What Cam software for a 9 axis machine?

[nervis1]

So I'm looking through a trade mag and drooling oven all of these fancy new machines and I see a high dollar lathe with 9 axis contols. I'm totally beside myself trying to think of how someone would program one of these things. What CAM system is out there that handles 9 axis? Boy I'd love to see one in operation, that must be something.

[drewg350]

We have a 9 axis mill/turn machine manufactured by Nakamura Tome. It's their Super NTJ model. It is a "B-axis" upper turret that rotates 182' total (+/- 91') along with "Y, Z, X, and C". The lower turret has "C, Z, X, and B". The Fanuc 18I control can control 4 out of 5 axis on the main spindle, and 4 out of 4 axis on the sub spindle for a total of 8 out of 9 axis at one time. We use Esprit software to program this machine. Mill turn machines in general are very complex to program, and usually have a longer learning curve than a basic lathe or mill. They are however quite impressive when they are making complicated parts in one operation. That's what we bought it for. This machine completes one of our parts in a single operation that use to have 6 op's--2 turning and 4 milling op's.

[Ken_Shea]

I was just looking for info on this machine and I think drewg350 is pulling our leg.

Quote:
"Programming the Super NTJ is quick and easy with Luck-Bei II software

Can you really trust software that is named Luck-Bei II

Here is a little movie of it in operation, real short unfortunately.
http://www.imuspa.it/video/b.mpg

[drewg350]

Ken,
The "Luck Bei" is suppose to be a conversational control that Fanuc and Nakamura came up with to try and sell these machines as "easy to program". The graphic's are real cool, however it's really useless. When we went to look at this machine at the distributor's facility, I inquired to see this. They stated "we've never used luck Bei before". I asked to see it anyway, and so they spent over an hour just trying to get it up on the screen before they finally gave up.
I suppose if you are just turning "circle's and squares" it may work, but forget about doing any type of complicated programming. Beside's who could really afford to have a $400,000.00+ machine sitting on the floor waiting for a program while someone uses the "conversational control" to program it.

[Rekd]

Originally Posted by drewg350 We have a 9 axis mill/turn machine manufactured by Nakamura Tome. It's their Super NTJ model. It is a "B-axis" upper turret that rotates 182' total (+/- 91') along with "Y, Z, X, and C". The lower turret has "C, Z, X, and B". The Fanuc 18I control can control 4 out of 5 axis on the main spindle, and 4 out of 4 axis on the sub spindle for a total of 8 out of 9 axis at one time. We use Esprit software to program this machine. Mill turn machines in general are very complex to program, and usually have a longer learning curve than a basic lathe or mill. They are however quite impressive when they are making complicated parts in one operation. That's what we bought it for. This machine completes one of our parts in a single operation that use to have 6 op's--2 turning and 4 milling op's.

[nervis1]

That vid was pretty cool Ken.

I agree...post up some pics, that stuff is amazing.

[drewg350]

I have my CAMCORDER on the table so I don't forget to bring it to my shop in the morning. I will take a bunch of pic's of the NTJ running and maybe a short video for you as well.

[Ken_Shea]

That would be super, we all would enjoy that for sure.

Thanks
Ken

[drewg350]

Here's a few pic's of the Nakamura Super NTJ producing footpegs for the sportbike and racing market. This machine complete's this part in 2.5 minute's. It use to take 4-6 operations on our turning centers and mills to complete.
The other machine in the pic's is a new Makino A66E horizontal machining center with a two tier linear pallet cell. This machine is the best piece of equipment I've ever purchased. The surface finish and blends are the absolutely incredible. The spindle is an HSK63A with 20,000 RPM and we routinly run 200-600 IPM at 18-20 K all day and night.

[Ken_Shea]

WOW !

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics, sure would love to see something like that in action.

[nervis1]

You know I have some attack rearsets on my R1 that look just like that...

That is just an awsome machine, feel free to post pics or whatever anytime, I love seeing that stuff, and thanks for sharing.

[AdvanTech]

Seen some of these in action at the tool show. Very impressive machines. I told the boss we should buy one just to say we have it. Didn't get me too far.