Messages

651

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: FUSION 360 - LATHE

« on: February 12, 2017, 05:17:18 PM »

Mike,
Thought there would others who would be trying it and post here.
I don't even hear a cricket...........

Lots of instruction on the Autodesk Site for Fusion 360 lathe.

I get hung-up on "stupid things" sometimes and spend more time than necessary on them.

Try it out, it will keep you out of trouble!

RICH

652

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor turning

« on: February 12, 2017, 06:15:20 AM »

MACH3 MANUAL
http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/

Mach3 Mill Installation and Configuration Guide .....(Read Chapter 5)
http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf

MOTOR / STEPPER TUNING
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17600.msg120928.html#msg120928

STEPS PER UNIT MATH EXAMPLE
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12512.msg81001.html#msg81001

STEPS PER UNIT CALCULATOR
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.msg110286.html#msg110286

RICH

653

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor turning

« on: February 11, 2017, 09:05:21 PM »

May I suggest that you have a read of the manual as that covers how to determine the steps per  unit.
Next just do a search and you will find how to determine the max velocity and acceleration.
You will also find info in Members Doc's.

Still have problems reply back,

RICH

654

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / FUSION 360 - LATHE

« on: February 07, 2017, 08:49:04 AM »

Thought I would start a thread on using Fusion to model and generate Gcode for the lathe.

I just started "playing with it" and a friend was kind enough to provide instruction on how to sketch and model in it.
Like all new software one tries you just need to go through the learning curve. Generated code based on a .cps ( post processor )
provided for Mach3 lathe which can be downloaded from Fusion site.

Frankly, rather impressed with it and it can do a lot.

I'll post more on my learning over time.

RICH

655

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe question

« on: February 06, 2017, 08:08:28 AM »

Ralph,
More than a simple answer but figured the additional comments would be appropriate.

- Reverse threading - The term has no meaning at all to me.
- Could not find the read me file that you mention here.

- Just some basic things to consider in threading
  - Spindle rotation direction for the lathe is defined by looking  from the headstock towards the tailstock, thus you have CW which
    would use an M3 and CCW which would use an M4, else, you need to mannualy set  the turning direction of the spindle.

- Left or right hand threading in CNC
  - depends on the direction of the tool Z movement which can be plus or  minus as input into a wizard from a start point.
  - depends also on the spindle rotation direction

The spindle rotation and Z movement along with the following also come into play in defining how the thread that will be cut:
 - type tool left or right and how mounted in the tool holder
 - configuration such as front or rear toolpost / lathe
 - external or internal thread
 - M3 or M4 rotation and Z axis movement
 
Thus you have a number of combinations, 16 total ( I think   ) , depending configuration to be used such as front post, rear post, external, internal.

Three wizards available to do threading are:
Simple Threading - Brian Barker
Quick Threads    - Scott Shafer
Complex Threading- Brian Barker / Rudy

You will notice that in both the Simple Threading and Quick Threads the left hand threads are done with the M4 to set the spindle rotation for CCW rotation and they assume a front tool post. With a front tool post orient the actual thread tool appropriately in the holder to cut using CCW towards the chuck.

Have fun......,
RICH

Hmm.....maybe above should be added to Threading on the Lathe write up in Member Doc's!

656

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Radius Circle is generated as Ellipse.

« on: February 06, 2017, 06:16:37 AM »

Can't answer you question.
May be something in the post processor for Fusion that you are using. If you export the drawing out for the circle see if it is a true  circle
in CAD. I have just started playing around with Fusion ..............

RICH

657

General Mach Discussion / Re: New parallel port card question

« on: February 06, 2017, 05:58:15 AM »

An option is to have a dual boot computer. IE; Mine has XP ( 32 bit ) and Win7 ( 64 bit ) and you are asked what to use when the PC is first started.
You will be limited to 4 meg of memory.

RICH

658

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: February 03, 2017, 07:57:05 AM »

What can be done here guys???

Just some thoughts..........


The holder for the high speed spindle looks to be rigid enough.
I would leave it alone for now.

Check the Holder:
Put an indicator on holder plate to measure the force of pushing with your finger on the holder out at the high speed spindle and see any rotation of holder about the Z and do the same for the pushing upwards. It should take a fair amount of force to see a measurable deflection. Fix the deflection problem if it exists.   

Check the spindle:
Check for any side and vertical play in the spindle. Should be no sideways
but you will probably have some vertical. I modified the hand / cable drive spindles I use. Needed to be carefull since there is expansion of the spindle as it warms at high speed. Some high end high speed spindles require that the spindle bearings be replaced after so much run time.
You may not be able to do any improvements and have what you have,but, t least you know that runout can accur if feeds, chip loads, loading, etc. can cause problems and need to adjust machining parameters.

Feed rate - Chip load etc:
First you may want to consider using a two flute high helix end mill rather than single flute as that can help with the chatter. STep over and cut depth will vary depending on material, feedrate etc. There are some guidelines to start but some experimenting is worth doing to find what works.
For quick range of machining paramters  there is an end mill chart in Members Doc's or use some of the manufacturers on site calaculators for quidence.

Good flooding of the end mill to assist in chip removal is required.

Oscillation / resonance can be discussed ( it can get complex quickly)
,BUT, it the above is looked at you may find you don't that type of problem to begin with.

Finaly........
Yeah, you want to get things done efficiently / quickly as possible but if the basics are out of whack to begin with you will have problems.Everthing is just a trade off.

RICH

659

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G31 probing - can Z travel be limited

« on: February 02, 2017, 07:22:04 AM »

but if the probe does not hit, the axis just keeps going and going and going.

You should ALWAYS confirm that the probe works before probing.In my screen
an LED confirms it's working. YOu could also add some scritpting to a macro
to get a message.

Attached file from my lathe screen write up should be read for understanding the overtravel when probing.

In addition to Tweakie's reply, it not only about the probing value, but what you want to do with it and the actions you want to do after probing.
A macro, that you write to suite your needs and how you want it all to work, accomplishes the task.

My preference in probing is to move close to the reference surface and just probe at at a slow feedrate. When setting tools i find the repaeatability and accuracy to with +- 0.0002" and at the slow probe rate their is no damage to the carbide probe that i use or the surface being probed.

 

RICH

660

General Mach Discussion / Re: Upgrade liscence.

« on: February 01, 2017, 10:20:44 AM »

Q3:-  Will Mach4 have 'Machturn' option as does Mach3 or will I have to stay with Mach3 for Lathe operations. ?

- Mach4 Turn is Fanuc style gcode and supposedly follows Smid Books on CNC.
- Have a look at the lathe code for Mach 4 as it is different and   has other additional codes , etc  offered as compared to Mach3.
- Art Soft site provides a comparison of different versions.
- Some lathe features require a different version of MAch4.
- Mach4 uses a different programing language and any Macros, screen sets,
  from Mach3 don't transfer over to Mach4.

I have not followed Mach 4 for a some time now. So not a very good resource for the current status of Mach 4 Lathe nor supporting hardware.

Update to Mach 4 or use MAch3 is a decision only you can make.

Mach 3 lathe can certainly do a lot as is and you may want use it to
get familar with using the cnc lathe especialy if it currently works.

Mach3 lathe screen leaves something to be desired  ( my personal opinion ) there are a few options for using other screen sets. Personally my custom screen set is used and works as i want it to and provides many nice features.

just some comments on the question,

RICH