Swiss Lathe, Tool Change Position

[John3]

I'm about to write a hand full of new programs for our CNC Swiss-Slant screwmachine lathe. This machine has front and rear turrets that slide on the same X-Axis.

I don't have a lot of experience working with this type of machine, and am unfamiliar with what's best or at least reasonable to do.

My question is; What is the best way to get clearance to allow turret indexing in the program?

It seems to me that I could;

1. Move the Z axis to slide the material into the guide bushing and not worry about where the turret X-Axis is when indexing. (I could index both turrets in preparation for next operations)

2. Leave the material extended out the guide bushing and move the turrets to a safe place for one of them to spin/index.

I wonder if its reasonable to use rapid G00 moves (800 IPM) along the Z-axis. For some of the parts there will be 12 foot of 1-1/4" round brass rod in the head stock. How likely is the material to slip in the collet due to its inertia if I do fast Z moves. Or will rapid Z moves screw with the FMB Hydraulic barfeeder?

The X axis on this machine only moves half the speed as Z and I'd have to move X a lot more than Z to get the needed turret clearance.

This may be a fine point, but we'll run thousands of parts so saving some time on indexing is worth it, as long as the material doesn't slip in the collet.

Any suggestions /comments welcome,

Thanks,

John

[tobyaxis]

I usually move the X Axis in Rapid leaving the stock material (Z Axis) in the last position where it left off.

BTW: Write a Sub-Program for tool change positions so you can save yourself some confusion. Also when you call a tool on one Turret call the next tool on the other Turret. This helps to save a little cycle time.


%
O4130;
M8;
S2500 M3;
G0 G40 G80 G99 Y1.5 T0 M11;
G110 T0;
G100 C6.6;
G300 Z.75;
M10;
G50 Z-.01;
G0 X1.5 Z-.02 T0 M18;
M1;
;
N1(FACE);
T505 S6500 M13;
G0 X.4 Z0;
G1 X-.005 F.001;
G0 X.4 Z-.01;
X1.5 T0;
;
N2(SPOT DRILL 3/8 DIA. HSS);
T1111 S1500 M13;
G0 Z-.02;
Y0;
G1 Z.13 F.0015;
G4 U.05;
G0 Z-.05;
Y1.5 T0;
;
N3(DRILL 1/8 DIA. 135SPT COB STUB);
T1212 S1500 M13;
G0 Z-.02;
Y0;
G1 Z.335 F.0015;
G4 U.05;
G0 Z-.05;
Y1.5 T0;
;
N4(BORE .11 DIA. TRUEMADE COATED);
T1313 S2000 M13;
G0 Y.6 Z-.05;
G1 Y.339 Z-.015 F.005;
Y.127 Z.091 F.00025;
Z.285 F.0005;
Y.125;
G0 Z-.05;
Y1.5 T0;
;
N5(FACE/CH/TURN/SANDVIK CRMT);
T051505 S6500 M13;
G0 X.4 Z0;
G1 X.275 F.0008;
X.329 F.0015;
X.339 Z.005 F.0003;
U-.0005 Z.425 F.0005;
X.355 Z.4332 F.0003;
G0 X1.5 T0;
;
N6(R-GROOVE .058W THINBIT);
T140614 S1800 M13;
G0 Y.4 Z.3142;
G1 Y.24 F.0005;
Y.349 F.01;
G0 Z.308;
G1 Y.24 F.0005;
Y.349 F.01;
G0 Z.32;
G1 Y.24 F.0005;
Y.35 F.01;
G0 Y1.5 T0;
;
N7(F-GROOVE .069W CRMT ROBINSON);
T150615 S6000 M14;
G0 Y.349 Z.304;
G4 U.05;
G1Y.329 Z.314 F.0003;
Y.219;
Z.325;
Y.329;
Y.349 Z.335 F.0003;
G0 Y1.5 T0 M5;
;
N8(SLOT SAW 1.25 DIA. .02 WIDE 36T);
/T011501 M8;
/G50 A0;
/A.9;
/M70;
/M117(750 RPM);
/M114(CCW);
/M10000(0 DEGREES);
/G0 X.75 Z-.05;
/X0;
/G98 G1 Z.26 F15.0;
/G4 U.05;
/G1 A-.4 F3.5;
/Z-.05 F25.0;
/M10900(90 DEGREES);
/G0 A.8;
/G1 Z.26 F15.0;
/G4 U.05;
/G1 A-.4 F3.5;
/Z-.05 F25.0;
/G99 X.75 M115;
G0 X1.5 T0 M71;
;
N9(RE-BORE);
T130513 S2000 M13;
G0 Y.6 Z-.05;
G1 Y.339 Z-.015 F.005;
Y.127 Z.091 F.00025;
Z.285 Z.0005;
Y.125;
G0 Z-.05;
Y1.5 T0;
;
N10(RE-GROOVE);
T150515 S6500 M14;
G0 Y.349 Z.304;
G4 U1.0;
G1 Y.329 Z.314 F.0003;
Y.219;
Z.325;
Y.329;
Y.349 Z.335 F.0003;
G0 Y1.5 T0;
;
N11(RE-FACE/CH/TURN);
T051505 S6500 M13;
G0 X.4 Z0;
G1 X.275 F.0008
X.329 F.0015;
X.339 Z.005 F.0003;
U-.0005 Z.425 F.0005;
X.355 Z.4332 F.0003;
G0 X1.5 T0;
;
N12 (CH/BACK/CUT-OFF .06W THINBIT/CRMT);
T061506 S3500 M13;>>>>>>>This calls both sides at the same time
G0 Z.4;
X.4;
G1 X.2 F.0005;
X.349 F.003;
Z.39;
X.329 Z.4 F.0003;
X-.035 M17;
M18;
M95;
/M98 P9800;
M96;
M97;
M30;
%

[yoopertool]

What make and model machine are you working on? different machines do it different ways. I run a citezen E-32 lathe with dual turrets. When I program a tool change I simply rapid the tool back to its home position (X6.3) and conduct a tool change from there. I run 1 1/4" material and as long as the bar is consistant in diameter and your collet clamps nice and tight, you shouldnt have any issues with it sliding.

[John3]

Thanks for the help and comments guys!

Its a Tsugami/Methods NP32 with dual Fanuc 0T controllers.

The Main spindle has two 6 position turrets (front and rear) about 9" apart. The rear turret is powered for live tooling.

There is a Back/Sub-spindle for picking off the cutoff and doing back working. That Spindle assembly moves in X and Z. There's a third turret for the back working process. It is also powered for live tooling.

John

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by John3 Thanks for the help and comments guys! Its a Tsugami/Methods NP32 with dual Fanuc 0T controllers. The Main spindle has two 6 position turrets (front and rear) about 9" apart. The rear turret is powered for live tooling. There is a Back/Sub-spindle for picking off the cutoff and doing back working. That Spindle assembly moves in X and Z. There's a third turret for the back working process. It is also powered for live tooling. John

Tsugami's are nice machines. You say you have Dual Fanuc Controls, NICE!!!!!
Do you have any pictures???

[John3]

Originally Posted by tobyaxis Tsugami's are nice machines. You say you have Dual Fanuc Controls, NICE!!!!!

You say nice? I'm thinking more like a pita... trying to get the two spindles / turrets and controllers synchronized. Do you have any experience with this sort of thing? I could sure use some advice. We inherited the machine already making a few parts, now we are trying to use it for other jobs.

When you finally do get it all figured out, it is cool watching the two spindles work on two different parts at the same time.

Originally Posted by tobyaxis Do you have any pictures???

I'll post pictures in the next few days......

John

[tobyaxis]

If you have the Fanuc Manuals they will explain loads on how to do this. I believe they even give a few example Programs. There should be a G or M-Code Designation to Synchronize the Controls.