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Mike Lynch Founder and President
A Serial Numbering Custom Macro
The custom macro shown below will allow you to mill numbers on your workpieces. Though it has some limitations that can be easily improved upon, the macro shows the logic behind how serializing can be done.
Read MoreButton-To-Button Time Vs. Total Production Run Time
CNC cycle time is defined as either elapsed time from a given event in one cycle to the same event in the next cycle or a job’s total production run-time divided by the number of good parts machined. With the first definition, the “event” is commonly the pressing of the cycle-start button.
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Understanding Argument Assignment Number Two
With custom macro B there are two different forms of argument assignment for the G65 command to call a custom macro. By far, the more popular is argument assignment number one.
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Dealing With A Spot Drill’s True Point Position
A spot drill has a 90-degree point angle, which makes it easy to calculate the depth of a hole to be spot-drilled. You simply divide the diameter of the spot-drilled hole.
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A Taper Thread Milling Custom Macro
Straight threads can be milled on machining centers using the helpful helical interpolation feature. This feature makes it easy to program the milling of straight threads with just a few commands per thread.
Read MoreHow Helpful Are Your Process Drawings?
In many companies, CNC machinists do not work directly from workpiece drawings because those types of drawings show only the finished workpiece. Instead, a manufacturing engineer will create other drawings from which the shop personnel can work.
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Trial Machining On A Sliding Headstock Turning Center
In last month’s column I stated that one of the most common causes of wasted setup time is improper trial machining to make the first workpiece pass inspection. Trial machining involves taking each tool in the program and making it cut to size prior to going on to the next tool.
Read MoreSetup Reduction 101: Core Tasks Vs. Total Setup Time
When teaching setup reduction, one of the first principles I try to explain is related to what I call the “core tasks” required to make a setup. Core tasks are the physical tasks a setup person must perform in order to get the machine ready to run production.
Read MoreProficiency Versus Aptitude—Which Do You Prefer?
When hiring new people to run CNC machines, most managers want it all. They want a person who has run the same machine they will be running for the company.
Read MoreFurther Simplifying A Trial Machining Operation
In past columns, I’ve addressed how you can program trial machining operations. It seems obvious to me that if a setup person or operator can recognize a workpiece tolerance that is so tight that trial machining is required, then a programmer should be able to recognize it as well.
Read MoreA Few Tricks With Machining Center Canned Cycles
Last month, we discussed some tricks with turning center canned cycles. This month we’ll do the same for Fanuc machining center canned cycles.
Read MoreA Few Tricks With Turning Center Canned Cycles
Most turning centers are equipped with some helpful canned cycles. Fanuc, for example, has three simple, one-pass canned cycles (G90 for turning and boring; G92 for threading; and G94 for facing).
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