Newbie- Mazak QT10N T2 - Basics

[ic-cnc]

Hello all. I'm Jimmy, newbie in every sense...but fascinated CNC since seeing it online. I have recently gained access to a Mazak QT10N T2 that has been sitting. My buddies are conventional automotive machinists so the web and manuals have been my only resource. So far I have been able to navigate through some of the interface, control panel, set machine zero, and write a basic facing and turning program. I have a few questions:

1. Where can I acquire tool holders, specifically for drilling, tapping, and boring? (I haven't attempted to change the tool or tool offset data because it does not have any tools.)

2. How do you set program zero? (I tried a dry run with no tooling or stock, but soon after cycle start was pressed the turret moved toward the upper limit switch and reported a "101 STORED STROKE LIMIT +X". Am I on the right track?)





Thanks for your help and patience.

[jimiscnc]

basic concepts for mazatrol programs

each unique program has a unique z offset. i think this is on the set up page? it is analogous to the G54 Z___ shift on a G code lathe. this shifts the "natural" Z zero from machine coordinates to program coordinates. It places program Z zero from inside the chuck or jaws (machine Z zero tends to be 4.0 inches from the chuck face or spindle face) to the working area of the stroke of the machine. X axis is spindle centerline and should never be shifted. no need for lathe work.

There is a device called a tool eye. It is an automatic tool setter. it has to be driven by an operator and does require some foreknowledge to use.

your offsets should be larger negative numbers, so if your machine has had it's TOOL DATA deleted, the lack of big minus numbers would cause your OT.

There is a lot of teach function on your machine. Plan B for setting tools is the teach function on TOOL DATA. bring the tool point to a known X and Z off your part. example - jog turn a dia. stop. do not move x. measure the cut. cursor down to the tool number that just made the cut. measure the dia. cursor to x-offset (or the synonym for it?) hit <teach>, measured dia #, <input?. and now the tools set for X. Z is the same thing as X EXCEPT, you are teaching to machine Z, not shifted z-offset Z, so the teach value has to be incrementally corrected by the z-offset value that machined the faace you're teaching off of.

TOOL DATA is where tool info is stored for use in mazatrol. It requires a TOOL NAME and geometry info to work. for a turning tool, cutting angle is lead angle of the tool plus 90, as in mazatrol the lead angle is from X axis. edge angle is the included angle of the insert. hand of the tool is as built and spindle cw/ccw indirectly tells tool offset if the tool is mounted right side up or upside down.

bar out - O.D. turning tool
bar in - boring bar
bar face - turning tool parallel to X. not used too much
bar bak - turning tool mounted to turn towards tailstock, aka Back turn

groove and thread tools follow the same orientation, then you have drill, tap, special and a few others i cant remember.

tools are set to the machine, not the workpiece!

maztrol is elegant and logically thought out. However, if you're a g code guy you have to clear your mind of G code preconceptions and let mazatrol "shop floor blueprint programming" do a lot of your thinking for you.

lastly - watch out for understanding which program is active. you can have program A in the editor and program B driving the machine! the active program is loaded at the position page.

learning mazatrol by internet message board is no way to go through life, son.

just kidding, but some guidance from a proficient mazatroller face to face would be the best way to learn this.

-90% jimmy

ps - cursor position is tied to the DIALOG BOX in the lower right. this always gives more meaning to where your cursor is. to edit mazatrol is 2 step process - first is program display (my own name for it) once there, then hit program edit softkey. left most key is DISPLAY - always gets to the same set of pages. rightmost key is menu - displays new pages and softkeys related to your current display. all the other keys in between are SOFTKEYS, the meaning of which is dependent on display and page and menu.

unnamed tool data stations WILL NOT RUN! this is part of mazatrol smartness! A mazak is not oblivious and brain dead like G code. Mazatrol always knows what's going on!

[ic-cnc]

jimmy, hey thanks! your post was very informative.

i was able to get a couple of tools' offsets set by comparing programmed diameter with the actual diameter produced. x offsets were off a bit.

by the way, is it a good idea to machine a standard ("L" shaped) to place on the outer perimeter of the turret to set a constant tool edge protrusion, thereby eliminating the need for future offset adjustments associated with tool changes, sharpening, etc.?



i am second guessing myself though, although i've been able to face, turn, and taper; you mentioned that "tools are set to the machine, not the workpiece". the x and z tool set info (-22.088, -6.450) bring the tool to the workpiece, and no offsets are used in the program (the wrong way of doing things, huh?).

i also was able to set roughing priority, check and view simulation today...noticed something.




how are tools programmed to be oriented on the left side of the turret instead of the right? (the programs still runs without incident)

lastly, why does the cursor skip over the chuck data? the chuck barrier data needs editing the small items i've been practicing on require the boundary ignore to be active.

thanks for all your help...someone actually got the message in a bottle and was able to send a reply! ha ha!