Emco Compact 5 CNC SETTING ZERO

[lee221186]

Hi i have a Emco Compact 5 CNC lathe and when i set zero and move the X or Z it knows how far its moved but when i go in to edit mode and go in to manual mode its zero agen how do i keep its last position

and i have a updated key pad bord panle can i just plug and play with out any problems will i have more g codes as well
any help will be brill thanks

[jgrush]

Hi Lee (numbers)!

We are using this machine in class - 'CNC Lathe Programming' at the Santa Rosa Junior College. We are using them strictly for manual input you have to put in the whole program each time you turn on the machine - if you hit the Emergency Stop, it deletes the program.

You toggle between manual and G-Code using the H/C button. If you toggle back and forth it sets X and Z to zero every time. So you start with the display showing X and Z - then put the tool where you want to start - usually setting Z first, moving the one axis only, and hit Del to set that axis' position as Zero, for example when touching the face of the part blank. Then move the other axis to where you want it - the outside diameter of the part blank, for example, then hit Del to set that axis to Zero (usually the X is the second to set). Now both axes are zeroed.

We used incremental programming exclusively in the class so you understand that it doesn't matter what you set as zero as long as the tool is where you want it to start when you go to Coding mode. We were taught to move the tool point +.250" (or 6mm) on both axes as a starting position, then hit the H/C button and punch the code in or load the code. DO NOT move the tool until you until finish coding and cutting or your starting point will be changed.
The first or second line of code will be a rapid to the 'corner' of the material:

G00 X-250 Z-250

Some hints:

For direct input, coding is by thousandths of an inch (on ours) so X25 means 0.025" and X150 means 0.150" and X5 means 0.005"

For negative values - (towards the chuck or towards the Z axis center-line) Input the number of thousandths then the sign: X-.250 is put in as 250 then minus (-)

You have to hit the right arrow to move from the line number to the G or M code column. You hit the minus sign to make an M code.

"-> (G)64" to stop the axis motors - this keeps them from overheating while you are not using them. We were taught to do this upon powering up the lathe.

In the number line, a minus will move you to the start of the program.

Hope that helps. I can probably come up with a 'cheat sheet' for this machine, if you can use that.

John Rush
Santa Rosa, California
USA