MasterCam Question

[cooldxx]

I am trying to use Mastercam X4 to program OD grinding machine. My part is located in the machine vertically on top. My 2 grinding wheels is on the bottom. My part moves in -Z direction to get an OD needed. Please help me with the Mastercam.
Do I have to use mill or lathe application?
How do I turn axis in Z direction so I can program Z toolpath?
I am new to Mastercam. Any help will get me on the track.

Thank you

[Rally]

Originally Posted by cooldxx I am trying to use Mastercam X4 to program OD grinding machine. My part is located in the machine vertically on top. My 2 grinding wheels is on the bottom. My part moves in -Z direction to get an OD needed. Please help me with the Mastercam. Do I have to use mill or lathe application? How do I turn axis in Z direction so I can program Z toolpath? I am new to Mastercam. Any help will get me on the track. Thank you

What was the Mastercam originaly purchased for? Did you not get that information before purchase?
Not trying to be an a** but if you are using a pirate copy you will not be able to get much help here in these forums.

What package do you have?

[Superman]

You seem to thinking in the reverse concept on how to actually program "toolpaths"...they are not "partpaths"

Mastercam assumes the part is fixed , and the rotary cutters, wire, turning tools are the items that move.

I would guess that it is programmed along the same lines as a lathe that has a front and rear turrets
You may be selecting the wrong turret that represents the "grinding wheel"

Your reseller should have given sample programs or instructions when he did the post processor for you
---is there any info in the top section of the post on how to program for the machine and to get correct code ?

[ObrienDave]

Seems to me you can use Lathe.
By definition, the Z axis is usually the chuck axis on a lathe, or the spindle on a mill.
It does not matter if the chuck is on the left, right, up or down.
What does matter is the movement is appropriate for the part.
Don't quote me on this, I am NOT a lathe programmer.

P.S. to Rally,
Our purpose here is to help MasterCam programmers, not enforce piracy laws.

[chrisforever]

Master CAM X4 looks really good. Now they have Nesting system. I think this is very useful for cutting things to save material.

[John_B]

I programmed a few Supertec OD grinders for quite few years, and it worked best for me to use Mcam Lathe. I was using V9 then, so I just made all the grinding wheels out of grooving tools in Mastercam, it worked but not real well. It was all I had though, other than doing everything longhand.

Most late model CNC OD grinders have programming wizards built in now to program at the control. It much easier that way!