Archive for the ‘CNC Parts’ Category

CNC Stomp Pad 7 | Part Griding

When you cut something out with a plasma cutter there is slag left over you have to remove. This slag is officially called "dross" when it come to plasma cutting. In this video we rough grind the cnc stomp pad to remove the dross. I call it rough grind because later we will use a DA Sander to smooth it all out.

Originally posted 2007-12-04 05:01:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

OnSynopsis:
Fanuc Power Mate (Models D, F) has an option called Workpiece Number Search. Using this option, the PMC can initiate the execution of a specified part program. This is especially useful in cases where the Power Mate is used to control special purpose machines that produce a known set of components. Such applications are found in batch production factories.

How it Works:
To synchronize the PMC and CNC functions, there is a communication area in the Fanuc Power Mate where the PMC & CNC exchange signals. These are a set of bytes and there are two areas namely:

a) The G area – signals from the PMC to the CNC

b) The F area – signals from the CNC to the PMC

By selectively loading G009 with a value in the range 1-255, the CNC will execute a program between O001 to O255.

To read the complete article please visit http://www.controlon.com/resources/default.aspSynopsis:
Fanuc Power Mate (Models D, F) has an option called Workpiece Number Search. Using this option, the PMC can initiate the execution of a specified part program. This is especially useful in cases where the Power Mate is used to control special purpose machines that produce a known set of components. Such applications are found in batch production factories.

How it Works:
To synchronize the PMC and CNC functions, there is a communication area in the Fanuc Power Mate where the PMC & CNC exchange signals. These are a set of bytes and there are two areas namely:

a) The G area – signals from the PMC to the CNC

b) The F area – signals from the CNC to the PMC

By selectively loading G009 with a value in the range 1-255, the CNC will execute a program between O001 to O255.

To read the complete article please visit http://www.controlon.com/resources/default.asp

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally posted 2007-10-22 11:33:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Originally posted 2008-02-12 16:45:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Metris Releases 7-Axis Articulated Arm
Leuven:- Metris (MTRS, Euronext Brussels) announces the launch of the 7 axis MCA (manual coordinate measuring arm) for accurate and full freedom laser scanning. With this new 7 axis articulated arm, Metris offers a complete inspection and reverse engineering solution that can be used just as easily in the metrology…

Originally posted 2007-12-09 10:19:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

CNC Plasma Cutting
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: Torchmate offers various CNC cutting systems and a 23 page catalog online. They sell the Torchmate II CNC shape cutting machine in kit form for under
Tags: plasma cutting, torch cutting. Comments: 0.

Woodworking CNC
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: This is a nice article by Hector Henry that overviews the computer skills you’ll need to get into CNC Woodworking. Of course you’d need the same
Tags: cnc software, woodworking. Comments: 0.

CNC Parts
Posted by John: Find all the CNC parts you need to repair your CNC machine: Cnc Exchange Cnc Parts Cnc Repair Cnc Surplus Fanuc Parts GE 1050 GE
Tags: cnc parts, cnc rapair. Comments: 0.

Originally posted 2007-10-14 05:34:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

        CNC as a hobby has really seen a huge growth spurt over the last 8 years.  I think I stepped into it about two years after it started cooking in the late 90s.  When I jumped in there were a few CNC Groups going already and about three different CNC Plasma Tables available at the hobby level.  I don’t know where the other machine types were at the time because I came in through the plasma path.  I would guess they were further behind as CNC Plasma Cutters was one of the first areas of CNC to take off in the Hobby arena.

        Most of the growth I would attribute to the Internet.  Groups formed, ideas were shared.  Feedback was given.  People started making “chips” and didn’t look back.  The Internet brought a very expensive technology into garages across the country.  When I built my $4000 CNC Plasma Table a hobbyist class machine was around $10,000 and a commercial machine was $100,000 to as high as you wanted to go.

Originally posted 2007-08-01 23:36:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Since we are dealing with machines that do work for us, we need to control those machines somehow. We need to control them for safety reasons as well. If you give a machine improper commands it can easily get out of control and cause harm to you or the part you are machining. We want to give appropriate commands to our machines, at appropriate times so they are not "out of control". 

The language that these machines use is called G-code. G-code has been around since the early 60’s. There are a number of variations of G-code, but most are very similar to one another.  See the previous section for a sample of G-Code. 

We will need to use a computer to talk with our CNC machine. Our computer will send signals to our CNC machine. In-between our computer and our CNC machine sits a controller. A controller converts commands into signals that are used to control the motion of our machine.

As these signals are sent out of the controller, they go to either stepper or servo motors. This is how we create motion. These motors drive our various axis on our CNC machine. While we are moving our axis, there is generally a cutting tool of some sort removing material. This is the machining process coupled with CNC.

Originally posted 2007-09-10 10:55:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A patented part accumulator system gathers parts automatically allowing the turning centre to run unmanned for extended periods whilst eliminating part damage

Hydrafeed will show its Rota-Rack rotary part accumulator, the Hydrafeed V65 short bar feeder and the new Autofeed full length barfeed system at the UK’s MACH 2008 exhibition. These feeders will appear alongside established products such as the MultiServo 3-80 intelligent bar support unit, the MultiFeed MX1B system and the X-Tract CNC automatic part unloader.

* Part accumoulator for CNC turning centres – the Rota-Rack is a part accumulator for collecting components from CNC lathes.

The patented system gathers parts automatically allowing the turning centre to run unmanned for extended periods whilst eliminating part damage.

Ideal for limited space environments the accumulator comfortably accommodates parts up to 254mm long with diameters up to 76mm.

The compact system has an adjustable height and can be set at the left or right side of the machine to suit the specific needs of the end user.

* Short bar feeder – the Hydrafeed V65 short barfeeder can hold round, hexagonal or shaped bars from 5 to 65mm diameter.

Maximum capacity is ten 65mm diameter bars up to a stroke length of 1.2 or 1.5m.

The V65 is the ideal partner for unmanned production, said Hydrafeed to manufacturingtalk.com.

To maximise production the V65 has horizontal bar bandings that quickly and efficiently deliver the bar to the spindle, whilst an adjustable faceplate, Mitsubishi PLC controller and remote control pendant are included to enhance ease of use.

* Full length bar feeder – alongside the V65 will be the Autofeed full length barfeed.

It has a single guide channel set to deliver a wider range of bar diameters with models holding a 3mm to 32mm or a 5mm to 51mm bar diameter capacity.

With a standard length capacity of 3.2m with 3.7m option, the dimension range of the new Autofeed make it comfortably suited to fixed head lathes of sliding head turning centres.

The bar feeder can feed from left and right hand side of the lathe to give the end user greater flexibility with machine positioning.

With additional features such as automatic bar centre height adjustment, LED light displaying bar remaining length condition and patented bar anti vibration feature, the Autofeed is destined to be a major success at MACH, said Hydrafeed.

* Intelligent bar support unit – also on show at MACH 2008 will be the established MultiServo 3-80 intelligent bar support unit.

Driven by the lathe, the rotating bar support unit turns at the same rev/min as the turning centre to act as a virtual extension of the lathe drawtube bore.

Alongside the MultiServo 3-80 will be the MultiFeed MX1B bar support unit.

Like the MultiServo 3-80, the MX1B has a bar capacity from 3 to 80mm with a reduction linear system to eliminate vibration.

Utilising a standard bar support unit, the MX1B accommodates round bars up to 1650mm in length with special oilon bushings to control and support the bar in the lathe headstock.

These established products will be alongside the X-Tract CNC automatic part unloader that has been developed to safely and efficiently unload parts too long to be caught in standard part catchers.

The X-Tract removes parts through the sub-spindle of twin spindle machines and can accommodate 1.2 or 1.5m bar lengths.

Hydrafeed will be demonstrating its products from the stand by using a mock lathe to demonstrate bar feeding, part removal and part conveying/storage.

* Hydrafeed at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 5, Stand 5482.

Tool Offset
I thought this would be a great place to do a quick talk on Tool Offset.  Tool Offset is the amount you must “Offset” the tool while machining.  For example, the tool paths that we created in CAM are located in the dead center of the tool unless you do something about it.  Most times you set the tool offset in your CAM program, but sometimes you might have to do it during the machining phase, depending on your machine. 
What if you had a one-inch diameter tool, we will use an end mill in this example, and you needed to take off .25” around the perimeter of a 5” by 5” block of aluminum?  Without tool offset, the tool path would be around the perimeter of the block.  The end mill would take off half of its diameter or .5” inches.  You need to offset the tool so this does not happen.  In this case you would offset the tool outside of the block by .25”, then the end mill would take off .25” of material.

Zeroing the machine out
When beginning your machining, you always need to zero out the machine.  You need to let the control software know that this is going to be the starting point for the whole project.  When “Zeroing” out the machine, a lot of the time you will use an edge finder when milling.  Most times in plasma cutting, you will just pick your starting point on the steel and begin the program there.

The final “Part”
Parts are the outcome of your work.  That is unless you are making artistic pieces.  Parts need to be made to specification.  Most often machinists will check their parts as they come out of the CNC Machine they are running.  Many times, they will use a go/no-go gauge.  With a go/no-go gauge they can quickly check out the critical dimension of the part and reload the machine.

Chips? – Machining Chips
Machinist call the material being removed “Chips.”  This is because most things that are machined are metal and they come off the part in chip form.  Chips can be very sharp and dangerous.  You have to be very aware of where they are flying as they are being removed.  Quite a few machines will have enclosures around them to block these chips from flying around.

CAD (Computer-aided design)
Geometry authoring tool that involves software and sometimes special-purpose hardware. Current packages range from 2D vector based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modellers.

CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing)
Considered as an NC programming tool wherein 3D models of components generated in CAD software are used to generate CNC code to drive numerical controlled machine tools

CNC (computer numerical control)
Refers specifically to a computer "controller" that reads G-code instructions and drives the machine tool.

CAD/CAM part programming
The computer calculation and creation of a toolpath based on part geometry information created in CAD.

Canned cycle
A predetermined machining sequence used to simplify programming.

Data
Information processed as the basis for calculations.

Database
Computer storage that holds data and is searchable

Detail Drawing
A drawing of a part giving a complete and exact description of its form, dimensions, and construction

Dimension
The desired measurement of a part

Documentation
A CAD process in which a part design is converted to a computer file or hard copy for reference and storage purposes.

Drawing Exchange Format
DXF. A standard storage format for personal computer-based CAD/CAM platforms

Driver
That portion of the electronic package that receives the stepping sequence from the translator and provides the switching of the windings in the stepper motor.

G-Code
Common name for the programming language that controls NC and CNC machine tools

Geometric Modeling
A modeling process in which a designer creates lines and text that represents the shape of a desired part. Geometric modeling is the first step in CAD.

Geometry
The measurement, properties, and relationships of the lines and points of an object that make up its shape

M Code
A code used to signal an action from a miscellaneous group of commands. M codes change cutting tools, turn on or turn off the coolant, spindle, or work piece clamps, etc.

Machine Control Data
Manufacturing instructions defined in CAM and enacted on a CNC machine.

Machine Control Unit
A small, powerful computer that controls and operates a CNC machine

Machine Tool
Powered mechanical device, typically used to fabricate metal components of machines by machining

Machining
The selective removal of metal or material

Numerical Control
The use of computers and special program instructions to execute the sequence of machining operations to make a part.

Part Program
A series of numerical instructions used by a CNC machine to perform the necessary sequence of operations to machine a specific work piece.

Personal Computer
PC. A computer designed for an individual user and commercial software. Desktops, laptops, and notebook computers are PCs.

Plotter
A large printer used to print blueprints. These output devices support vector graphics, unlike dot matrix and laser printers.

Post Processor
A software link in the CAD/CAM chain that communicates instructions from CAM to a CNC machine

Preliminary Blueprint
A design representing the rough dimensions of a specific part

Primitives or Primitive
Basic shapes such as cubes, spheres, cylinders, blocks, and cones that are combined in solid modeling to create a model of a part.

Prototype
The original test model of a part

Raster Image
A form of graphics in which closely spaced rows of dots form an image on a computer screen. Also known as bit-mapped graphics.

Ramping
The process of controlling the pulse frequency to accelerate or decelerate a stepper motor. Ramping increases the ability to drive larger loads at greater speeds by slowing the first series of pulses allowing the motor to overcome inertial loads and reduces overshooting by slowing the motor down more gradually than an unramped motor.

Scanner
A computer device that converts hard copy drawings into digital form

Software
The coded instructions, formulas, and operations that structure the actions of a computer

Solid Modeling
A type of geometric modeling based on solids in which all visible surfaces of a part are shown. In addition, solid modeling describes interior volume, mass, and weight.

Sub-Program
Acting as a part programming shortcut, a part program sequence that is called on as needed. Also called a subroutine.

Surface Modeling
A type of geometric modeling based on geometry only, in which all visible surfaces of a part are shown regardless of volume definition.

Step Angle
The angular increment the motor shaft will turn each time the windings (coils) are energized. The angle is specified in degrees. For a 200 step per revolution motor the step angle will be 1.8 degrees.

Step per revolution
The total number of steps to rotate the motor shaft 360 degrees. For CNC, 200 or 400 steps per revolution are usually used.

Stepper motor
A device that translates electrical pulses into precise mechanical movement. The output shaft may deliver rotary or linear motion.

Title Block
A portion of a blueprint that contains information such as the company name, part name, part number, designer, scale, and material.

Tolerance
A blueprint specification indicating an unwanted but acceptable deviation from a given dimension

Toolpath
The series of coordinate positions that determine the movement of a tool during a machining operation.

Translator
An electronic device that converts pulses into the correct switching sequence, which will operate the motor one step for each pulse received.

Unipolar
A bifilar wound motor. The current flows only in one direction through each winding. Normally there are two winding per bobbin and eight bobbins per motor. Usually is a 5, 6 or eight wire motor. One or more common leads are used per winding. Has less torque than a bipolar stepper motor but is simpler to drive. Bipolar stepper motor- just two windings. The electronic controls reverse the current alternately between the coils. This motor has more torque but requires more electronic controls.

Vector Graphics
A form of graphics that uses geometric formulas to represent images. Vector graphic images are more easily manipulated than raster graphics when dealing with CNC.

Wire Frame Modeling
A type of geometric modeling in which the edges of a part are represented by solid lines

Working Drawing
A drawing of a part providing data for manufacturing

X-Axis
An axis that is left or right. All movement left of a zero point is minus (-X), all movement right of the zero point is plus (+X).

Y-axis
An axis that is at right angles to the X-axis and intersect the zero point of the X-axis. All movement further away from the zero point is plus (+Y). All movement closer than the zero point is minus (-Y).

Z-axis
An axis that is vertically perpendicular to the X-Y zero point. All movement above the zero point is positive (+Z) while all movement below the zero point is (-Z).