okuma LB15 help

[cbrannam]

Hi,

I just landed a new job as shop manager at a machine shop here in the town I live. We have a couple of Okuma cnc lathes. One is a LB15 and the other is a caption (2010 year).
On the LB15 how to I check x axis position of the tools. The program says it is at X but the tool is off about .300” from the center. I have touched off each tool and changed it in the Parameter page but when we do a dry run on the program the #4 center drill is off.
My owner(does not know anything about the machines or how to run them) told me I wants me to indicate in the location of where the center drill is at.
How do I do that?
Would I chuck up a co-axis indicator and find the center of the tool holder?
I think all I have to do is change the position of X but how do I know that im in the right stop?
The part that is being turned down is 1 1/8” diameter and about 1 7/8” long.
Tools that I’m using is a
#4 center drill
Spade drill
Threader
Face off bit

Thanks
Chris

[txcncman]

Wow! Shop manager you say? Tough position. I am guessing none of the machinists working there know anything. Right? Have you set up a manual lathe before? Indicating is the best way to align the center of the spindle with the center of the tool. Do you know which offset to change? Do you know how to change it? Do you have all the manuals there? Have you read through them? Are all of the turret locations off zero position?

Normally on a lathe when using a center cutting tool (i.e. drill) the X offset for that tool should read 0.0000. Does yours read 0.0000. If not, what happens to the tool position when you set it to 0.0000?

[broby]

Sounds like you need someone with at least basic knowledge of setting CNC machines to come in and give you guys a training session.
See if there is an Okuma rep in your area that could come in and help.
This will save you bucket loads of time/grief/crashes and loads upon loads of frustration as you come to grips with this machine.
Once you have the basics, then it is a matter of time to learn the small details.
In order to try and teach you everything via this forum would be damn tough (from both sides of the screen!).
Good luck.

[littlerob]

I agree with Broby, but just for kicks and giggles, go to MDI, enter T**** G0 G90 X0 -press cycle start, now jog that tool to the face of the part, go to tool data page make sure the X offset is 0 for that tool, you should be able to see if it on center without an indicator, but use it if needed (the way you described co-ax). If it is not on center then the machine is mechanically at fault, and you are back to calling Okuma to come in.

EDIT; I meant along the Y axis only for calling in a tech, you can realign the turret yourself IF it's out, but that woudl be a different thread.

[cbrannam]

yes all of the guys that knew what to do walked out. now im stuck with a new group of people that dont know much about anything but they are cheap labor.

and i will get the offset today while at work and reply with that info.

[mfgbydesign]

To put the drill on spindle centerline you will need only an indicator on a magnetic base.
Mount the indicator on the chuck.
Jog the tool close to center and close to the face of the chuck.
Place the stylus of the indicator on the shank of the drill along the X axis.
Rotate the chuck 1/2 a turn by hand (you might need to MDI M5 on an Okuma to take off the brake). This is "tram."
Observe the Total Indicator Reading (TIR). Move the X hafl the distance and tram again until you get the same reading on both sides.
Tram perpendicular to X to verify the drill is on center in all directions.
When it's on center look at the absolute position in X and place that number in the Geometry offset for that tool.

[underthetire]

To put the drill on spindle centerline you will need only an indicator on a magnetic base.
Mount the indicator on the chuck.
Jog the tool close to center and close to the face of the chuck.
Place the stylus of the indicator on the shank of the drill along the X axis.
Rotate the chuck 1/2 a turn by hand (you might need to MDI M5 on an Okuma to take off the brake). This is "tram."
Observe the Total Indicator Reading (TIR). Move the X hafl the distance and tram again until you get the same reading on both sides.
Tram perpendicular to X to verify the drill is on center in all directions.
When it's on center look at the absolute position in X and place that number in the Geometry offset for that tool.

Mostly correct. LB15 has no brake, so no issue there. Second, after you sweep in a boring bar holder, you use the zero set function on an Okuma and calculate X zero. Now all BB holders will be at 0 on the position page at center line. Then you offset the tools, and generally, all turning tools will have a + offset, all boring bars will have a - offset, and all drilling tools will have a 0 offset in X.

[txcncman]

To put the drill on spindle centerline you will need only an indicator on a magnetic base.
Mount the indicator on the chuck.
Jog the tool close to center and close to the face of the chuck.
Place the stylus of the indicator on the shank of the drill along the X axis.
Rotate the chuck 1/2 a turn by hand (you might need to MDI M5 on an Okuma to take off the brake). This is "tram."
Observe the Total Indicator Reading (TIR). Move the X hafl the distance and tram again until you get the same reading on both sides.
Tram perpendicular to X to verify the drill is on center in all directions.
When it's on center look at the absolute position in X and place that number in the Geometry offset for that tool.

What do you do if the Y axis is out of alignment?

[underthetire]

Call in a service guy. The machines been crashed and needs a turret alignment. You can offset the BB holders on Y by a few thousanths if need be. The LB15 has an eccentric pin that locates the blocks on the turret. Loosen the bolt and rotate till you get one holder in. Then with a mag base and indicator, move the turret back, index and come back to the indicator. Loosen the next one and turn it till it matches the one you set up and continue to the next one etc..
Done 100 alignments on those things back in the day....

[txcncman]

Good answer!

[cbrannam]

ok i have indicated in the #5 center drill. it is out .006.

now what do i need to do?

also the program is calling for a spade bit insert to drill a hole that is 21/32 dia. do i need to check to see if that is indicating the same?

[underthetire]

.006 in what direction, x or y (height).