Just wondering if most cnc machines are dependable enough to leave running unattended? I'm guessing only if you've seen it make that particular part before without trouble?

Just wondering if most cnc machines are dependable enough to leave running unattended? I'm guessing only if you've seen it make that particular part before without trouble? Bingo for me....Although it does make you think while eating your tea if it's eating itself :D

If you are running production and want to stay in business you cannot afford to have someone hovering over the machine all the time and machines do run unattended for long cycles.

Some people get all worried but even if you are standing right there with your finger hovering over the E-stop button it is difficult to react fast enough to prevent problems.

Our experience is that with well written and proven programs bad things happen very rarely. Normally on lathes it is a parting tool failing or on lathes and mills a drill getting dull. In both casess it is possible to set the part count to a number that is well within the life of the tool and have the machine shut down or automatically switch to using a backup tool. Another preventative measure is to set the spindle load monitors at a level that is not reached during normal operation so that if a tool breaks the machine will alarm due to the increased load.

Just wondering if most cnc machines are dependable enough to leave running unattended? I'm guessing only if you've seen it make that particular part before without trouble?
Hurco at work I'll leave the building. My homebuilt, I'll leave the room but not the building, yet. A lot depends on the safety features you have installed, and how much damage they will prevent. Things like limit switches (and testing them to make sure) and other things to prevent the machine from harming itself play a big part. Also how stable your computer is. Some just seem to like running mach more than others.

Just wondering if most cnc machines are dependable enough to leave running unattended? I'm guessing only if you've seen it make that particular part before without trouble?

Once I've run a part enough to be certain the whole setup and program is stable, I'll leave the building an let it run. I'll generally sit and watch the first part run through, or at least check on it frequently, to make sure everything is kosher. After that, I trust it not to do anything *too* stupid. the overwhelming majority of "oopsies" I have are operator errors, and programming bugs. Once a program is proven, I generally have no problems, unless I lose coolant due to a clog or the compressor dying (yes, it's happened!), or some other unforseeable problem.

Regards,
Ray L.

I leave mine go at it on its own once it starts cutting and it has cut the part before... especially now.

I just got a relay in the mail to automatically start and stop the mill. It takes a solid state DC relay to control the motor on my X3. At first I tried hooking it up to the motor directly and because of the slow startup required by the motor it would kick out the overload circuit as soon as it turned on. So I hooked it to the speed pot bypassing the P3 wire. That was the only wire that would work. I also got an AC solid state relay to control the flood. That was a simple hookup except the the plug outlet I hooked it to used 10 gauge wire and trying to reroute that heavy wire took a bit of effort. These relays (http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Asia-Engineer__W0QQ_sidZ149380788?_nkw=ssr) came from China and took a good 10 days to get here but it was worth it. They are exceptional quality considering they were made in China. I used to have to pop in or make sure I was nearby before but now I can just go about other business and not even have to worry about coming back.

Rick

Every day. Ideally, I'll have 2 machines running, then I'll be off welding or doing CAD work, or even or rare occasion like today, doing lathe work. I love those 6 hour cycle time fixtured production jobs, they pay well. And as mentioned above, I can't afford to hover over the machine... Unless it's a VERY expensive "one off", then I don't go far.

MC

I don't mind leaving the machine run unattended if it is on a long finishing program. But for drilling, tapping and general roughing, I stay in the room, because things could get really messed up if certain tools aren't there doing their job :D

I have been watching one or two passes of the program and then I feel pretty confident
about leaving it to run by itself. I have even let it run over night while I sleep.

My reason for converting to CNC at home seems to be different to most folks. All I want is repeatability for when I need to make a part after some time since the previous one. Speed for me is not important as it is for home use and my satisfaction but to be able (in my case) to load a drawing in and have the machine cut out the same after 6 months is. Mostly I cut foam patterns for castings and I prefer to use the LFC method as opposed to using a hard pattern since I am no good at woordwork anyway so a foam pattern I can bury in sand is far easier but it obviously needs a fresh pattern for each casting hence CNC. Apart from all that my workshop is not big enough to run more than one machine at a time.
John.

My machine has always gotten into more trouble when I'm with it than when I'm not!

:rolleyes:

Most of my broken endmills have happened from a mistyped MDI command. Nothing quite like dropping a decimal point!

:eek:

So far nothing serious, but I can say firsthand a 1/2" endmill snaps off clean when rapided full speed even into aluminum.

DOH! I hate when that happens.

Cheers,

BW

Now with the ATC I can busy myself with other stuff even longer than before.
I still stay in the shop as my parts don't take any longer than 30 - 45 minutes.
The TV helps.
Hoss

I have considered a wireless internet cam mounted to my enclosure, so I can view progress while I'm inside the house on the laptop. Anyone here have that setup?

A capability I have though I have only used it a couple times, is a simple USB camera watching the mill and logged into Stickam.com (http://www.stickam.com/hossmachine).
It's one of the many Live CAM sites out there like Justin.tv.
With this setup, I (or anyone if I don't make it private) could log in on another computer and keep an eye on it.
Your PC has to be Mach 3 and internet friendly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQp8RNsynfo&feature=channel_page) but I haven't had any trouble.
Hoss

I'll go off and do other things while my machine is running, both at work and at home, after the first cycle proves itself.

Still, anything can go wrong while your back is turned. :D
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j196/vlmarshall/Metalwork/Monday1.jpg

The drill chuck came off it's taper, and remained in the hole. The next tool ran into the chuck while I was deburring the last set of parts, breaking a carbide centerdrill. Nothing else was harmed.

Stuff happens.

I'll go off and do other things while my machine is running, both at work and at home, after the first cycle proves itself.

Still, anything can go wrong while your back is turned. :D
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j196/vlmarshall/Metalwork/Monday1.jpg

The drill chuck came off it's taper, and remained in the hole. The next tool ran into the chuck while I was deburring the last set of parts, breaking a carbide centerdrill. Nothing else was harmed.

Stuff happens.
What kind of ATC is that?

What kind of ATC is that?

That was at work. Haas VF-3. 20-pot tool changer, not the side-mount. A machine I'd like to have at home. :D

I mostly build one offs every day so I'm constantly running new programs. I'm confident in my programming but I'm still human and make mistakes. As each new tool comes down I verify that it's set correctly and then I watch it cut for a little while before I take my finger off the feed hold.

If I'm at all worried about the program I'll keep my finger on the feed hold the whole time.

.....The drill chuck came off it's taper, and remained in the hole.....

Stuff happens.

That is why it is a good idea to only use the one piece drill chucks for CNC machines.

That is why it is a good idea to only use the one piece drill chucks for CNC machines.

I have had this same thing happen as well. Not enough safety margin for CNC use. Especially for a high G accel. machine like a Robo-drill. Nor do I think they are balanced well enough for high RPM use. Would not be good to lose one at 10,00 RPM!

..... Would not be good to lose one at 10,00 RPM!

Oh I don't know, 1000 is not too bad.:)

I guess from the placement of the comma you stopped typing too soon?

X+,X- 1000, 10,000 rpm, all kind of look alike right? Which is exactly why I tell my guy's to check twice and if your still not sure ask someone else! Your definetly a machinist if you make a point to mention that slip up:) They (being morse taper holders) will actually pull off the taper when cutting gummy materials like 6063 alum. and brass could be bad as well.
Really good for manual work and low RPM light feed stuff but otherwise forget it.

program proven or not...things do happen, im an assistant team leader in a cnc shop for toyota a/c compressor division... about 60 t21 robo drills, 12 v25r okuma lathes, 6 sv250 okuma lathes and 6 toyosk horizontal mills and i have seen very unexplainable things from programs that have been running for 3-4 years... never take your machine for granted...although i dont think a small hobby setup with steppers will do the same damage as the bigger servo drives we use at work...you can still go through a lot of money fast...

sorry for the bad typing im holding my sleeping daughter in one arm...bah night shift sux...lol

Mwood

All my machines are home made. They all have steppers. I do leave them to run unattended be it the other side of the shop or me in my office. It is a very rare occasion that I loose a part due to the machines. Generally it's a broken em or something in which case i just rerun the cycle. About 10 minutes is my longest cycles and most are less than three.

These are all semi production machines for fairly small basic parts. Profiles, engraving, dados, drilling and basic turnings.

The ability to hit Cycle Start and forget about it and do something else far outweighs the part loss in my case. It still saves me a lot of time and therefore money. :) It was also my intention to do this on the mill and lathe, but when I did my router, which was first, it never even occured to me that I could leave it alone.

That said, all my machines have rather large Estop buttons. ;) About 3" diameter. I could and have thrown a rag at it from accross the shop to engage the estop. Small shop. ;)

The Tool and Die shop I used to work at, they would always babysit any roughing or drilling programs and maybe only a brief minute or two away from the machine. As someone else mentioned the finishing programs we would watch the first few minutes and check up on it occasionally.

The rare accidents that can happen, the coolant getting clogged or running out. Or the machine konks out, you restart it thinks it has the right tool(atc) and proceeds to chamfer with a centerdrill, or your part comes loose in the vise.

I installed a web cam and Tight VNC server (its like pcanywhere, only FREE) and also Ispy cam software (free) on my Mach3 controller computer.....that way I can watch and control the job or computer from any other computer on my home network...I recommend a wired network.....here is a screen shot of tight VNC client running on my gaming/cad computer. I like it!!!

Robert

That is a pretty slick setup rwestbr! I may try to set something like that up soon also.