5 years huh? Man has it been that long?! To damn Long since I have been on these forums! Might have to step back in the door!

quote: This thread makes me jealous. My nc mill is half my age I think they have an APP to turn older mills into new ones! Seriously though, after these last two weeks, I feel like I doubled my age! I ran into so many problems with a hot job. Turns out the post wasn’t as solid as I thought, more like soft serve! We were having issues with the tolerance between G43.4 and G68.2. After 1 full week of testing we found that 1: the TCP params were off a little and 2: the post wasn’t recalling X,Y location after G53.1 for the TWP. After we fixed that everything fell into place. I still have minor problems in the post, but they are slowly getting fixed. It seems like when you think you have it, you try a different thing in Mcam and then run into another problem. I’m just glad those last two weeks are over!!!!!

Thats SWEET!

quote: I's not too late to get a Matsuura. It's about time you chimed in! quote: I thought that was a primary purpose of simulation, to show the actual of the 2 choices for each plane and rotation. It can’t know what way it’s going to index when the machine is set to shortest distance. The machine could go either way in certain situations. Since its mathematical calculations on machine, we may be able to find some reason, but I want a bullet proof way of properly indexing in this situation. P.S. You have to see my Gixxer. I got her painted up real nice!! quote: Is there a Direction M code that you can add? Can the shortest path parameter be changed from the NC file? This is a good Idea. We were entertaining that idea last night, but I think this might be the easiest fix!

I'm having issues!! We ran into a problem in the post when it indexes C rotation 180 degrees from last position. The machine is set to index in shortest distance. Since 180 is the equal, verify doesn’t match machine in all cases. I'm trying to figure out what to do. Maybe they can make a intermittent point in post that less then 180 degrees, so it forces it one way. Another way I thought was to use a point toolpath, then change its plane to the closest 90 degree plane, so it posts out a rotation move. This would work I think, but if I accidentally don’t throw a point toolpath in, it may show crash, or not show crash in verify since it cant know what machine is going to do. Maybe I should post new thread on this topic! Anyone have thoughts on the matter? Shawn.. P.S. Vids are postponed till I make some money on this thing!!

quote: Cough Cough, Sounds like Makino has 3 putted from 2 feet Ha,ha! Makino new what it was suppose to be, but ICAM was having issues! Its all good now, the post is solid! Finally I'm ready to rock and roll!!

I still cant get proper post output. The machine has just been sitting there waiting! The post is fine for milling, but using the G68.2 for canned cycles we had some trouble. Just last night we figured out finally what the code suppose to look like, so all we need now is to have the output match. Looks like today will be my lucky day, because I see a new post in my inbox!!

Mic6

If you form tap it will need to be bigger. Or tap, then deck face, then chamfer!

Oh man I wish I had to make that part! Good luck alanu!!

I like video's. Thats a cool part! Its time for me to step up with some better video from my machine. Greg, what did you use to edit your videos? I need to get som cheap software that will do HD MP4 files?

quote: Damn Shawn! You are BALLIN now. Brand new 14 pallet D500. Brand new verification software. Brand new shrink fit unit. Brand new bomb-xxxx presetter. I am jealous! Fixed it Joe!

Ha, Ha! The pre setter is sweet! Its also sweet as an optical comparator. I fly out this weekend to Makino for the cell training for the week. Before I go, I wanted to present my first small video, machining my first small part with many more to come. Actually I want to make a video of the cell system grabbing pizza off the rack! Lol I want a box of pizza loaded on one of the pallets on the rack, then make a serious spoof of me calling up the pizza loaded in the cell computer then sending it to the work set station! I thought that would be funny. Anyway here it is! Shawn.. [ 04-17-2010, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: Shawn'ald ]

Well since I loaded everything else on this thread, I thought why stop now! Here are some new toys that came in this week!

I switched from XP 32 to Win 7 64. Once I got past the administrator privalege problems, its been way better on Win 7. Alot more stable also! Any time you install something right mouse click, and select Run as Administrator. My IT guy removed this issue as of now, but before I new I needed to do that, it gave me huge issues with opening certain folder and stuff.

quote: Your design is different from that Raptors. It's nearly identical to Technigrip's though according to their patent (floating dovetail clamps with a locating pin). I'm not sayin; I'm just sayin. Actually its a hybrid. The back are not floating, they are fixed. I just wanted them replaceable made out of hardened steel, instead of 70751 sayin I'm just!

Cool, my post is set up for it, but Mcam is not. Thx, Shawn.

quote: Ok Shawn, How many hours did you spend designing your stuff? How much did that anno cost? How long in assembly. How long to machine them? Yeah I know, once the R&D is dine, it's done, but I'd bet that you didn't actually save anything by making them yourself. Sure they are cool looking but unless you are going to start marketing them (which you cannot due to patent infringement on Technigrip), you're upside dow. I'm not sayin' I'm just sayin. Well I hear ya! I had about 2,400 into machining and material (7075). Like you said it was the design time that took a while. Probably 15-20 hours of screwing around. This biggest benefit for me was them to be modular! This is where I consider myself way ahead. I can place them any where I want and they all can stack up together if I want. I, at some point may need 3 of the main blocks per pallet, and can make them in a snap now. That’s 3*600*12=21,600 bucks+custom to my spec= way ahead! Just sayin!! Just wanted to say that Raptor is a great product and I have them as well as TechniGrip. If I didn’t have so many pallets now I would definitely be buying more Raptors for sure as what Joe788 stated!! Of course mine definitely have their differences from the Raptors, I still would not attempt to market and dip into their Kool aid! They are for me and me only. “I don’t run that kind of operation”(Jerky Boys)! lol Shawn..

Ok guys, I will try that. Also since my machine goes out to 5 decimals, should I set up Mcam do do the same? Shawn.

I’m trying to figure out what the proper methods are for getting a really good smooth toolpath from 5axis toolpaths. I’ve done some tests and it seems to me it really depends on how the surface was created. If anyone has insight on what a good procedure is in creating surfaces, as far as tolerances go to create the best surface possible for machining off of? Do you guys typically just create surfaces from solids, or do you find that creating edge curves from a solid and then create surfaces from those curves works better? I’m finding with my new machine that it will flow really well on some surfaces and on others it dances around a lot. I did dynamic analyze and extended the line out and I can definitely see it move back and fourth on my trouble areas. I’m just not sure how to remedy this. I'm sure there are other tricks also in the advanced toolpath settings, but I feel that the surfaces need to be up to par also? Thx, Shawn.

Or make them yourself!

I will tell you one thing, Work Nc and Open mind Hypermill have the best youtube videos to date! The billet MX hemet with Hypermill, and the Samurai helmet with Work Nc! AWSOME stuff...

quote: With TCP is guess you are using G43.4 or G43.5 right? This is a brilliant function:) You can put the part anywhere on the table and still use the same program. No need to think about linearization error or inversed time feed. Are you then also using G68.2 ( TWP ) for 3+2 stuff? This command is just as brilliant as G43.4 just for non simultaneous toolpaths. Yep I'm using both. It is so nice, I love it! quote: Did Makino give you the CAD models of the machine for the ICAM post? Makino gave them to me. I'm still trying to get all the outside sheet metal also so it looks cooler in simulation. lol! quote: Awesome pics! Great motivation for the day. How easy is the tool breakage setup on that thing? Very easy. The code looks like this: /1 M501 H1 All my H and D's are 1 for every tool because I'm using the Pro 5 side and not the Fanuc side for offsets.

quote: Kinda freaky watching that thing run I bet. Yep, its fast!

Yea, I use the advanced 5 axis with all the bells and whistles. I tried tightening the cord height up but that made it slower. If I turn the quality down it goes faster but still dances around and is not smooth. The biggest problem is on the two inner walls of the blade. One wall cuts pretty good and the other cuts horrible. They are both using the same tool path settings. This is why I think it’s a surface issue.