Poor/Desperate student needs information help about posts

[MrG]

Hello :

I am currently trying to get our CNC machine at school up and running.

I am pretty sure it is this one here...

E- MILL 3 axis with ANILAM 3000 http://www.acergroup.com/em-an3a.htm

I a have mastercam x and have purchased teh Mike Matterra Cd which by tghe way is very good so far.. worth the $$

So now I have been reasonably sucessfull in getting my 3d part from Solidworks and creating tool paths. and producing some .nc how good it is i dont know

The gentleman at the place that sold us the CNC machine sent me a generic post and told me to use it on my machine??

it was just a bunch of text... what do I do with this?? I was thinking about printing it out and running around the CNC machine doing various chants and making different noises but I then thought I should post here first,....

Please help time is running out and I am trying to do all this on my own.. kinda sucks but that is teh way it kinda works out our school...

think of all teh people you will be helping..


Thanks in advance

MrG

[Bowman]

Contact Mastercam about a post for your controller if one is not listed in the default posts that came with it.

Can you post a cut of the "bunch of text," maybe you just need to drop in in the post directory and then have Mastercam select it to use for code generation. If thats the post the last user was using I would think its the one you need now as well.

What are you using to generate the nc code as of now the default post in mastercam? Perhaps also you may want to start out with some simple 2/2.5 axis code to get things tested before jumping into 3D.

I see in another post the maker of the training CD you have for MC is offering to send someone a post for the Anilam 3300 for MC X perhaps you should try to contact him for help.

Good luck,

Bowman

[MrG]

Did you mean cut a part of that text and post in in this message if so here is teh first page or so...

In my mastercam x under mill type I just chose the default ....

the cd came witha post but I think it is very generic in order fo me to post some .nc codes whilst doijng the tutorials


But I think I may conatc Mike Matterra and sey what his opinion is.. thanks agin for your help.





# Post Name : MPAN5300
# Product : MILL
# Machine Name : Anilam
# Control Name : Anilam 1400 - 5300
# Description : GENERIC ANILAM 1400/5300 SERIES MILL POST
# Associated Post : NONE
# Mill/Turn : NO
# 4-axis/Axis subs. : YES (Not Configured)
# 5-axis : NO
# Subprograms : YES
# Executable : MP 9.0
#
# WARNING: THIS POST IS GENERIC AND IS INTENDED FOR MODIFICATION TO
# THE MACHINE TOOL REQUIREMENTS AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE.
#
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Revision log:
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Programmers Note:
# XXX 09/11/00 - Setup for Anilam 1400 - 5300 - Dealer Post
# - Below is a list of questions to configure post for
various options
# - Setup subprograms for mirror, translate, rotate,
depth cuts (nested also)
# Drilling (Reads notes below for creating subprograms
for drilling). Make
# sure under transform it is set to COORINATES and not
toolplane!!!
# - 4 axis information is in the post but not setup for
a Anilam.
# - Drill cycles are setup with the text file modified
with custom wording.
# (mpan5300.txt)
# - G77-G78 canned pockets cycles can be generated using
drilling and the custom drill
# page.
# CNC 01/09/01 - Initial post setup, jce
# CNC 01/09/02 - Initial post update for V9.0, rjm
#
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Features:
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 1. Subprograms Drilling, mirror, translate, rotate, depth cutts,
nested subs.
# 2. 3D arcs in top plane.
# 3. G77-G78 canned pockets.
# 4. Drilling G81, G82, G83, G84, G85, G86, G87, G89 cycles.
# 5. Work offsets G53 O1 - G53 O99
#
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Following Misc. Integers are used:
#
# mi1 - Work coordinate system
# 0 = Off
# 1 or greater = G53 O1, O2, etc........
#
# mi2 - Absolute or Incremental positioning at top level
# 0 = absolute
# 1 = incremental
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# You can create a subprogram from repeated drill hole locations.
# Each drill cycle in the selected operations is performed on the same
drill holes.
#
#1. Create a drill toolpath.
#
#2. From the Main Menu, choose Toolpaths, Drill, Sbpgm ops.
#
#3. Select a drill toolpath from the list, set the subprogram
parameters, and choose OK.
#
#4. Select a tool for the toolpath.
#
#5. Enter the drill parameters and choose OK. You return to the
Operations
# Manager where the new drill toolpath is displayed.
#
# Note: You can also create a drill toolpath from the Operations
Manager by choosing
# Toolpaths, Drill from the right-click menu.
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Canned text:
# Entering cantext on a contour point from within Mastercam allows
the
# following functions to enable/disable.
# Cantext value:
# 1 = Stop = output the "M00" stop code
# 2 = Ostop = output the "M01" optional stop code
# 3 = Bld on = turn on block delete codes in NC lines
# 4 = bLd off = turn off block delete codes in NC lines
#
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Debugging and Factory Set Program Switches
#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

fastmode : yes #Enable Quick Post Processing, (set to no for
debug)
bug1 : 2 #0=No display, 1=Generic list box, 2=Editor
bug2 : 30 #Append postline labels, non-zero is column
position?
bug3 : 0 #Append whatline no. to each NC line?
bug4 : 1 #Append NCI line no. to each NC line?
whatno : yes #Do not perform whatline branches? (leave as yes)

arcoutput : 0 #0 = IJK, 1 = R no sign, 2 = R signed neg. over 180
arctype : 2 #Arc center 1=abs, 2=St-Ctr, 3=Ctr-St, 4=unsigned
inc.
do_full_arc : 0 #Allow full circle output? 0=no, 1=yes
helix_arc : 0 #Support helix arc output, 0=no, 1=all planes, 2=XY
plane only

tapping : 0 #Tapping G84 Cycle (0) F = inch per minute
(RPM/TPI=IPM)
#(1) F = Thread pitch / machine must have direct
spindle speed programming.
#Check manual for full explanation of the G84 tap
cycle.

coolant_out : yes #Output coolant on and off codes?
gear_out : no #Output high/low gear range as a comment and M0
stop?

min_speed : 50 #Minimum spindle speed
low_gear : 1000 #Maximuim rpm for low gear
high_gear : 1000 #Minimum rpm for high gear
max_speed : 10000 #Maximum spindle speed

[jkeyser14]

each machine has it's own programming language. The post file is what tells mastercam or other CAM software exactly how to work with your machine's programming language.

When you go to generate your code in mastercam, you should be able to select a post file to use.

[MrG]

Originally Posted by jkeyser14 each machine has it's own programming language. The post file is what tells mastercam or other CAM software exactly how to work with your machine's programming language. When you go to generate your code in mastercam, you should be able to select a post file to use.

ok that makes sense as different mills do things a little/lot different..

so do you know what I do with this text file or post that was given to me .. do I upload it or something? if so do you know how?

Thanks for your help

[Tim S]

Your dealer supplied you with a post processor for an Anilam machine. In Mastercam, you create the toolpaths on the geometry, but in order to generate code that you cen use on your machine, the info needs to be past through a post processor. Save the file that the dealer sent to you in this location: C:\mcamx\mill\Posts. Then in Mastercam you need to set up a machine definition that uses that post (MPAN530). After you have created all of your toolpaths, you need to hit the post button in the operations manager. That will post the code you can save to your machines controller.

If nobody over there knows how to do that, then you guys need to get your reseller in there to help you get things set up.

[MrG]

COOL!!

Ok I managed to save the file , i placed it in the posts folder in Master cam...

Next I think i will try and set up that machine definition ... wish me luck.. ..

any hints .. we are using that E mill ..!!



thanks for all the help so far .. slowly but surely I am getting closer to starting up the machine and experiencing my first "ping" or a nich machine crash ...i hope not...

Any way we are mostly going to be making protoype parts out of Renshape.. and Human factor models out of the 10 lb foam..

but before we get there i have to figure all of this stuff out and spread the knowledge to the other less determined students..

[Tim S]

For the machine def, just open up the default mill, change the post (which is under the control definition) to the Anilam post you just saved previously. The machine Def just tells MC the Axis and spindle configs for the machine. Worry about learning that later. Or you can just change the post in your ops manager for this file. It is in the same basic area that setting up the stock is in, but on the first tab (not sure of the name). This would be your easiest route right now.

When setting up the machine, set the feed and rapid overrides very low (10%). This will slow everything down so you can catch a crash. Run the program with these overrides set and withou any material on the table. Use Single Block also so that the machine only moves by one block of code every time you hit Cycle Start. Set the display on the controller so you can see Distnce to Go. This tells you how far the machine has left to travel in all 3 Axis for the current block. If it shows Z5.0 and you are only 1 inch above the table, you will crash. Hope this helps. You can get more help on setting up the machine in the General Machining forum. Good Luck!

[MrG]

Thanks a million !!!

All of you I hope to get some tests run on Monday/tuesday ...


have a great weekend

[Bowman]

MrG - Is your school or class in Industrial Design or Ergronomics/Anthropermetrics? Just curious, it seems like the others posters have helped guide you to what I was speaking of as best I could not being a MC user, most of these apps work the same and you have to have the right post setup correctly for your controller to read, mind you it can still potentially read code that may not do what you think it will if all the parameters are not right.

That being said I HIGHLY recommend taking Tim S's suggestion and start slow running it block by block, line by line till you go through all the command codes you will be calling for and are sure you get the desired output. Many people have found out the hard way that just because the CAM app showed a nice tool path didn't mean the same when run in reality and crash the machine. Keep us posted

Bowman

[MrG]

I am an Industrial Design Major,

I will certainly take it slow at the beginning and run each line until we get familiar..

I also might sudgest as a rule for us to keep the speeds down to slow pace , and make sure someone is ontop of the part 10000% when its in use.. mainly because there is no CNC class or machine shop teacher there to tell us the pit falls, also that machine is not generating any money ie its just an expense for the school.. if something breaks I am sure they wont rush to fix it.. So along with all the set up and learing I have to come up with strategy for us to keep it running safely and efficiently for everyone to use..

Again I really appreciate all the help and will keep everyone posted..

[Bowman]

Somehow I knew it was Industrial Design. I had to take a few of those classes getting my Industrial Eng. degree. My school had a full Eng. Dept so we had our own buildings and equipment but the Design folks were in the Art Dept. I found the safety in that dept to be quite different than that in the Eng. dept as in almost none existant. Not knowing the level of experience the students have with machine equipment in general its hard to tell what your strategy should be. Do you use manual mills already, anyone know how to read g-code to even know where a problem might exist etc? For starters I would suggest the 2 or 3 most qualified, technical people work on the machine helping each other to learn/understand everything. You will need someone that knows whats what to setup the machine and the workpiece safely everytime, if you have a lot of people with no real business knowledge wise trying to program and cut a long 3D program your going to have problems. One incorrect tool length setup or typo and that could be all she wrote.

Seems like your into this project so maybe your the one that needs to step up and take full control from the start to being the operator of the machine. In a school type setting its best to have one or two people to check others code and setup their piece in the machine to cut for them while teaching them what they are doing. This way you avoid having someone clueless trying to run the machine as most of the students will surely be if they have no prior experience with anything. Sounds like one person can cost all of you use of the CNC so might as well have one person responsible heh.