I have and use CNC mills but have never used a CNC lathe. What program do you use to create your tool path. I have bobcadcam 19, Deskcnc, and signlab. but don't know how to get a multiple path or a profile that will create a path that will work for a lathe.
Thanks
Don C.

You will need lathe CAM software. I've heard good stuff about the new Onecnc lathe. I don't think Bobcad has lathe but I could be wrong, havent seen their site in a long time. Mastercam lathe is not too bad $ wise, a lot cheaper than Mill. There may be some shareware or demos out there somewhere too...

:rolleyes: I don't like bobcad cam, and every thing else I have is for a mill. I just can't seem to understand the process they use to draw, It seems like there has to be a better way.
Thanks
Don

Remember that lathe tool pathes are only 2D. I do about 90% either using the canned cycles in TurboCNC or writing the programs in a text editor or excel. For the other 10% I use autocad and Ace convertor.

Lately I started using Curviewer turn and writing it's editor.

Hi,

Well, I work for an COMPANY that the PROGRAMER never wanted to fix the BAD PROGRAMS that he wrote (or the computer made),so the guys in the machine shop learned to fix and write their own out of there heads. Now that that I have a CNC lathe of my own,I do the same at home with no CAM PROGRAM. But I do wish I did have a CAM PROGRAM ,it is better than sitting at your bench for hours and hours to write programs!

D.PONTES

Don C,

There is a Bobcad cam lesson on their web site on lathe training.

http://www.bobcad.com/demo_Lesson/easylesson2/easy2_pdf.zip

Not much there, but it can help you get started with lathe programming.

Hope this helps.

Wayne