Using a CNC mill as a lathe

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi Vern,

Nice to see that you got your lathe/mill working. Isn't automation GREAT!

Congratulations!

[Ken_Shea]

Vern,
Do you realize it is almost 10:30

I just found this thread, very interesting, lots of great (new) input and I did read every last one of them, that wasn't fun but it was interesting.

Vern, Not wanting to be pushy but in post #9 you did mention something about investing in a video cam


Ken

[Matt@RFR]

Well done Vern! Don't be hard on yourself for taking hours to write that code. Everybody here started the same exact way. It's a new language to learn and, while simple once you understand everything, takes awhile to get comfy with. Soon enough you'll be able to glance at a few blocks and know exactly what's going on. I'll let you know when I myself get there. Relying on CAM like I do makes the learning curve longer, but it'll come either way.

Even though you may have taken a loss on these parts due to programming and staring-at-the-monitor time, you've gained that much experience. I do the same thing all the time since I don't have enough work to keep me busy enough for me to worry about. I'm constantly trying something new, and the next time I have a similar problem or job, I'll be that much better.

The parts look great, by the way.

[Vern Smith]

Automation is a very mixed blessing because it comes with multiple languages of it's own. My recent purchase of the Haas Renishaw package brings the inscrutable hieroglyphics of macros with it. The probe and tool setter are great accuracy enhancers and speed up the set up many fold but that's only a small part of what the system will do, the rest is hidden behind macros, scaling, and orientation.

I purchased the Haas so I could make neat stuff, making money was a low priority. I've had the machine a little over a year and I can see the priority I gave making money with it has to be pushed even further down the list.

The real problem lies in my inability to leave well enough alone. The project in this thread as well as the Renishaw are examples of playing around with the fun stuff rather then concentrating on what makes money. My wife describes me as a geriatric teenager.

I appreciate the encouragement and consider the project a success, now all I have to do is forget the macros for a while and make some stuff with the Millathe.

Ken, sleep deprivation can lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction.


Vern

[Binski]

Heey everybody.

When I read this thread I got very exited so I tried to experiment a bit:

YouTube - Emco pc mill 50 turns into a lathe

YouTube - Emco pc mill 50 turns into a lathe

I cant get mach to do a radius in the x-z perspective so I've done some straight lines. keeps giving a fault message referring to the K command.

(instead of using I...J... I used I...K for the radius definition)

But Ill keep on trying, Its nice to use my mill as a lathe, maybe in the future I buy a lathe for my workshop.

Greetz...

[HelicopterJohn]

Nice Work Binski,

You guys are amazing. Just watch those fingers as they are in limited supply.

John

[Binski]

Haha thanks!

I whas only turning/milling pvc, no sharp moving points hahah.

I too have been struggeling to make a G code, I couldnt get bobcad to make a toolpath for roughing and getting the z axis to make a radius with the x axis.

So i made the toolpath by hand and no radius..

I'll keep practising though.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Binski ......I cant get mach to do a radius in the x-z perspective so I've done some straight lines. keeps giving a fault message referring to the K command........Greetz...

Did you use G18 to select the X Z plane?

[Binski]

Heey Geof,

You were right!

I forgot all about the G17/G18 .
I'm a bit of a newbie with programming in iso.

Here's the result:

YouTube - Emco pc mill 50 turns into a lathe vol2

YouTube - Emco pc mill 50 turns into a lathe vol2

Now to find A G-code for roughing and profiling....

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Binski ......Now to find A G-code for roughing and profiling....

That is one thing missing on the milllathe; no G71, 72, 70. And no tool comp in G18 or G19.

[katit]

Sorry I'm bringing back topic, but I have a question.
If I get X3 mill, what is bolt-on solution for chuck to use it as a lathe?
Is it possible to move table all way to the side so I can have longer workpiece?
How long of a workpiece I can handle with X3 mill using it as a lathe?

I don't have X3 mill, but thinking buying it as my first machine.

[neilw20]

If you do my Z-mods you can move the head right down to the table.
The original configuration is limited by the ridiculously short gas strut.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showpo...54&postcount=3
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showpo...11&postcount=4

Make or buy and R8 Arbor with a small faceplate on it and borrow the chuck from you 4th axis, or you can just use your collets.
It is possible to put a spindle interrupter so you can do threading.
To do it easy mount it behind the chuck, on the quill with a clamp.

Make a special Mach3 file and use a Machturn configuration.
Some channel's will need reconfiguring for the existing pinouts.
Like X becomes -Z, Y becomes -X and your original Z can be allocated to an extra channel - call it Y,A,B or C and that becomes tool height.
Or just leave it as a MILL and call it a horizontal borer.

It is OK for surface grinding too. Don't limit yourself.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...134#post486134

Don't worry that you can't make long things. Buy a cheap lathe, or mill it slowlyyy........... in your 4th axis between centers.
This makes a good machine for making tiny instrument size parts.
You can still probably make reasonable length parts. ER11 collets hold tiny parts really well.
The only limit on diameter is when the part hits the column, and by then you won't have enough torque to turn anything but wood anyway.