Ultimax II V8.60 - a few questions

[fasto]

This is on my BMC-20.

Q: Can I select 0 spindle speed in the conversational side of the control? I have an electric high-speed spindle that I want to use. It of course requires the spindle to be stopped, and it has to be put in manually as it won't fit the ATC and needs to be plugged in to air & electric to run. I haven't actually tried to command 0 spindle speed in a milling operation, perhaps I should just try it out? Also, I believe that selecting a tool # that's higher than the # of pockets in the carousel should cause a manual tool change, right?

Q#2: Conversational again: When I set up a tool, for example an end mill, there are places to input both feed in IPM, and the # flutes and desired chipload. Isn't one of these redundant, if you've input the RPM?

Q#3: Conversational for the hat trick: In tool setup, if I select say "mist" coolant, I get mist coolant everytime the spindle is running with that tool. Can I turn off coolant, or switch to flood, in my program? (I want to run one op with mist, then the next without, using the same tool.) I didn't see a way to do this, and I don't think it's possible. It should be possible on the G-code side as I recall the coolants are selected by M codes - can it be done on the conversational side?

As an update, I've got the machine running pretty smoothly now. Using the info from Bloke I was able to fix up the backlash comp, and now I can helically interpolate a very good circle. I still have 0.0005 lost motion in Y, as the leadscrew moves this distance when reversing directions I suspect the bearings are worn or have lost their preload. It's a lot better than it was! I had 0.010 play in Y that I took up with the gibs, and the X backlash compensation was set to positive (which ADDS backlash...). It looks like the ballscrews have "0" lost motion in the nuts, so I don't have to re-ball them. I haven't had the courage to check backlash or the gib setting in Z yet. A mixture of simple green and water is doing wonders at taking off the 20 years of dried soluble coolant and embedded swarf.

[bloke]

Yes you can run the machine with 0 RPM set in the program but it will constantly tell you you have 0 RPM and you will have to keep pressing the start button.

Yes it will do manual changes if the number is higher than the max. tool pocket number.

Yes, you don't need to use all of the settings it will work out feedrate from either/and/or.

Coolant. No, once it is chosen for a tool that's it. Unless you make the tool a manual t/c tool and use the same tool setup for one tool under two different tool numbers.

Glad to hear the machine is running well.

[fasto]

Excellent, thanks!

Any thoughts on my "missing" 0.0005" on Y? (The lost motion of 0.0005" that I see, probably due to movement of the leadscrew, that is.) I won't be able to take it apart until the weekend. Is this much motion acceptable? I would think not, with the preloaded bearing set up.

Thanks again,
Aaron

[bloke]

If the ballscrew is floating back to front by 0.0005" when you change direction, you will improve it by changing the bearings. Balance up whether 0.0005" backlash is acceptable over the cost of replacing them.

[fasto]

Thanks Bloke I expected as much, I'll probably take it apart tomorrow and make sure the nuts are tight and the preload hasn't been lost, and live with it.

Seems that a pair of bearings is going to cost almost what I paid for the machine... maybe when I get some more work for it.

[skullworks]

One thing that is very handy is to insert a "Change Parameter Block" between different areas of your program.

This lets you change all sorts of things like retract clearance, cord error tol, finish allowances. Get to know how adjusting the default parameters in your programs can improve overall speed.

Also - if you run on the G-code side you have full control of MIST (M7) or Flood (M8) or none (M9).

V8.6 was a great update when I got it.