V2XT- DX32 : Programing Z axis Question

[v488]

I'd like to know how other guys are programing their " Z " clearance & depths. What i need to do to get my programs to work seems like a dumb way of working. Maybe its ME! OK, Example; Lets say i need to mill a pocket .500 Deep , and i want a .500 clearance. Where it says Z start point i put .500 ( that is " + " but i don't put a " + " sign in ). Than come down to where it says Z Depth, i'm having to add the .500 clearance to the .500 deep i want to go down. So i type in 1.000 ( this is " - " but i don't type in the " - " becaulse its asking for a depth ). This is the only way i can get the Z axis to mill .500 deep! Do i need to add the amount of clearance to the amount of depth? Any other mill i've used would say Z clear , this would be .500. Than a Z end point , this would be -.500 . Than it would mill .500 deep. Is this how its done or am i doing something wrong? If i want to mill .500 Deep I want to be able to type .500 and should NOT need the add the amount of clearance to the depth amount? I'm doing this move in a " Pocket Canned Cycle ".

[machintek]

If you do a position move, it would be a Z-.500 but in a "canned cycle" the Z is an unsigned incremental value from the clearance point. It is in the programming manual. Try doing a G84 tap cycle with a negative Z and it taps UP! The G83 deep hole drilling cycle has 3 Z values, all unsigned incremental values. Just the way it is.

George

[v488]

I did not add the most important part, I'm doing this in a " Canned Cycle " Sorry!

[v488]

Another programing question. How does each Canned Cycle know what tool to use for it? Other mills i've ran want a Tool # in the cycle, this ( v2xt ) does not ask for one. I have a .500 end mill in the tool list as #1. Example of a small program i'm doing with all Canned Cycles; 1st. cycle- G173, works great , steps over correct amount. 2nd. Cycle- G83 , works great, ( drilling with .500 end mill ). 3rd. Cycle-G170, works great, tool offset correct. 4th. Cycle-G173, works great, steps over correct amount. 5th. Cycle-G177, Bad, circle cuts WAY OVERSIZE cutter comp seems to be lost? How does it know there is a .500 end mill for everthing but the G177? NOW heres the HEEL KICKER, when i put the G177 in the program as the 1st. Cycle it runs PERFECT! Do i need to edit in a Tool# & Offset between these Cycles? I'm sure when i run more than 1 Tool it will need something. I've only ran 1 tool at a time sofare. Thanks Mike

[v488]

Anybody?

[edspert]

G177 is a pocket circle mill with a combination of inside spiral and inside circle. without see the code its hard to say if the clearance and or stepover moves are inserted in the correct order. what is the cutter size on the screen in the first operation vs. the seventh op ? if they are the same the program may designate a tool diameter somewhere in between. G175/G176 will use the tool dia. last specified if not called out in current op. eb

[machintek]

You set the tool TLO (tool length offset).
Then you call the tool up (ie: T1M06) before you do any Z axis position moves and before you call up a canned cycle.

George