First chips made!

[PixMan]

I had an offer from the seller to come over and give me some pointers on how create and edit programs with the ProtoTrak Plus control. I took him up on the offer, and it was well worth the $20 for gas and a great lunch at Mexicali Fresh Mex Grill.

It seems the control is similar to a Fanuc in that error messages don't tell you much. That's where the similarities end. Each block of code defines one to two parts of a tool path. In the case of this example running around the perimeter of a block of aluminum, there are 5 blocks of code that mill 4 sides (one twice) and 4 corner radii.

While we were working together, it was clear we were both learning a few new tricks. Sometimes the code entered doesn't "take", so it comes up with errors. I can see why this would mean a dry run (tools away from the workpiece) is a mandatory exercise.

http://youtu.be/BUt8x1IkmMg

It was nice to see chips being made, even if the test was nothing more than....a test. When I get a worthwhile project to make, I'll be better prepared to use the machine's capabilities.

Later on tonight or (more likely) tomorrow, I'm going to try programming a pocket inside the piece, then perhaps a pattern of holes to prove out those features of the control.

BTW, can someone show me how to embed videos into a posting like I see so many other people do?

[Mayhem]

Nice to see the old girl can still dance Ken!

[TomG]

Looks good Ken.

Milling frames with radii, both internal and external are one of the most useful features of CNC. That's what I miss most about not having it.

Tom

[Highpower]

(06-29-2013, 08:08 PM)PixMan Wrote: BTW, can someone show me how to embed videos into a posting like I see so many other people do?

Ken, just copy your video URL and then click on the "TV" icon in the upper right corner of the forum edit screen. Select "YouTube" (or other video source as appropriate) and then paste it into the box. Done.

[DaveH]

That's a good start

DaveH

[PixMan]

Here's a new video from today. I had gone back last evening to deliver meals and hung around until after 10:00 trying the pocketing cycle. My first attempt resulted in a decent looking pocket, but it on the last pass at the center it left a piece standing.

Today I went back to see if I could do better. I made a change in the parameter of the cycle that simply offers "CCW" versus "CW". It didn't seem to make the cutter climb mill or not by changing, but did change the size of the pocket significantly. By changing from the initial setting of "CW" to "CCW" I needed to add .250" to the X and Y dimension parameters.

I made a note to myself that this is the right way to program it, because it now takes the finish pass around the periphery that it didn't do making the incomplete pocket.

Sometime this week I'll try out the hole milling and post milling, plus the hole drilling cycles. This is good progress for the time I've put into it.

[EdK]

That mill can sure make a pile of chips in a hurry.

Ed

[PixMan]

(06-30-2013, 02:41 PM)EdK Wrote: That mill can sure make a pile of chips in a hurry.

Ed

Yeah, but it wasn't even breathing hard in this application. Wait til I get some steel on it and a high performance carbide insert cutter going. I know what I could get out of 1HP, can't wait to see what twice the power could do. ;)

Honestly if I had the funds I'd buy one of the seller's Matsuura machines when he upgrades those. I'd kill to have 8000rpm and 7.5 real HP. He indicated he'd sell one to me for "under 7 grand." Come to think of it, I could probably sell this one for $3K and be halfway there. Hmmm......

[DaveH]

Really nice Ken

All that blowing is going to make you out of puff or a flat on the end of your nose if you get too close

DaveH

[PixMan]

Funny thing is that there's an air compressor 10 feet away, and it has the hose and blow gun on it. I forgot to fire it up and fill the tank before starting, and didn't want it running while recording the video. It's noisy enough with the RPC and spindle motor running, plus the cutting sound.

I've got a decent set of lungs, no worries. I didn't get anywhere near close enough to shave on the end mill.