

John, I will try the FTP site again, I have not had much luck getting on it. I will try it now and get back.

Greg, I think that is what I have done, still I seem to be missing something. In the view manager the Top is set as the WCS, the construction and tooling planes are set as needed, with predefined construction and tooling planes,all is fine, it is only with t/c planes I have created there seem to be problems.

Thanks Rick, it is a horiziontal, please see the above link, perhaps it will help.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh230/crapperdog/wcs.jpg Thanks again John, this is how I created the T/C plane and where I specked it.

John, I think I used the wrong terms, I do create T&C planes, but I must be doing something wrong as I am not getting any rotation output. I would like to post screen shot but I do not know how to include it with a post. Can anyone help me with this also?

Running a Kitamura HX300if Machining Center. When using multiple tool and construction planes I am having a problem.If I use a plane I have created in the view manager rather than one predefined in the view manager the NC code will out put a new WCS, however there is no rotation of the B Axis out put. In the following I am drilling at 0 deg, then 90, then 270, all of which show B Axis moves, following the 270 deg cycle the code pulls a new wcs but nothing to move the Tombstone to 45 deg. I am very thankful to the people of the greatest forum for any and all help. (DATE=DD-MM-YY - 13-02-08 TIME=HH:MM - 10:13) (MCX FILE - N:DX29911441TEST.MCX) (NC FILE - D:MILLNCTEST) (MATERIAL - ALUMINUM INCH - 2024) ( T12 | .250 SPOT DRILL | H12 ) G20 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 N12 T12 M6 G53 Z0 M11 B0. M10 G0 G90 G54.1 P1 X2.252 Y0. S4800 M3 G05.1 Q1 G43 H12 Z.1 M08 G99 G81 Z-2.5398 R.1 F12. G80 G53 Z0 M11 B90. M10 G54.1 P2 X0. Y0. G99 G81 Z-1. R.1 F12. G80 G53 Z0 M11 B270. M10 G54.1 P3 X0. Y0. G99 G81 Z-1. R.1 F12. G80 (Missing Code) # G53 Z0 # M11 # B45. # M10 # = My Input (End Missing Code) G54.1 P4 X0. Y0. G99 G81 Z-1. R.1 F12. G80 M5 G53 Z0. G53 X0. Y0. G53 Z0 M11 B0. M10 G05.1 Q0 M30 %

John, Thanks for the quick reply, I seem to be having problems with the FTP site. I will put the file on the site ASAP and inform you when it is there. Again thanks.

When using toolpath pocket remachining the tool is not retracting at the final pass and as a result the work piece is gouged or the machine tool will crash. If the same geometry is reselected with different starting points the gouge or crash position will occur at a different position, but will still occur. Has anyone else had this problem. Is it a glitch in the software, or is it me? I feel like I am throwing rocks at airplanes!!!! Thanks for any input.

John thanks!!

Thanks for the quick reply John. If I choose the delete regen files on exit option, in my config,and need to open the file later, is a new regen file created, with the speed of processing the first time the only drawback?

Is anyone familiar with the purpose of *.rgn files. Our Mastercam programs are run locally with the results (i.e. mcx, nc, nci, stl), stored and accessed from a server. As I attempted to clean and open space on my local drives I have found a large amount of *.rgn files stored locally. I was wondering if they can be safely removed, why they are stored locally rather than with the job files on the server. Any help is greatly appreciated.

John, Thanks I will try that. Ocean, OPPS!! Sorry, Could be worse, could be down here.

Ocean, Thanks for the reply,however unless I am missing something, the custom option will let me create a tool,but again I cannot define the toolholder with the amount of detail I am given with the surface high speed option. Not related but am I correct if I picture Tavares, on the gulf coast, a few miles north of St.Pete?

When using the high speed surface tool paths we are given the option of selecting different tool holder definitions, (CAT40, HSK, BK, ie). Is anyone aware of a way of saving a tool and holder definition that can be recalled and used in any standard tool path that does not give the defining factors of the tool holder that high speed surfacing does, such as a standard contour, pocket, ect. Thanks for any input.

Thats the trick!! Works like a charm!! Thanks, Larry

John, Thanks for the quick reply.I will make changes in the machine defination files.Would the modified information be placed in fixed/contiuous positioning, if so is .1 degrees acceptable? Thanks again, and take so well deserved time off tomorrow

Kitamura HX300iF with a Fanuc 16-i mb control I am rotating on the B Axis once at 20.4 deg and at -20.4 deg.Looking at the NC file the output seems to be fine, however during posting I am getting the following warning “INDEX ANGLE DOES NOT MATCH POST SETTING (‘ctable’) As I am still new to 4th axis work and am overly cautious I would appreciate any help as to why I am getting this and how to correct it. Thank all in advance

Apps Guy, Trevor, IowaJim, Thanks for the help, I will get back to it shortly, and get it corrected, again, Thanks! Larry

That would be done by the designer using the same software that was used to create the part.Basicly it is a copy of the part made from the original without and construction geometry or assocated enities. Larry

Rick we import much geometry form ProEngineer and have had the same problem, as we can determine depending upon how the original geomety was constructed and what software was used associated entities must not be lost. Any original geomety that was used for creation that is erased will erase any built on top of it, much like MC solids. If you create geometry to extrude or build upon a solid model, then delete the geometry after extrudeing the protrusion or cavity created may not be reproduced. If you used geometry from the cast model cast as a foundation and then removed the foundation, all built on after the cast part will fail. One work around is to have the original copied as a dumb solid, or shrink wrap, and if possible use that as a base.These types of files do not carry associated entites with them, therefore files are smaller. Also MR2 now gives the option of deleteing all or only non associated enities

Running a Kitamura HX300if machining center with a fanuc 16iMB control. I have forced “G05.1 Q1 “ command in my post to turn on the high speed cycle at any tool change. Can anyone tell me how to either ignore or change the code to “ G05.1 Q0”( high Speed off), if my *scode, outputs a G84 in the preceding line, as the high speed mode cannot be active with a tapping cycle? Thanks much for any assistance. psof$ #Start of file for non-zero tool number pcuttype toolchng = one if ntools$ = one, [ #skip single tool outputs, stagetool must be on stagetool = m_one !next_tool$ ] pbld, n$, *smetric, e$ pbld, n$, *sgcode, *sgplane, scc0, sg49, sg80, *sgabsinc, e$ sav_absinc = absinc$ if mi1$ <= one, #Work coordinate system [ absinc$ = one pfbld, n$, sgabsinc, *sg28ref, "Z0.", e$ pfbld, n$, *sg28ref, "X0.", "Y0.", e$ pfbld, n$, sg92, *xh$, *yh$, *zh$, e$ absinc$ = sav_absinc ] pcom_moveb pcheckaxis c_mmlt$ #Multiple tool subprogram call ptoolcomment comment$ pcan n$ = t$ pbld, *n$, *t$, e$ pbld, n$, sm06, e$ tlngno$ = t$ #Force Tool length offset to match toll number LPM pindex if mi1$ > one, absinc$ = zero pcan1, pbld, n$, *sgcode, *sgabsinc, pwcs, pfxout, pfyout, pfcout, [if nextdc$ <> 7, *speed, *spindle], pgear, strcantext, e$ n$ "G05.1 Q1", e$ #Modified for High Speed Cycle On 4/26/07 LPM n$, sg43, *tlngno$, pfzout, "M08", , pstagetool, e$ absinc$ = sav_absinc pcom_movea

Again Tony,thanks, found it and I do believe thats the trick.