How do I program turning a ball on the end of a shaft?

[cdntoolmaker]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone out there can tell me how to write a program that would turn a 3/4" dia. ball on the end of a shaft? Are there any wizards or macros to help with the programing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
cdntoolmaker

[uperez]

Hi! It's easy if you're using a round insert. Just simply add the radius of the part and the radius of the tool in your R value in the program. You just have to calculate the starting point in z if you're starting the arc from the shaft side, or the end point in z if you're starting the arc from the ball end side since your shaft diameter must already be given then the X value is already known.

PS: this is if you are not using tool nose radius compensation (G41/G42).

[cdntoolmaker]

Hi uperez,

Thank you for your responce. I don't think I stated my question properly. I'm looking for instructions on how to write the actual code. I am new to programing and I have been using Mach3 and Lazycam to generate my 2 1/2D code for milling applications. This is my first try at Lathe cnc. My sizes are on the end of a 0.3125 dia. x 1.500 long shaft there would be a 0.750 dia. ball. So once again any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
cdntoolmaker

[dcoupar]

I'm confused. How do you get a 0.750 diameter ball on the end of a 0.3125 diameter shaft? Can you post a picture of what you want?

[cdntoolmaker]

Hi dcoupar,

You ask. "How do you get a 0.750 diameter ball on the end of a 0.3125 diameter shaft?"

I could do it two ways.

1) Thread one end of a 0.3125 dia. x 1.500 shaft and screw a 0.75 dia. x 0.75 blank on the end and then turn the ball.
2) Start with a 0.75 or 0.875 dia x 2.25 long blank. Face and turn one end to 0.3125 x 1.5 long. Then mount the 0.3125 end in the cnc lathe and turn the ball.

For turning the ball end I would be using a 0.094 wide top notch carbide insert with a full radius on the tip. The cnc lathe it would be turned on is the size of a sherline so I would not be able to hog off the rough cuts. Maybe roughing passes of 0.020 and finishing passes of 0.005. I believe the control is very similar to the Fanuc G&M codes because it needs a % sign at the beginning and end of the program.

Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.