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In case yall missed it

CNC3-8-08.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/BobbyB-22/CNC3-8-08.jpg

That's a CNC knee mill he's got there.

You programming that manually or are you using CAD/CAM?

You ought to post in shop talk more. We got stuff to talk about.

Nathan the (CNC) Machinist
 
It is 1970's technology, but it is accurate and beefy. I can't crank them out by the hundreds because I have to touch off each tool. A tool changer would be a dream. I use Master Cam to program. I am still learning. I should have moved all the junk from around it first.
BB
 
That's 70's technology? Wheres the punch tape? Ha!

On most controls you can set H parameters in the controller (H1, H2 H3 etc) and call those out in your program for your different cutter lengths. That way, so long as you don't move them in the tool holder they'll always be at zero when returned to the spindle.

One way to do this is to zero your spindle nose off something, then measure your different cutter lengths off that same thing. The difference is your H number. Then you can zero your spindle off your work piece and any program that calls out an H value will compensate for that tool length. You see, H is a positive number that equals the distance from the cutter end to the spindle nose. There are other approaches to this, but I think this is a easiest to understand.

Then, if you have another work piece you can zero your Z with your spindle nose, or if you lack Z travel, you can activate a tool length compensation, load that tool and zero Z with it, and now all your others cutters are zeroed too (assuming you call out their H number appropriately in your program)

MasterCAM is good stuff. I use Pro/NC. Do you surface mill your bevels or are you just profiling your blanks?
 
Well, maybe eighties. Feels like seventies :-)
I mainly use it to profile and spot holes. I have done some 3-D handles , but I have to have help with programming.
 
Great shop!!

What do you use the arbor press with the welded plates on it for?
 
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