quote: the cell controler is mas 5 brand new Ahh, lucky you... tell me what you think of it...

I suppose you could put the M53 in your calibration program to write to tool detail. For tool change, all of our Makinos are programmed like this: T1M6 And the M56 is in the tool change program. Never had it not get the tool offsets to the Fanuc side. With the probe, as soon as you read a M6, it should pull the new tool length over to the Fanuc side. Now if you're calibrating in a part program, then you'll need the added M56 line to read the tool offset. Otherwise, you shouldn't have to. It's no different than someone setting a tool at the spindle on the tool detail, then not reading a M56 or changing the fanuc side. Also, what cell controler are you using? The A2 system doesn't care about tool detail. But with B2 and A3, you might run into some issues if the cell control isn't updated for the ITN.

Here's a couple.... Methods and used cnc .com, cnctool and Premier Equipment just to name a few... Many, many more.... google it.

One of two things could be happening. Maybe three... 1) 30 deg tools are a little more tempermental. You can run them at high speeds/feeds but you might have to play with it a little. 37 to 45 (even 50) are alot more forgiving, and can take a better beating. Just a "rule of thumb", not fact. Quite a few variables here too. 2) The tool data was exagerated by a sales guy. Not like that ever happens... If you're up to it, play with the DOC, both radial and axial to see what this tool "likes". 3) Programmed toolpath. In general pocketing routines, sharp cornered toolpaths cause your engagement to increase significantly. In many cases, with a large stepover, the corners are actually full diameter. So, its possible that the tool might take it ok in a linear or arc motion, just not at "slotting". To compensate, you can try Highfeed type toolpathing or feedrate adjustments to see if the tool will survive. Basically you can try different things and settings to get the tool to overcome the problems. Then, you'll either like it cause you got it to work, or the cycle ends up being ridiculous and there are other tools that will work for you.

Rick, what type of tool geometry? To answer your question loosely,... Yes, you can cut like that. But you can't just use some arbitrary endmill. Also, depending on the tool, radial DOC will vary. The numbers you were told is really not that extreme, but I do question it considering the flute length. As comparison, I do have a 3/4 em, 2.50 neck back running 22,000 rpm at 790ipm. Same tool in a different part is going 990ipm (shallower DOC). But as I said, its a neck back, not all flute (Dataflute HVM). As with Walt's post, you can hit high numbers with the right stuff. As far as SFM, the sky is the limit provided you have good chip evacuation, gobs of coolant etc.

quote: He said that you can push them harder than carbide because they will flex instead of breaking and that they last much longer than HSS end mills. Full of crap here... (partially). We've used quite a few powdered metal tools for several years and still do. They do have a good wear rate (depending on coating) than HSS and is even more stable than some Cobalt tooling. But for many apps, you're not going to beat Carbide. Besides, endmill "flex" is partially what causes accelerated wear and breakage, poor repeatability and accuracy. Sounds more like he's giving you a pitch line his pockets from the tool maker. But, powdered metal tools do work very well in apps where you're using HSS or Cobalt tooling. Even for taps....

I'd have to agree with John.... but I'm not positive about it. I don't have any "O" series controls and I haven't used one in about 12+ years. If someone had a book laying around, they could look it up.

quote: The Makino A series has a parameter to select retract speed. It must be set to x2 feed on retract. Actually, its the FANUC control that has the parameter for retract speed... and that is set to 200%. The A81,... is it the Pro5 control? Those I believe are based on the 310i. quote: I agree it is a nice option. Would definitely speed up a tapping cycle! ... and its not an option! Its a standard parameter on FANUC control. I can't say which parameters for the 31 or 32 series but for 16, 18, 21, 160, 180 and 210....... Parametere 5200 bit 4(DOV) turns on the retract override (set it to 1). Parameter 5201 bit 3(OVU) control the value for the unit to be set (0 = 1%, 1 = 10%). Parameter 5211 sets the override value. For example: #5201-3 is set to 1, then a value of 1 for 5211 would equal 10% (slows down the retract to 10% of entry). Other controls have this feature as well. I know Mazaks do and I would assume Yasnac and Fadals as well. I'd have to look them up though...

quote: g61.1 on the mazaks, IF you have the option. Look on your version page > options and check for "2D Shape contour" But at that age, you might be on a M32 board? M+ would be better. Either way, the older VTCs were good up to about 400-500ipm if its bolted down. But you had to stay on top of the machine alignments. The newer stuff rips through feed rates (FJV, VTC 200 and such)..

As Allan suggested, try out CAMAIX. There's even a 30 day free trial offer you can get. This works with Mastercam to program with. As far as post outputs of actual binary... not sure one exists. Most of the "posted" code is utilizing the editor of the CAM package to view programs in its "native" state. Basically, its software that "simulates" the look of Mazatrol and fully editable. Mazatrol can also be written in G code as well. You can input/output Mazatrol in 3-digit G-code format. Editing, programming can all be done on any text editor, then dumped back into the machine as a Mazatrol program. The 3-digit system is not your standard ISO/EIA format. It just allows you to save, edit and program offline with common tools. Some packages can also translate Mazatrol outputs into standard G code so that you can transfer programs to another machine of a different control and run the programs. Mazak also has this as a option called EIA Conversion to output ISO/EIA gcode directly from the machine.

NSK America comes to mind. I've been looking at these for a bit to add on a couple CNC's for drilling..... No particular model in mind to direct you to. Just talk to their tech on your needs...

Yep, that Hyper J is something else...

Don't use a "N" on the macro call line... At least not for this case. Try it this way.... O8007(4 DIGIT PART NUMBER) N100 G20 N102 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G91 N104 T1 M6 G0 G90 G54 X0. Y0. S6500 M3 Z.25 M8 (FIND 4TH DIGIT) G65 P1010 A1. M9 M5 G90 G0 G28 Z0 M19 G28 X0. Y0. M30 I don't know what your program "1010" does, but it should jump to it. Also, cancel a modal call (G66 or G66.1) with the G67 by itself before you back out to return home (G28 or G30) or do something else.

Your macro should work and jump to 43. Are you sure the program doesn't set #590 to some other value before it reads this??? quote: I am basically trying to figure out the macro programing from the EIA manual, and don't have any good example programs. Thanks agiain. I'm assuming you're using the Fusion EIA programming manual. Turn to page 13-43 and read to 13-50. It gives you the descriptions of the difference between G65, G66, G66.1 and M98. Then, turn to page 13-73 to 13-75. This is where it shows a bunch of examples on how to use macro call and do math functions (like trig, simple math and stuff). Page 13-77 and 13-78 covers "IF...GOTO..." and "WHILE/DO" loops.

Being not too familiar with the A3.....this is a guess (for tool life).... The cell control should trigger an alarm for the tool that is up on the tool life. If you have a back up tool set up in the tool management system and it is located in the machine, the program will continue to run. If you don't have a back up in it, the controller will stop sending the pallet to the machine with the expired tool and will look to send it to the other machines. If none of the machines have the tool, or are all expired, then the control will park the pallet on the stocker and trigger another alarm for the job being on hold. Programs using H1 and D17 will have no effect. It all depends on where you are pulling the M56 from and when. The A3 will send all of the tool data to the detail page. When your machine reads the M56, you identify where to put the offsets (in this case H1 and D17).

FTN = Functional Tool number PTN = Programmed tool number ITN = Individual tool number *************** number type 1 facemills 2 endmills 3 centermills 4 drills 5 taps 6 boringbars 7 back op tools 8 counterbores 9 reamers the above list can be used with a 4 or 8 digit FTN system *************** This is just a guideline to assist in setting up the Tool Data. You don't have to stick with this (at least not on the B2 controls which I have). Basically, it works like this: The PTN is the actual tool number used in the part program. The FTN identifies a "family" from which the tool is based on. The FTN and PTN can be the same number. The FTN really is something that allows you to set limitations on particular tool types and usage. The ITN is the actual tool itself that is set in the machine. So, follow this as an example: PTN = 4400 FTN = 4400 ITN = 4401 Let's say this tool is 4" shell mill. In the program, you'll have a "T4400M6" call. In the control, the ITN will determine which tool you're going to actually use in the machine. So, in machine 1, you'll see a T4401 on the tool page. What I do, is set up the ITN to associate with the PTN/FTN by machine number. I have 4 spindles on each line. So therefore, ITN 4401 is in machine one, 4402 is machine two, 4403 is machine three and so on. Since the program uses T4400 as the tool call, and the tool is identified by the control, this allows the same program to be used in all of the machines. As long as the control has an associative tool (ITN) to the PTN, and the library knows which machine its in, the control knows which machines to run it in. This allows the program and parts to be run in any of the machines based upon availability.

Let's see... .ge3 ..... What year was that??? I agree with Stork though.... Back 1 version, 2 if you're lucky.... 3 better odds at Lotto ..... beyond that.... But there are many places that still have and use GE3 files, WIN95/98, ..... including ours. A lot of the old stuff didn't make the "transition". So, once in awhile, I still come across a GE3 file for a part that came back or through a REV change. The worst ones are the ones that were programmed on a antique platform that we don't have anymore.... Speaking of which, I think I still have an Atari....

I've programmed A55s, 77s, 88s, and 99s. All killer machines and proven capabilities. The newer "1 Series" machines (A51, 61, 71, 81, etc) at first glance appears to be a "stripped" down version of the old. When they first came out (the A51 to replace the A55 line), I heard a lot of mixed reviews. Since then though, they seem to be more than capable of holding up the standards of the older series and then some. Lots of happy users out there. Couple that with the newer Pro 5 control, they should prove to be a nasty combo.... As an added note: Makino is also coming out with "in between sizes" of the standard series. Not sure of the specs, but imagine a A71 (for example) with a few extra inches of stroke without having to plop down the extra $$$ for an A81... basically somewhere in between.... Guess someone is always complaining about being short just a few inches.....

No, on a Haas, you have a canned cycle. You should be able to use a G77 like this: G77G98X??Y??Z-.5R-.6Q.08F10. Additionally, the "Q" is an incremental shift amount. I also can't recall the parameter that control the shift direction on a Haas. I would just try out this code on the machine but stay way above the part and watch it go through the motions so you know which direction the cutting edge needs to be facing to clear the thru hole...

I just have a retract to home position written in the post everytime it indexes. Machines today are so damned fast, I haven't noticed much of a cycle time increase for a program no matter how many times I index. Going from a "minimum" retract for clearance to a retract to home hasn't really changed my cycle times... Yes, I compared it. And an added note:...... If you want additional control for your approach/retract for each tool or tool path beyond the post, you can also use the "Ref Point" box and control X, Y and Z for either approach, retract or both..... I use this button alot for clamp or setup clearance that might only be in the way on certain areas of the part. Or I'll also use it to shift the part in XY prior to a tool change for large envelope setups with long tools to be sure the tool changer doesn't change tools into the part....

What machine and control are you using? Many machines have canned cycles to do this which you can set up in MC as a custom cycle for back boring. Typically the code is a G87 (Fanuc). Mazaks have G87 as well as a G77..... You might have code set up like this: G87G98X??Y??Z-.5R-.6Q.08F10. Where... "Z" = the cutting depth relative to the work offset 0 "R" = the clearance plane below the c'bore "Q" = the shift amount for the tool to clear the thru hole. Also you can add "P" for a dwell and "K" for repeats. Generally, a parameter control the direction of shift for "Q". It can be either in the X +/-, or the Y +/- directions. Some machines can also be set to shift in both X and Y directions...

Destiny prices have gone up.... but so has many others. Carbide price has jumped considerably and thats where it starts. Chris, screw ordering Destiny from Western. You can buy them direct. I'd cut out the middle man on that one. Talk to Guy or anybody else that answers the phone there and get them direct. Also for note: Dataflute's HVM and ALDH series rips it up too!!!

+1 to Nick (Mexitaljew)... Frank Brian is his name and he's one of the best (IMO he is the best... but I'll give "others" the benefit of doubt). And he's a "local" boy for you Chris....

Vardex makes a 56 pitch threadmill insert in several sizes and lengths. That's what I use to mill a 1"-56 thread in brass, SS, aluminum etc.... Check here....