Search Results
Showing 171 – 180 of 300 resultsIf you have jobs that are repeated on a given CNC machine, you probably want to ensure that they can be run over and over again without machine downtime. Indeed, you probably want to consider your programs as “proven” to be secure in the notion that you can consistently run them at any time without problems.
Almost all CNC shops provide documentation to tell setup people and operators how to make setups and complete production runs. Each shop varies with regard to how this is handled and how specific the documentation is.
Custom macro system variables provide access to many CNC-machine functions not accessible within normal G-code-level programming.
Many companies that use CNC seem to struggle on a daily basis with programs that have been successfully run in the past. There is no guarantee that it will run flawlessly in the future.
Almost all CNC users take advantage of control-based canned cycles. Even CAM systems commonly output G-code programs that contain canned cycle commands. This includes hole machining canned cycles, such as drilling, tapping, boring and more, and whatever milling cycles the machine may have. For turning centers, it includes roughing and finishing multiple repetitive cycles.
Five-axis machines are complex, and machinists need to be skilled to work with them. However, the machine’s application is really what drives its complexity.
Several lessons can be learned about efficient CNC machine tool usage from auto racing teams. Many shop people are racing fans, so the lessons should be pretty easy to drive home—even for newcomers to the shop environment.
The DPRNT command of custom macro B allows you to send text information from the machine through the serial communications port. This is the same port used to send and receive CNC programs, offset data and parameters.
Most CNC machinists have already chosen a measurement system for their machine tools. When they find a workpiece dimensioned with a different system, they simply convert the print to their system of choice and run the job in that measurement system. However, there are some things to watch out for when switching measurement systems.
The majority of programmers use some kind of CAM system to prepare their CNC programs. The product of any CAM system is a G-code program from which the CNC machine will run. While CAM systems simplify programming, most programmers have to know something about G code. How much they must know depends upon five factors.