Unfortunately CAM system code will never be as efficient as you could produce by hand. The reasons for this are many and include but not limited to geometric issues/settings, post settings and toolpath settings.

2 hours ago, GIZMO 21 said:

good stuff..

we actually have cimco coming out tomorow to demo the cimco probing.

i am using CAMplete to post for our matsuura mx-520 and our mazak variaxis i-300 and i was worried

about this integration for the probing part of it. i already reached out to Danish from camplete but still waiting for his response.

Let us know what he says. They add stuff every build and I don't always pay as close attention to the new features as I probably should.

What can I say, I'm a work in progress.

2 hours ago, JParis said:

Gee, still, no file

I wonder how "attach a sample file" translates. 

So "my English is not so good" absolved him of not attaching a file? 

11 hours ago, SuperHoneyBadger said:

... If you're already using Fusion360, it's all cloud anyways...

There's a work around to always work locally.... and data gets saved here;

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Autodesk Fusion 360\TUTYKMFVYYLA\W.login\F\

I'm already getting that hard-core Pro/E magic button vibe that the shills were pushing as the greatest thing since sliced bread back in the 90's.... and the STEP NC magic that NEVER materialized beyond BASIC prismatic parts. Seems to me they were ahead of everyone else but it was abandoned in the early 2000's best I can recall. 

Programming is hard. SO many variables, unwritten rules for anything but the most basic of parts. 

We shall see. I hope I am wrong though. 

I'm on a plane... I'll put together a sample that everyone can download this evening unless someone beats me to it to see the settings.

2 hours ago, Kyle F said:

Thanks, I have a lot to learn!! lots going over my head haha but I'll get there eventually 

We're here to help, and shorten the curve where we can.

To use the strategy correctly and I believe Ron covered it, you have to enable step up, then go full length DOC, keep tool down length of part and it just works as the video shows.

This dude no matter how bad his english is, just is not listening, and, it feels like he's back door shilling. The one who shall not be named used to do that. Then he'd create like 5 user accounts that would jump on his bandwagon to support his shill. 

I've seen this show before.

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'... 

8 minutes ago, SuperHoneyBadger said:

I see the "rapid" motions that he's trying to replicate, but I don't know how it would be better than hopping up and over. You're just going to add a bunch of arcs or point to points at a high feedrate, and relatively close to the part wall at that. But it will need to output F values, and the associated G01's and 2/3's to achieve that motion. Not seeing the benefit of reducing your number of z retracts on roughing, repeats back down aren't going to kill your accuracy here.

Seems like a lot of code to rapid back to a starting point for an HSM pass...

The gain with keeping the tool down and following is machine performance. Obviously a late 1990's machine with max feeds in the 400-800 IPM range won't see the types of gains a high performance machine of today that is capable of feeds in the 2,300+IPM range. The strategy is sound and in actual test cutting (not backplot times) it's impressive. 

49 minutes ago, Sumac Andy said:

...

Unfortunately I can't be sceptical as people much higher than my pay grade have mentioned it, so we have to explore all avenues.  It 'appears' to be a possible quick way to get toolpaths down, then get in and fine tune them, I think that is where most time would be lost. I get what you are saying about 'influencers' and hear that a lot.

In my 30+ years experience programming, roughing strategies take less time than finishing strategies. Perhaps it's due to they types of parts I see a lot of (non prismatic, organic, textured, and/or finish sensitive). Often times the CAD model by itself does not contain every detail. 

Not trying to dissuade you by any means, just trying to bring some manage expectations.

But even a prismatic part... let's say on the print you have a .0008" profile tolerance. How will it handle a feature like that if it's not in the MBD (and chances are it's not). Maybe that's not your world, but it's mine, and If I have a half dozen or so features (on an easy day) that are that way, I've found I spend more time massaging toolpaths when I use the automated functions (ATP, FBM, etc...), that said, I do use them when practical, I di use ProDrill. It automates plane creation pretty awesome, and Multi-Axis Auto Roughing sees a fair amount of action on my work station. 

So, do your due diligence, investigate, and manage your higher-ups expectations. It may be they've already drank the "Easy Button" kool-aid, in which case... good luck. You're gonna need it. Regardless, we'll help where we can.

Cloudy with a chance of banhammer!

Been a while since I've said that... felt good.

:coffee: 

It probably works well for prismatic stuff. Automatic Toolpath for that type of work is fairly mature at this point. The stuff so-called "influencers" tend to highlight typically falls into this category.

The stuff most of my customers do, I too would be VERY skeptical.

2 hours ago, crazy^millman said:

What the Autodesk sales person started quoting us to keep being a partner and that has been many years. Either way I have what I need to get work done.

Software policies with nearly all software companies change as do partnership agreements from time to time.

I merely wanted to correct you in case someone took what you stated as policy and were prepared to make a decision based on that statement.

As always, it is best to contact YOUR software provider regarding policies and pricing rather than rely on Reddit, eMastercam, Practical Machinist, CNC Zone, etc... for accurate up to date information. Many unlisted factors go into pricing and policies. 

4 hours ago, crazy^millman said:

10 programmers 10 user licenses. 10 machines then each user has to pay per machine 100 machine license no way to float them between users.

I think you may have been misinformed on the pricing.

Yes there is a per-user license, there is no "per-machine" cost to the best of my knowledge. We have a number of customers with 5+ machine tool builder variety with multiple machines from each builder and they only pay the per user cost. 

4 hours ago, crazy^millman said:

10 programmers 10 user licenses. 10 machines then each user has to pay per machine 100 machine license no way to float them between users.

While true there is no actual "floating" license, I personally manage 12 (IIRC) licenses between 15 to 20 users. I have no trouble or issues doing it. I assign and revoke as needed. It takes maybe 30 seconds. 

So far the Autodesk acquisition of CAMplete has been no factor. The only kind of negative so far is bug fixes and feature enhancements are mostly on a schedule now. That said, the subscription only model isn't great. I like to own stuff, not lease it. However the product is phenomenal and is a way better posting solution than anything else out there. 

Several updates per year now is how it is as opposed to how it used to be, but, I haven't run into any show stoppers so it's fine. There's always a work around... just like Mastercam.

The AD haters were predicting doom and gloom for the product. They pretty much look like we all did when we predicted SolidWorks' demise... WRONG! 

55 minutes ago, bird2010 said:

no, you can try !

Mastercam can't achieve the same effect

Actually yes it can. And it's been able to do so far years. 

15 hours ago, Leon82 said:

I modified a post to post out probing and use a manual entry text file. The block numbers are MB1, ECT so Camplete inserts the gcode into the program. So there is no hand editing. It supports 550 lines of code. I usually add more when I'm bored as it's quite laborious.

It just won't simulate. When I have proven probing cycles that's what I do... Manual Entries. 

2 hours ago, Kyle F said:

whhhaaaaaat? That makes me sad I love CIMCO for probing. Next week I'm finally getting training with an AE on the machines, I have so many questions lol.

Yeah. The only way to get probing into CAMplete and have it simulate is to program it with Fusion360 or CAMplete's clunky probing stuff (which I never use).

Double check with your PQI guy that they set up the (REN*FCS*TO*WCS) (usually in O9744 but PQI does some funky stuff where they deviate from the Renishaw standard with their Renishaw InspectionPlus installs).

(************************)
N30
(FCS*TO*WCS*CALC)
(ONLY SET WCS FOR TABLE TYPE ROTARY AXIS)
(ALL TOOL TYPE ROTARY AXIS = 0)
#1=0
#2=#5024
#3=#5025

Set your tilt and rotary variables based on A/B, A/C, or B/C configuration. The above example is for a B/C kinematic machine. 

#5024 = Machine Coordinate for 4th Axis

#5025 = Machine Coordinate for 5th Axis

If your Yamazen AE can't answer your questions, hit me up.

If you're using CAMPlete for post processing, the CIMCO Probing package add-on is not compatible with CAMplete.

Send me your PQI InspectionPlus manual and I can modify the Fixed Sentence file and you can read it in. It's got some extra goodies in it as well.

@Kyle F Have PQI modiy this to suit your machine then upload this Fixed Form Data to your machine. This is an easy way to create In-Process measurement cycles into an existing part program.

FIXFRM_MX-iHMI.DAT

If you go the the maintenance tab on the Matsuura overlay, go to the.... maybe WEEKLY button... then right arrow soft-key to IPC PARAM soft-key. A table shoud show. In the upper right corner of the FANUC section of the screen you'll see PAGE  x/x. It's either be x/5 or x/4 or x/3 (unlikely) the "x" being 1, 2, 3, etc...

The Series and Edition are up to spec to support the Matsuura software update... G423 and 49.0 are the minimum. You're at G423 and 69.0

Page up from there... we need to see the CNC System Series and Edition.

4 minutes ago, Kyle F said:

it's the 31i-B5

That's not the "software" series and edition, that's the "control" series.

Go to the parameter screens, right arrow soft-key over to the "SYSTEM" soft-key.

You should see something like this;

  CEXEAPL        FR32     0009    
 CEXEDATA0      FM51     03.0    
 CEXEDATA1      FM10     17.0    
 CEXEDATA4      FM09     38.0    
 EMBED ETHER    658M     23.0    
 USB SOFT       659A     05.0    
 ETHERNET       658K     25.0    
 IHMI(SYSTEM)   BX72     0019    
 IHMI(MACROM)   BX72     0019  ETHER/DTSVR    6569     32.0

Page up maybe 1 or 2 screens

 2.SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION
    SYSTEM     SERIES  EDITION
+------------+--------+--------+
 CNC(SYSTEM1)   G423     35.0    
 CNC(SYSTEM2)   G423     35.0    
 CNC(SYSTEM3)   G423     35.0    
 CNC(SYSTEM4)   G423     35.0    
 CNC(MSG1)      G423     35.0    
 CNC(MSG2)      G423     35.0    
 CNC(MSG3)      G423     35.0    
 CNC(MSG4)      G423     35.0    
 CNC(MSG5)      G423     35.0    
 BOOT           60WH     0001   

This is what I need.

High Speed modes should NEVER be active during probing. EVER!

On 2/28/2024 at 2:08 PM, Kyle F said:

...

Is there an easy way to tell if that cycle time reduction spec was included? 

FANUC doesn't install the Matsuura software ever. What Series and Edition was installed? It should be on the FANUC service report.

PQI does not update Matsuura software. They may install Renishaw iHMI.

Productivity "might" be able to. If anyone else besides Matsuura or I can do the Matsuura software it would be Productivity.