Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Feature Requests => Topic started by: Mcgyver on August 22, 2008, 11:55:35 AM

Title: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on August 22, 2008, 11:55:35 AM
Today I just mailed Brian barker about the missing cycle's G70 G71 and G72 for lathe finishing, roughing and face roughing...
Unfortunately these cycles arent supplied with mach3 lathe... ... for me these cycles simplyfie lathe programming by hand enormously..
Even if a cam program is used these cycle's make the programming more simple..
He said the the implementing of this function wasn't on the "to do list" in the every near future.. and that he only got 5 or 6 requests  in the last 5 years....

I think adding this function is a huge addition to the value  of mach3.. and will make the use of this program more professional....


So If you also believe that the cycles mentioned above are a big improvement fill in this poll and let me know......
If brians list gets bigger with requests they might considder to take the time to add the function.....


PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE WHEN VOTING!


Best regards ..

Mcgyver
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: nanski on August 28, 2008, 03:16:47 AM
Oh yeah...

I hope this function gets added.....

I dont like the way my cam program makes a toolpath.... >:(

Makes my cnc programs a lot shorter too  ;D and a lot easyer to program by hand....

Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: pe2rvv on August 28, 2008, 03:25:13 AM
Same here.

I hope the function will be added...

Thanks for the effort!  ;D

Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: hutchison on August 29, 2008, 05:27:02 PM
for sure, functionality should not be lost  :).
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: SDConcepts on September 17, 2008, 12:35:39 AM
i asked for this before, i really hope it gets implemented. 
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: wil on September 19, 2008, 08:24:37 AM
Would`nt agree with your (YES finally!! ) choice of words. Mach3 gives sooo much for the money.
But I agree it would be a great asset to have. Cant imagine having to work without those cycle functions on my machine at work.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 19, 2008, 11:45:51 AM
Yes  you are right ... maybe poor choice of words... Mach does have a lot to offer..and is great value for money... I'm also used to program with these cycles.... programming without these cycles is not handy in my case thats why i started this poll..


I hope Brian Barker has a positive answer for us soon! and that he can find the tyime to make this function work!

Thanks for the reply's guys!

Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: SDConcepts on September 19, 2008, 11:51:13 AM
i believe the coding for this is done on emc linux.  i was looking at switching over to EMC because of these exact canned cycles that are missing.  ultimately a peck drill cycle would be good as well.  if its there please excuse my request as i haven't looked at all the features in a while. 
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Flash Gordon on September 24, 2008, 03:26:11 AM
I agree G70 G71 G72 is a must for lathe programming
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on September 26, 2008, 09:12:17 AM
Is there Still interest in this???

I am working on a Macro/Plugin solution for this very thing.

I use OneCNCXR2 Lathe Pro, I dont know about other CAM programs but I can talor my Post Processors very easily.

The Standard Output for this Function in OneCNC is:

G71/2 U{cut depth} R{retract amount}
G71/2 P{Start Line#} Q{End Line#} U{Leave in Z for finish} W{Leave in X for Finish} F

G70 P{Start Line#} Q{End Line#}

If you can Configure your Post Processor to Post out the above information like this, I think we can have this fuction.
The commented out stuff (G71) etc. is just for your use, you dont have to use it.

Put this in you Post Processor to put the info out like this if you can. (note the {*********} are place holders in my Post Processor that puts the numerical value to the Parameter.

(G71) (U)#100={cut depth} (R)#101={retract amount}
(G71) (P)#102={Start Line#} (Q)#103={End Line#} (U)#104={Leave in Z for finish} (W)#105={Leave in X for Finish} F
M7771

The above would be the same for G72, and G70,  M7772 belongs to G72, M7770 belongs to G70
My G71/2 also post out a few lines of code after the last (G71), and that is ok, I got it to skip over this, and handle that information within the macro.

Let me know if this is something you would want, and/or can do....

Scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: budman68 on September 26, 2008, 10:45:20 AM
Scott, do you have a link for that lathe software?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 26, 2008, 11:27:53 AM
hi poppabear,

Whell it sounds nice but i dont work with onecnc... i mostly draw and program in bobcad... and that program is not handy with lathe roughing/finishing...

At my work i mostly program lathe programs by hand and i would like my lathe to work almost as the ono at my job...

I'm not  much of a computer programmer so writing macros and postprocessors is not my thing..

If mach could understand the g70/g71/g72 it would be a big help for me.. and for  a lot of other people.

Think of this..  i need something turned and i dont want to draw it first in a cad program....

I open a template G-code program... thumb in a contour and change the parameters in the lines with the G71 G-code....

If i could do that i am up and turning in 2 minutes.....

so yes i really would like mach to have these cycles added...


best regards

mcgyver

Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on September 26, 2008, 06:44:02 PM
I could make this in a "Wizard" then if you just want to fill in the Blank for a Turn or Face operation.

It is my understanding that the G71/2's are mostly for Gross debulking of stock down to close to size, am I wrong in this?

With a Wizard, you would still need to fill in the "Parameter" information of the "Canned cycle" (really the Macro would just Emulate the G71/2 cycle).

So what do you Want?? 

Wizard?, or Custom Macro/plug in to run it from Cam info?, both?

scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 27, 2008, 02:38:56 AM
Hi scott,

Thanks for your reply's!

whell.

a wizzard is a very good addition. but it still wont let mach understand the g71/72..... so what I really like is that mach gets the canned cylcle adde

The G71/72 indeed lets you turn your billet near the demanded sizes and contours  with G70 you can finish .

Sometimes i would like to use bobcad for programming.. and sometimes i want to do it behind the machine..
So the answer to your question is both i think.


My idea about it is if mach gets the cycle added.. I can add the cycle in  a pull down box in bobcad and fill in the parameters...... so when  making a program  i can easilly use the cycle  before and after my contour...

and when programming behind the machine i can do as i said before i can open a template textfile and program the contour and parameters by hand...

A wizzard will help with that ... no doubt... so i'm all for the wizzard also..

Another reason for that i like the G70/g71/g72 is that when you want to make a series of the same parts is that if i choose the wrong cut depth  for roughing or when i leave to much for finishing.. i can edit my program and change only one or two parameters...
If I should use a wizzard or cam program I will need to re write the whole program... because the wizzard or cam program still generates a huge list of lines after filling in your parameters....so its also a time saver for me..


best regards

Mcgyver






Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on September 27, 2008, 09:27:13 AM
    You have the wrong impression of Wizards then....Unless My stupid brain is Still not seeing your issue...  :)

You said you can change just a few lines of Code, in your G71/2/0 and rerun it.

In the Wizard it is the same thing, you just change the DRO value of the parameter you want to change and then repost it, it will spit out the new path.

ALSO:

The post above, in where I show you (IF you can custom edit how your post processor works), and your Bob Cad will post out the #Parameters that contain the values I need for the Macro, these same values you can ALSO hand edit at in the Program it self if you need to ).

OR:  Perhaps I still dont fully understand the issue at hand.  (Yes, I know you want G70's canned cycles added, but that will be a far, far, way off if ever...., when Brian says he doesnt have enough request for something he means, like 30% or more of the Total user population, to warrent the MASSIVE headache of ADDING/CHANGING code, and the PILE of New Support that will bring to him.  He already does a huge number of hours per day).

So, Until or If it is ever added, I was just trying to see if "we" could do some kind of Work-a-round.

I want to be able to use the native cycles to for mass debulking of stock down to size, so let me know if that will work.

I will need you to do some Code for me from your Bob Cad so I can see how it post code.

Give me a singulur, G71, and then a G72, then a G71 with G70 finish, and G72 with Finish.

I will need also Straight and Contor examples of both.

See if you can edit your Bob Cad post your self on how it outputs stuff.  If you can hand edit the post processor, then you are in biz!

Scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: RICH on September 27, 2008, 07:44:09 PM
Scott,
A wizard would be nice.
RICH
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 28, 2008, 02:30:13 AM
hey scott,

thanks for the reply,

I think i'm the one that doesnt understand yet ;D as i said i'm not much of a computer programmer....

I think a wizzard in mach would be the answer to my problem....


I'll try to describe how my bobcad V21 works....

Its just an enhanced text editor window next to my cad window.... it can convert information of the lines and arcs in the cadwindow to G-code in the cam window...

The cam part can't make toolpaths on its own... this means i have to draw toolpaths myself, select them and push a button in my cam window named "cut" or "cut auto"..

Bobcad will then post out G-codes of the lines i selected...

What i meant by that i can  edit the postprocessor  is that i could make a pull down window that would post out the g-code cycle... I could make a window whitch asks for the  Cut dept and leave to stock etc and bobcad will post out as you said before..:

G71/2 U{cut depth} R{retract amount}
G71/2 P{Start Line#} Q{End Line#} U{Leave in Z for finish} W{Leave in X for Finish} F

G70 P{Start Line#} Q{End Line#}


SO i think  that a wizzard in mach would be the option for me and a lot of mach users..

The way i see it with a wizzard (correct me if i'm wrong) i could use a cam program  or write a contour path by hand .... load it in mach and use the wizzard to generate the debulking path..... and the finishing path...

I think thats the most simple way and an addition for anyone using mach turn... you also dont have to think about how my cam program works....


I hope you get my point .... english isnt my first language so i'm having difficulty to explain to you.

Thanks a lot for all your effort...

Best regards

Robin
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on September 28, 2008, 11:12:44 AM
Robin,

   "english isnt my first language so i'm having difficulty to explain to you."

hahahahaha  YOUR ENGLISH is better than mine!!!!, and it is my first laungauge!!!

Ok,

I will see what I can do........

Scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 28, 2008, 12:11:41 PM
 hahah  ;D thanks thats a huge compliment hahah

thanks for all your efforts..

greetz

robin
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on September 29, 2008, 01:38:01 PM
Well, This is an endevor that I have failed on.  I know you can write G code directly to mach, BUT, the converse is NOT true, I have no way to pull the G code on a given line into a plugin.  I asked Art about this, and he said there is no way to do that.  So, I will not be able to do a G71/2/0 type of emulation, since I cant get to the finishing pass and positional data in the few lines that follow the G71/2/0 line in the code.

So, I am defeated............

Sorry, I am not happy about it eigther, but that is just the way it is.

scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on September 29, 2008, 02:10:30 PM
 :(

ahh thats too bad... I really got my hopes up...

Thanks a lot for even trying.. I really appreciate it.....

I hope brian could take the time to add the feature to mach...

In the mean while.. ill have to use bobcad to make toolpaths.. its working but not the way i would like..

yet again.. many thanks for trying..

best regards

robin
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: SDConcepts on October 08, 2008, 06:52:25 AM
why not have the profile entered into the wizard?  ultimately when do you a profile there are some rules that apply and i would be happy to help with ideas on how to get this figured out.  ultimately you would need a cycle for turning and boring and i think a wizard would do just fine until the actual coding can be done in MACH3.  ultimately its the repetitive coding that gets tiresome for the profiles.  figuring out the points is not that difficult. 
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on October 11, 2008, 08:57:26 AM
whell,

It would be great if the contour can be entered in a wizzard..

but scott tried to figure it out and he said that this wouldnt work... or am i misunderstanding something?

greetz

mcgyver
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: poppabear on October 11, 2008, 10:04:36 PM
Well, I did find a Work around but had to use a Plug in to do it.............

So I do believe it can be done now as far as retriving the lines following the G7x code.

Here is the real issue, if ANYONE knows the math required behind these functions, then please post it, especially for doing contours. The Thing is, you would have to enter the Contour in as an Equation for the curve, and I think that may be beyond most users, (I do include my self in that statement, I can do the math, but dont really know if I want to spend the time figuring out the contor equation of some curve. Prior to running the thing.

Realy that is what the CAM is for that will do these functions already............

If it comes down to just the ability to run the already existing G7x spit out by your CAM, then I think we can run it from with in a Plug in..........

Scott
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: SDConcepts on October 12, 2008, 07:07:59 AM
on  a standard cnc when using a g70/71 one of the rules is that you have to have ascending contours.  basically you can't do things like a ball and rough them out.  the g70/71 will rough out the front half only.  so ultimately i thnk all you really need to do is create a program that will:

1. create a wizard that will let you input a contour
2. offset the contour by what should be left for the finish pass (user defined finish depth)
3. generate code to rough with steps (user definied depth and feed rate)
4. generate code using the original contour for the finish pass (user defined feed rate)

also i believe that EMC has figured this out and my understanding is all this software is open source.  as long as your not profitting from this i don't think borrowing their code would be an issue. 
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Mcgyver on October 31, 2008, 04:19:37 AM
Whell..

The machines I worked with do have that function. (e.g. old siemens controll)

Depending on the geometry of the tool  I only have to program the toolpath and the cycle and the machine does the rest...
So i can rough and finish  a ball shape... it doesnt have to be ascending...

Too bad that the function is so difficult to create in mach...

Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Shadow5731 on November 18, 2008, 04:06:33 AM
  Though new to the forums, I see no reason why the option should not be added....maby instead of the size of what needs to be done at times, potentially an option?

  Maby let the command have some lieniency to aide in compatibility would make Mach a new controlling program for the potential future....maby add the option with it's defaults for many controllers at the most (AM GUESSING as I have limited experience with CNC as yet except with using it for sharpening coldsaw blades...a bit less than a year with a company I worked for before too, BUT, maby a good option I think)

  All up to the designer to make the choice, but from what I've seen so far, he's got a pretty-good shoe to fill myself.  (no offence either, but even before I ran the program here, I looked at the updates and all)
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on December 31, 2008, 03:25:56 PM
Melee, thank you for this code. I have been asking Brian, etc for a couple of years for a code such as this, and you go and do it just for the heck of it, I am impressed. Now, saying this, I have just now found your post and downloaded the files, and am going to rush out the door to go try them on my lathe, so I have as yet to have real time experience with it. I may have missed this in your documentation, but a question. Will either of these do reentrant profiles, such as the G73 does, it moves down in the X axis only so will allow you to rough out, say, a spool shape? Either way, even if not, I can live without, you have made my day, week, month, thanks again, I will report back with all I find out.
   DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on December 31, 2008, 06:56:48 PM
It works, it works!!
OK, after I converted the code over to Inch from metric, etc in 71 finial test.NC, and some other stuff, it looked good. M71 really isn't the same as a Fanuc G71, more like a G73 I was talking about earlier, it is actually a reentrant cycle, so that is a good thing. You have to start some amount above the stock diameter to begin with like the G73 needs, or you get a large cut on the first pass because it follows the profile with an amount of offset in X. I'll post more when I get more time with it tomorrow, but it's looking great from this end. Nice work!
   DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 01, 2009, 01:59:31 PM
Having a problem right now, after modifying M71_finial_test I get a "No space or tab between line number and code" error on the second M71 line. I have tried everything and I know that there is a space there, tried a tab, etc, but can't get it to run. I will go load your original file and try again, and then try my own program as well.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 02, 2009, 01:26:32 PM
Yes, I typically like to keep my NC files neat and orderly as well for the same reason, N numbers if used in correct order, etc, that Finial file has me about beat though. However, I ran the 71test file this morning, with the multiple steps and it worked great, no problems or errors spat out, apart from when I added a retract line and forgot to change the number of lines called, so the error call there was good. One thing, it seems to double the feedrate in roughing when it comes to the arcs, does that seem possible? I'm pretty sure Mach3 doesen't do that, so wondered if it was in this code.
    DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Chaoticone on January 02, 2009, 06:26:52 PM
Dave, one thing that has bit me more than once when editing code was the carriage return.  Always make sure you hit enter at the end of a line of code. Don't know if that is your problem or if it helps, but I sure hope it does.

Melee, Thanks for your work.  :)

Brett
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 03, 2009, 12:39:52 PM
I ran the M71 code in a program that roughed out and finished a ball die yesterday, so it was mostly arcs. It ran the feedrate as specified, so I think it's good there, and as you say, it's under Mach control at that point anyway. I had no problems like the Finial file did, wondering if it is something to do with being a reentrant profile, I'll try a reentrant one today of some sort and see more. I find I have to run the code in offline mode to see how the first cut will be, which is what I had to do on a Fanuc G73 code as well, you never really knew how the first cut would be in that mode, so it's good like that. I'll email that file to you when I go get it from the lathe later today. Again, thanks for all of this, you've completed what Mach turn needed all along.
   DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 04, 2009, 01:01:46 AM
Sorry, didn't send the .NC file yet, I'll get it to you shortly. I seemed to have an issue tonight with trying to use a stock diameter smaller than 1, was trying to use 0.5" diameter stock and it would come back with a stock size error. I tried a lot of sizes but it was never happy till I set it at 1. Guessing that because the code is written with metric in mind that it doesen't like a less than 1 input. I know, us oddball people that use imperial dimensions still!
    DaveA.
Oh, this was a reentrant profile, worked perfectly other than the stock size issue.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 04, 2009, 02:51:00 PM
Ahh, perfect, I thought a solution for the less than 1 stock size might not be too much of a problem. Was just running a part with it over 1", just took longer cutting air, but worked flawlessly. OK, on to the 71 finial file, I have attached it here, see what you can find, as I said, I tried every combination of space, tab, enter, etc and never got it right after that. Thanks again, DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 05, 2009, 12:46:25 AM
I loaded your new M71 macro over the old one and opened the same reentrant part I had ran earlier in the day. It gave a 'Dimension increment not specified (G20/G21)' error. I don't normally use G20 in my code start up line, but edited the file and added it on the first line. This didn't fix it, and I never did get the file to run. Strange.
     DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 05, 2009, 10:06:28 PM
Thanks melee. I have just now downloaded your new files, and will try them later. As a note, I am still running Mach version 1.84.001, it is a very stable version, and because Mach turn is hardly ever improved, I see no need to update it to a newer one while this one works flawlessly for me. Indeed, the latest version seems to have threading problems that I just never have with this version. So, if any of that makes any difference, there you go. Thanks again,
            DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 07, 2009, 12:35:21 AM
I loaded the new M71/ M72 files and loaded the same part that gave a units not set G20/G21 error, and it did the same thing. I went to the diagnostic page and checked, there were no lights lit for anything but G95 mode. I cleared out the error line and went back to auto mode and hit cycle start, noting that the part had not really loaded because there wasn't anything in the graphical window. Still, it tried to run but got to the M71 lines and gave the same units error. I didn't attempt the editing hack but can try that next if you draw a blank at your end. I suppose it COULD be the version I am running, but it worked a few days ago without this issue, so I don't think it is, but you would know much more about that. Thanks,
     DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 08, 2009, 01:08:16 AM
Ahh, Mr Melee, you have gotten it, by jove! sorry.., but yes, it all works as planned at this end. I cut and pasted and hacked a program, which I have included, with multiple M71 calls, and it all works well. Nice job! Even the bothersome Finial file gives no errors whatsoever. Here's the program I messed with tonight:

G18 G40 G95
M6 T0101 (TRIGON ROUGHING)
M3 S325
N1   ;M71 I0.01 K0.005 D0.1 F0.008 B4 L8
N2    M71 P3 Q10
N3 G0 X4.1 Z0.1 M8
N4 G0 X2.8
N5 G1 Z-0.4742 F0.003
N6 G1 X3.968
N7 G2 X3.996 Z-.4824 K-.016
N8 G1 Z-.55
N9 G1 X4.1
N10 G0 Z0.1   
N20   ;M71 I0.01 K0.005 D0.1 F0.008 B2.75 L8
N30    M71 P40 Q120
N40 G0 X2.75 Z0.1 M8
N50 X2.018
N60 G1 X1.918 F0.003
N70 G1 Z0
N80 G2 X2.75 Z-.416 K-.416
N90 G1 Z-.4742
N100 G1 X2.8
N120 G0 Z0.1
Z2 M9
M5
M6 T0707 (1" BORING BAR)
M3 S325
G0 X2 Z.1 M8
N130   ;M71 I0.01 K0.005 D0.1 F0.008 B2 L6
N140    M71 P150 Q200
N150 G1 X1.95 F0.003
N160 G1 Z0
N170 G3 X1.1773 Z-0.2965 K-.416
N180 G1 X1.149 Z-.3492
N190 G1 X1.1
N200 G0 Z0.1
M5
M30

Actually, there is an error in this program, but it's of my doing. This program machines an air filter base for a motorcycle carb. I used the third M71 call to rough out and finish the inside of it with a boring bar, but I have the toolpath go from outer to inner. Therefore, it roughs from inside the part. I will try the toolpath in reverse to see if it roughs in the correct direction, or maybe mess with the M72 and do it like a face turning program. The first M71 call is to try to make the roughing a little faster by cutting in a linear direction instead of all the way with the arc, but it might not be much better. Still, all this and no errors, very impressive piece of coding you have there.
   DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on January 31, 2009, 09:46:00 PM
Mr Melee, it's me again...
I just got back to try the code  in my last post, but changed the last M71 into an M72 for face machining. As it was it was using a boring bar and the M71 would try to start roughing on the wrong side of the finish toolpath, i.e, inside the material, which was not the intended method. So, I thought I could just use M72 and it would act like a face machining cycle. Well, I get a Syntax error of some sort when I load the program, and it takes me to the M72 file for editing. Hmm.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 01, 2009, 06:06:16 PM
Ahh yes Mr Melee, you have fixed it again, thanks. As a side note, I haven't tried a boring cycle with M71, only difference would be a reversal of all it does in OD roughing, do you think it would work, or have you tried it to see? I should be able to try it tonight if I get back to it so if I do I'll let you know. Thanks,
     DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 02, 2009, 12:52:36 AM
Well, the boring cycle with M71 doesen't work, it roughs from the outside as it does on an OD turning cycle. Now I know.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 02, 2009, 11:32:28 PM
Thanks Mr Melee, I'll test it out tomorrow and give you feedback. Hope your window replacement went well.
DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 04, 2009, 11:57:08 PM
The G77 works perfectly Mr Melee, thanks for doing that. In it's use, you have to be careful about retraction room when boring a hole with close clearances to start with in regards to the boring bar. Best method I think is to use the mach3 wizards and use the boring one; it's retraction is configurable. Then, when you have the bore close to your contour, go with the G77 for roughing and finishing out the profile.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 05, 2009, 08:08:54 PM
I'd have to agree, that it is a pain to get an accurate size on the first try. Now, if you are using the same material, same distance from the chuck, etc, you can hit it very close first time, but, as you say, I like to get a diameter manually if I have to do it one time, and really don't want to scrap an expensive piece of material. However, seeing that my CNC lathe is my ONLY lathe, I have to try it, and sometimes make trial cuts on same size pieces of scrap, etc, just to really tune the tool. I always use the same depth of cut for the finish cut as well, this is important. Also, of extreme importance is a metal sensing proximity sensor for the home switch on the X axis, or your tool set sizes are never the same when you boot up each time. Z axis, doesen't matter much as you set your Z zero on the end of the material each time anyway.

I don't use this lathe for the sake of it, but instead find that I am able to machine exactly what I want, odd contours, impossible to machine parts on a manual lathe, etc, and can save a lot of weight on my parts and have constant wall thicknesses and correct stress loadings through complex contouring, now thanks to you it is possible!

Back to your idea of a M75. I guess that the M71 is fine for this use, so don't really see a need for it unless it was more efficent, then it might be nice to have.
   DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: DAlgie on February 06, 2009, 01:24:07 PM
Mr Melee, I had an idea this morning. It might be impossible, but I have no idea so I thought I'd ask you about it. Would it be possible to put a parameter in your M71/77 macros that sets a "no go" line? For example, instead of the B parameter being for billet diameter, could it be the limit of travel for the toolpath? So, it would work as a dimension that when the macro came to that point it would call for a return to the start of the profile, but M71 would rapid the Z axis first. As you can imagine, this would make the macro very efficient without cutting air much, and would in effect make it a hybrid of the Fanuc G71 roughing and G73 reentrant programs. It would also deal with the issue I was talking about in regards to the M77 and boring bar clearance issue. Possible?
DaveA.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: jamesloke on October 29, 2013, 07:36:08 AM
i have been using G70 G71 and G72 for quite sometimes, and i found it very useful .
we just copy the old program to a new one, then change a few dimensions of X znd Z to run the program.

those whose opposing it should practically try it first, then comment.
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: Cray on November 11, 2013, 09:38:37 AM
Mr. DAlgie, can you please upload the working G71 code for me? I've been wasting a lot of time trying to stitch together the codes from the Turning wizard, and finally landed here in desperation.

Thanks in advance  :)
Title: Re: POLL: Mach3 Lathe and G70/G71/G72 roughing, facing, finishing
Post by: protocat on December 04, 2015, 10:35:12 AM
YES I TOTALLY AGREE, EVEN WITH CAM SOFTWARE, THESE CANNED CYCLES ARE HERY HELPFUL AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS DEFAULT G-CODE.
The G77 code seems to be linear moves only, but we need the profile control of G71,G72, G70.

Thanks for the efforts to get it done.

  Later. ~ John