VTL - Advice please

[G Caputo]

Hi all,

 

Looking for some advice here. We have a G&L vertical turret lathe that I need to learn how to write programs for. I have no experience with mcam lathe, so this will be all new to me. I can program at the machine easily, so I do know what I am looking for. It is controlled by a Heidenhain TNC 430 control. This machine was retrofitted in house.

 

For turning it has five position turret to hold the lathe tools on the right side. In this configuration x & y are the axis used and the "s" is the spindle/chuck speed.

 

For milling it has a square ram, c-axis that was designed and built in house with a 16 tool capacity toolchanger. In this configuration you have your u & v axis with the "c" axis being your spindle/chuck orientation or speed.

 

For raising and lowering the entire rail, it uses a z and w axis move.

 

 

I would like to know if anyone programs something like this, what my post options are. I was thinking of having 2 posts for this machine, which we sort of have now. One post for turning, and one post for milling. Which posts would be a good starting point? The rail move is basically a one line move, that needs to be attended to, so I have no plans to program that. As i stated above, I have not used mcam lathe, just mill constantly for just over a year. Would lathe training from my reseller be needed, or with what I know from mill, would I be able to pick this up? Also, is this something that can I can program in mill and post out to a "c" axis when milling with this machine?

 

Right now we have a job that I need to put a square bore in it using the c & u axis. This was done some time ago by our engineer using version 7 and a molested post from I don't know what originally. I looked at how it was done in version 7 and it was pretty easy to follow and get a program in version 9.

 

I am looking to get some good code to the machine with the least amount of intervention from the operators. Any advice on what posts to use and modify, ideas to get me started in the proper direction, I am all ears.

 

Thanks,

Greg

[mayday]

YIKES

 

That sums it up from me Greg

[G Caputo]

0 BEGIN PGM BLADE INCH

1 ;

2 ; ( 2" APKT X 5" DOC )

3 TOOL CALL 21 V S600

4 ;

5 L M126

6 L U+3.1674 V+5 R0 F MAX M3

7 L C+161.29 R0 F MAX

8 L V+0.1 R0 F MAX

9 L V-0.125 R0 F100

10 L U+3.1938 V+0.125 C+161.458 R0 F959

11 L U+3.2199 V+0.125 C+161.636 R0 F1017

12 L U+3.2459 V+0.125 C+161.824 R0 F1070

13 L U+3.2715 V+0.125 C+162.021 R0 F1128

14 L U+3.2969 V+0.125 C+162.227 R0 F1178

15 L U+3.322 V+0.125 C+162.442 R0 F1229

16 L U+3.3468 V+0.125 C+162.666 R0

17 L U+3.3713 V+0.125 C+162.898 R0 F1327

18 L U+3.3954 V+0.125 C+163.138 R0

19 L U+3.4192 V+0.125 C+163.385 R0 F1415

20 L U+3.4427 V+0.125 C+163.64 R0

21 L U+3.4658 V+0.125 C+163.903 R0 F1500

22 L U+3.4885 V+0.125 C+164.172 R0

23 L U+3.5109 V+0.125 C+164.448 R0 F1576

24 L U+3.5328 V+0.125 C+164.73 R0

25 L U+3.5544 V+0.125 C+165.019 R0 F1647

26 L U+3.5756 V+0.125 C+165.313 R0

27 L U+3.5963 V+0.125 C+165.614 R0 F1717

28 L U+3.6167 V+0.125 C+165.919 R0

29 L U+3.6366 V+0.125 C+166.231 R0 F1780

30 L U+3.656 V+0.125 C+166.547 R0

 

 

I just love it when a plan comes together. Just gotta molest that post a little more......

 

Still would love to hear how others deal with these type of machines.

 

Greg