Topics

41

Tangent Corner / HOT DOG DAYS

« on: July 24, 2010, 08:23:34 AM »

  RICH

42

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Number of MPG axes?

« on: July 18, 2010, 09:27:29 PM »

MSM does not impose any restriction except that I could only fit one MPG in the jogging panel on the screens. This was a trade off between generality and complexity - we figured one MPG covered most MPG users.

So if you have two, then you need to select the specific axis, which is reduced functionality, thus, both are not operatable at the same time....?

On a lathe it is realy nice to have two mounted on the carriage such that you duplicate a natural manual operation. I know this is for
the mill but just thought i would throw it out. When used on the mill, using say CopyCat to scan / get Gcode for a piece then two are used to advantage since you don't need to distract thinking while working.

RICH

43

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / 7X14 MINI LATHE - CNC CONVERSION

« on: June 26, 2010, 11:11:35 AM »

This thread will be about the conversion to cnc for a mini lathe. Don't know how long it will take or when the conversion will be completed.
We are just getting started, so who knows. 

44

MACH TOOL BOX / MACRO- LATHE & MILL DRILLING MACROS m830 and m831

« on: June 26, 2010, 08:14:16 AM »

The attached file contains  peck drilling macros for the lathe and mill created by Melee.
There is a read me file which explains their use.
Since the referenced download location in the original thread is no longer working i thought i would post them here.
At least they will not get lost.

RICH

45

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / COLLIMATOR MODIFICATIONS, BASE , AND TRIVET STAND

« on: April 27, 2010, 11:05:13 PM »

Here something which i made which is different than the norm. Namely a custom collimator, base, and a trivet stand for intruments.

This is a custom colllimator base which allows you to rotate or adjust about the axis, tilt front to back,
tilt about the vertical , and position side to side. Fun thing to level amd have all the targets line up!

Three targets are provided internaly in the colimator such that they appear at 15 feet , 100 feet and basicaly infinity.
Thus a far target distance is provided even when another instrument is located very close to the collimator. Putting the targets into
the collimator was a real pain in the ask to do!

The level on the right can be leveled repeatably to within 1 arc second. The white bodied object on the end of the level is an optical
micrometer which provides measurement to 0.0001". I made the trivet base for mounting of variuos intruments.

When the 100 foot distance taget is viewed ( sorry for the poor picture) you will see the divided scale. The spacing divisions on the scale
are 0.0012" from line to line.
So Tan = .0012" / 1200"=.000012 for an angle of .000687 degrees =2.5 arc seconds

RICH

46

General Mach Discussion / THIS IS DEDICATED TO "HOOD"

« on: April 27, 2010, 09:55:46 PM »

A great thanks goes out to Hood for all the dedicated time and effort he has provided to the users of this forum.
You may not be aware of it, but he has provided over 10,000 replies which is an achievement in itself.

Wouldn't it be nice if all users of Mach showed their appreciation to Hood by sending him a personalized thank you? 

Of course this presents a good opportunity to ask a few TRIVIA QUESTIONS:

1. What was Hoods first question posted on the forum ?
2. The subject was taken in part from an oldy but goody , can you name that tune?
    ( HINT: No getting mushy with Hood now!)
3. What did reply # 1000 address?
4. How long does it take to post 10,000 replies?

Thanks for your support now and in the future  Hood, consider this my personal message to you,
RICH

47

LazyCam (Beta) / LCAM JUST FOR FUN FILE

« on: February 25, 2010, 09:33:46 PM »

Ok Folks,
The following is a simple thing and all you want to do is cut the slots out ( offsets required ) using a 0.125" diameter ( nothing else allowed ) end mill and .270" deep.
Keep it as drawn, including the start point, there is nothing wrong with the attached dxf.
It's just four elongated holes in a plate. Sometimes LC just dosen't like something and multiple elongated slots are one of them.
I did get it to work , but it was a challenge......... so heck, i figured it would be something for folks to play with.
HAVE FUN,
RICH

48

Tangent Corner / HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS

« on: February 06, 2010, 08:32:36 AM »

Looks like the family will be "bonding"  today.  
At least someone likes what's happening.  

RICH

49

General Mach Discussion / ROTARY INDEX ON LATHE - GCODE

« on: January 01, 2010, 08:38:18 PM »

I decided to try a few things with the rotary indexer on the lathe.
The axis is set up as linear ( 12.6449"=360 degrees) since I can
relate to a 90 deg turn of the A in 1" of Z and also confirm rotations
using the index band around the chuck.
The picture shows four simple scroll cuts and one band cut on the cylinder. My coding is below.

This is a new journey for me. Indexing for drilling is easy since the
table can be set up as rotary. And text will be done using Wrapper.

SO.....all you rotary table folks......

Is there an easier way to code the spirals?

What are good options to consider?

Could you use the Function Cfgs > Formula such that the A moves can be coded in degrees?


N10 (1TEST OF 90 DEGREE WRAP)
N20 G00 Z.035
N30 G00 X-0.01
N35 G91
N40 G01 A3.1612 Z-1.0 F5
N50 G00 X0.020 F60
N60 G00 Z1.0
N70 G00 X-.020
N80 G01 A3.1612 Z-1.0 F5
N90 G00 X0.020 F60
N100 G00 Z1.0
N110 G00 X-.020
N120 G01 A3.1612 Z-1.0 F5
N130 G00 X0.020 F60
N140 G00 Z1.0
N150 G00 X-.020
N160 G01 A3.1612 Z-1.0 F5
N170 G00 X0.020 F60
N180 G00 Z-.1
N190 G01 A12.6449 X-.019 F5
N190 G01 A13.6449 X-.001 F60
N200 G00 A-1.0 X.020
N210 G00 Z1.1
N220 M30

Thanks for anything that will shorten the learning curve,

RICH

50

General Mach Discussion / COMPLEX THREADING WIZARD

« on: December 22, 2009, 08:32:55 PM »

Here is a link to a threading wizard which i didn't know existed.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13434.0;attach=18904

I took a few moments and found a few things that you should be aware of .

1. In the thread selection, if you pick a ISO MET 60, the calculated depth is incorrect for a sharp V tool.
IE; pitch=.050 ,external thread, if tip radius is 0.0000, the depth should be ( 0.866 x  P= 0.050 x .866=.0433).
There is no definiton for a "Standard full profile" and the tip radius it provides is .0072.  The end value of the X distance for the thread uses ths value and will be incorrect. Just a heads up.

I will note that the "Calculator " does the depth / x end diameter correctly.

If you input the "end" value correctly the g code generated uses that value.

2.Not sure if TEST ( True / False ) is working correctly. I figured it woudld generate a g32 or g76 type of gcode posting.
  
RICH