Surfcam Lathe Backplot/Verify

[troy676zsj]

Just wondering as to how you configure Surfcam Lathe so that the Verify & Backplot works correctly? I'm using Part Dia. Orientation X=dia Z=length. This is for a Haas HL lathe.

Thanks for any help.

[Excelmachine]

I had problems setting that up too because it didn't seem to follow common sense. Here are the settings that I use:

right click on Setup One to edit set up information
click on stock tab
current stock= 1
stock type= cylinder
rotation axis= X axis
Coords= world
Axis 1 x= - distance from Z0 for part (sample for me would be -.26")
diameter= enter raw stock diameter
click add

Now when you click on verify, the verify should work properly. These settings work for me for Surfcam lathe. I'm not sure if there is another way but it does show it properly being machined.

[troy676zsj]

Hey Thanks for the reply, sure seems out of charactor to tell it the axis of rotation is "X". I'm guessing it post as if the axis of Rotation is "Z"?

Thanks again and I will let you know my results.

[Excelmachine]

Originally Posted by troy676zsj Hey Thanks for the reply, sure seems out of charactor to tell it the axis of rotation is "X". I'm guessing it post as if the axis of Rotation is "Z"? Thanks again and I will let you know my results.

I'm not sure what you mean by post here, but verify doesn't take into account your post processor. I think verify has a bug in it that kind of makes it think in mill terms when trying to use it for lathe processes. But at least it works pretty darn well with those adjustments in the setup menu. You can verify if your post works somewhat correctly by posting the program and then use the editNC window that pops up and use: Analysis, then back plot.

[troy676zsj]

Im not here to critizize Surfware, but it's pretty sad that Verify for lathe doesn't work as it's suppose to. So your true code has to be checked in editnc and then analysis, backplot.

Thanks for the help.

Do you hvae any experience at setting up a Slant Bed type lathe in Surfcam? Rear turret. and the tools are mounted upside down. Haas lathe.

[Excelmachine]

We use Surfcam to program our Haas SL-10. Did you have another question about that?

[troy676zsj]

I have an HL-2 lathe. Under the "Tool Info" Tab, do use "Rear Turret"? Under "Turn Control" tab what "cut angle" and "retract angle" are you using?

Just a simple OD part turning.

Thanks again

[Excelmachine]

Looking at pictures at HL-2 lathes, the set up is similiar to our SL-10. First thing I do is go to Tools, Axis, then lathe diameter. This tab is at the top of the screen, next to the Help. I'm not sure how this pic will insert, but this is what my screen looks like on the first step of programming. If this doesn't come out clearly, I can PM it to you if you want.

[troy676zsj]

Hey thanks I got the screen shot. It looks like you use the Front Turret mount? Yeah the Hl-1 and -2 are pretty much the same machine. Does yours have a tail stock, I was told thats the difference. What throws me is that the tools are mounted upside down in the turret, and Verify shows them upright? And yes changing to the X-Axis solved my problem. Thanks.

[Excelmachine]

Verify I think just shows the orientation of the cutting tip and what angle it is approaching from. If you think about the tool mounting on the turret, if the turret was located on the operator side, then the tool would not be upside down but it would still be bolted on the turret in the same exact way.

For lathe programming, I find the back plot function to be really helpful. It is the icon right next to the verify button, on the right side. You can pick any operation, or all of them and single step thru the movement of the cutter. It shows the tool nose radius and how it engages with the work piece.

[troy676zsj]

So it sounds like I just leave everything to the defauts.

I shall try it this weekend.

Thanks again for the help.

[troy676zsj]

Well I'm still not doing something right, if I use the front mount Turret it thinks I'm trying to bore the ID. Hopefully this capture comes thru, it shows the orientation of what I want to cut. It's away from Zero because it will have a hole in it.

Thanks