Scotty, Can you use #999 (spindle tool #) as a varible? IE, T1M06; ... G43H#999Z.1; G41D#999XY; This works for us. Fanuc contol.

Jay, Si. Analize- Area/Volume. Type in the materials specific gravity (Machinery Handbook) and multply by .0361.

LOL. I'll drink to that.

Not here. +1

Tcommis, How about a deep hole macro. That's what we use here. Have a drill cycle set up to post out the required variables. SWEEET. I wish I could share it with the forum but it's company property.

Ken, Our shop uses associative work views on a regular basis. One thing I would like to see is the ability to associate views with a WCS. If you CREAT RELATIVE you are limited to the basic system views, i.e.-front, top, right etc... On a horizontal machine you may have odd angle faces that aren't defined as basic views. It would be nice to create the C/T planes then associate them with a specific WCS for that operation which could then be rotated to match the actual B Axis matching the set up on the machine. If the part was originally programmed to have a specific face at B0 on the machine but due to scheduling constrants the face needs to be set up at B90 or B270 or changes every run because of modular fixturing, all you would need to do is rotate the WCS and all the associated views would rotate "virtually" and output the correct orientation when posted. No rotating geometry and reassigning tool and construction planes to each toolpath. We actually modified our posts to calculate the B Axis orientation as a work around. What do you think? Possible?

Harryman, The ball bar test actually measures the machines performance and accuracy at several diameters and feed rates. After these parameters are measured the servos are tuned for a specific dia/feed. Usually he will ask where you normally run a machine so he can dial it in for your specific needs. He will also go in and modify the machines accel/decel macros to increase performance at those feed rates.

Bob, Contact Mike Coffaro at Machine Tool Metrology. He does ball bar and laser leveling. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you out. I believe he's now living in Oregon. His # is 818.317.9020. Tell him I sent you. You'll see an instant improvement in finish and accuracy. Good Luck.

Sounds to me like you need to have the servos tweaked. I don't know where you are but we have a guy that comes in with a laser and a ball bar and dials in our servos. Just a suggestion.

4" X 4" x 8' pressure treated redwood. Go on Flame me.

Heavy, I would go with Guhring cobalt. They have a coating called Fire X. Awesome. I drilled 1582 1/16" holes thru 1/4" 316L at 10,000 rpm and 10IPM feed. Changed drills about every 280 holes but I know I could have gotten more. I was only making one part so I didn't want to risk a broken drill. Good Luck.

Kathy, Please include me when you get the package together. I would like to submit it to upper management.

Kathy, Are you looking to sub out the job or just the programming?

quote: That's why I brought up the colour green. Color We're all foriegners

I'm Here on my breaks everyday. Too much information, on or of track, to miss. Carry On.

Just wondering..... Is there a way to discount Off Topic Posts as counted posts? Do you think certain members total count might drop drastically? Thought I'd try to SSS.

Jimmy, Too cool. How did you find that? Are you to a gu ru?

Hello all, Mcam 9.1 SP2 Level 3. Lately it seems most of the programs I open will have Dirty operation groups when they are collapsed. If I open a group the red X goes away and none of the path have red. Close the group or groups and the red is on the groups again. If I regen a manual entry, it doesn't seem to matter which one, all is good. Has anyone else seen this phenom?

1. I would like to be able to have multiple views (regardless of B axis rotation) associated with a WCS Plane whic can be rotated to another plane and automatically change the B axis rotation of the work views accordingly. Our fixtures don't always get set up on the same B face we planned them to. If it gets set up 90 degrees out I would like to rotate the WCS so it matches the actual face on the machine. We are currently using the post to correct this problem. Also we often prove a process out on a vertical machine then tranfer it to a horizontal which requires redefinition of tool planes.

Snadybar BEWARE. I have used Mask on Arc to pick my drill points and had it not pick all of them. Be sure and check that the number of geometry chains matches the amount of holes you're drilling.

Kathy, Was he given an ability test before he was hired or did you assume he was telling the truth on his resume?

Straight thru? Do you mind bird nests?

Maestro, Perhaps using the WCS feature will remedy your problem. Use this to move you work view without actually changing part orientation. Since I started using WCS extensively, I haven't had to transform an stl yet. Works great for verifying multiple OPs.

Did you try a reboot?

Bugs Bunny "How many lumps would you like" Pete Puma "Duhhh I'll take three"