Sorry it took me soo long.
What kind of twin turn machine is it you have Turbine? Things have been changing and you could (if not now, soon) be in luck for the pricing.
With the MTM options and the custom post, MDD and VMM files, you can do everything that you and Moose talked about. There are several other things that the MTM product does VERY well.
Pinch Turning:
This is a "1" click option to add the sync to the operation and define spindle control to either turret. This option also will calculate staggered starting positions that end togeter (variable feed rate) and constant surface speed, all the while keeping the sync and calculating the cycle time.
Tool Wait:
This will not only allow you to have a pause or wait statment in the program but graphicly define the position that the waiting tool should sit at for the desired time. This is EXTRA COOL when dealing with a longer or shorter tool (like a boring bar or drill) that could bring the tool or turret into cutting envelope of the other spindle.
Spindle Control:
With this option you can graphiclly define which turret has the control over the spindle when turning with both turrets on one spindle. By choosing one operation or the other you can alter this, and in doing so the cycle time calculation will be dynamiclly updated.
Part Transfers, part shifts:
These are done with the custom options that are created to match your machine options. (the reason why the post is so much, look below for more info) With these options you need only to enter the correct information into a defined dialog for each kind of non cutting operation (bar feed, bar pull, robot load/unload, part shift, part transfer, balanced turning (with both spindles in the part), even the ability to set an index of the part while doing a hand off (for alignment to other features or fusxturing on the sub spindle). There are many more but, you get the picture.
The POST:
The reason you fell off yout chair and bounced your head off the floor because of price is because this is NOT just a POST. Here is the best answer I can give you with out confusing you.
The post as you know is VERY custom. This works with the custom MDD (a machine deffinition file) file. This file has all the importaint information about the machine in it, like machine setup, number of turrets, # of tools (which ones are live and not), where they are and where they can go, number of spindles, how they move, what they can and cant do.
The VMM (Virtual Machine file) controls all the movement information, travel speed, turret index time, excel, de-excel rates and anything else that moves that I can't remember.
So, after all this ranting and before I go drink a cold one, you can hopefully see that there is much more to it than just a post that costs a lot of money.
I'm sure that this is much more information than you wanted but, I hope it helps you out. I think the MTM option is a VERY needed option for a company like yours that is still doing it by hand. Just add up your hours for:
Programming, hand editing, machine tryout (dry run), editing again, dry run editing again and then finally running the program. I'm sure after 10 or so jobs you should have the upgrade to MTM just about paid off. (or your well on your way)
Good nite to all!!
GG  |