Machining question

[RideItLikeYouStoleIt]

I know theres quite a few people on here who are machinists/engineers. I have been trying for a while to create a toolpath for a part I am making. I was hoping maybe someone could either create the file or set me on the right path.Basically its a solid shaft machined down so that 3 sprockets are protruding from it. It needs to be a solid piece. The piece drawn is what needs to be made. I am using an HAAS SL-20 with live tooling. I have almost all imaginable CAD/CAM software. Preferablly if anyone wants to help me out Esprit is best.

I have a solidworks file of it but I cant attach it. Ill send it to whomever wants to try.

 

[Scraggly]

ive never used "bobcad" but have herd good things about being easy to use and file importing.

Surfcam is the most versatile i have worked with it takes a little looking around to use it, but its well worth the effort to learn. it would do what you need and communicate with the haas easily.

edit: i just noticed your using the sl-20 i dont have any cnc lathe experince so i dont know if any of these softwares will work, but i think its worth looking into surfcam.

 

[DAG]

wiat wut?

i'd like to know how you plan on turning out a gear on a lathe


maybe take a screenshot of your model and attach?

 

[Scraggly]

wiat wut?

i'd like to know how you plan on turning out a gear on a lathe


maybe take a screenshot of your model and attach?

it could be done in combination with a vf-3 or any vertical 3 axis machine, but
on a lathe alone........

 

[DAG]

i'm sure i'm just not understanding exactly what he's making.


When i made gears for a fluid pump i tryed it on a vf-3, but you really need the indexing of a 4th axis, made it 10x easier to wright.

 

[Scraggly]

i'm sure i'm just not understanding exactly what he's making.


When i made gears for a fluid pump i tryed it on a vf-3, but you really need the indexing of a 4th axis, made it 10x easier to wright.

im sure it did, 4 axis machines are sweet!!
i have always been limited to three's and i meant
to add it would be some intense programing and machine to
make it cut gear teeth. i with you i think im just visualizing
it wrong.

 

[DangerBoy]

Turn on the c axis maping G112 than just program the toolpath as if its x y and z. the y axis is programed as C. be sure to change your feed rate to G98

 

[RideItLikeYouStoleIt]

It is not nearly as simple as it sounds. The tool path is very complicated. This is not the type of thing I am going to write the g-code for hand by. The way it needs to be machine is that the tool rotates along the spindle axis Z while a ball end mill rotates along C while the end mill moves in and out along X all the while spiraling into the Z axis. The end mill spins while contouring the shape of the gear. I have tried it in Surfcam, Gibbscam, and Esprit.

Yes it can be done in he vf-4 which I also have with the 4th axis attached. This is not truly the "right" way. It doesnt contour it close enough to tolerance and the chain does not in bed properly.

The picture is attached.

 

[RideItLikeYouStoleIt]

assuming the spindle axis is Z, X is into the machine and Y is up and down.

 

[DAG]

ahh,, that is what i was thinking.. they gear i cut was kinda the same. I used a CAM package at school "OneCNC". but i cant really do anytihng from here. it was really easy program. it just took 4hr's to cut:17:

what is giving you the problem?

 

[Cross]

Give us some more details on that part. How long is it? Length from end of part to the gears, Diamaters, tolerances, etc. You would be surprised on what you can do with the right lathe and the right programing (and a little luck!!!!!).

 

[stanton]

Turn on the c axis maping G112 than just program the toolpath as if its x y and z. the y axis is programed as C. be sure to change your feed rate to G98

could you explain that a little more i never seen that..

 

[SurferSmurf]

why not just turn your blanks on the shaft and then use the propper gear cutter and mill it on a bridgeport with a dividing head? i know its old school and not totally cnc machined but i could knock those out pretty quick like that depending on the actual size. just a thought, especially if its a personal job and your only making one or two pieces.

 

[DangerBoy]

could you explain that a little more i never seen that..

Stan
Its standard for Live tooling on Funuc style lathe controls, you just write the toolpath using X and C (Y) its called polar interpolation programing and g112 turns it on G113 off far shorter than using Degree programing where you program the C axis in Degrees

Here he wants to use a Ball end mill perpenducular to the Z axis and plunge it around the circumfrence of the part , due to the parts length
Db