Ajax Lathe with Fagor 8055 Control

Learn Fagor 8055 Control

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

I have always been one for variety and I definitely get bored very easily. When I got the call to do some training on an Ajax Lathe with Fagor 8055 Control I jumped at the chance.

It has been several years since I worked on one of these so it took me best part of a day to set it up and get back into the swing.

I’ve read some pretty nasty shit online about these controls most of it from people who can’t be arsed to learn the control properly. (Bad workman blames his tools and all that.)

Really sorry guys I like it. My main criticism is that the buttons do weird shit but once you figure out what they do it’s happy days.

I’m just so glad these guys don’t make the switchgear for nuclear subs or 747’s. Frankly we’d be be fucked but this is only a bloody CNC Lathe.

It’s all driven by buttons which is great, not too many menus to wade through. If you want to face your part. Just press the button and it’s all on the screen

The idea is that you could create this facing cycle and just face off your part. After that you just add it to your program and build it up.

The above program has a Positioning then a Facing Cycle then a turning cycle.

If you highlight any of these cycles and press RECALL the display for this cycle will appear

After editing you must go back to it’s listing in the program and press ENTER you will be given the choice to update it. Otherwise your edits wont be saved.

Fagor 8055 Control Zero return

When you turn on the machine if you press zero return then CYCLE start the machine will zero return both X and Z.

Beware

It can hit the part in the chuck. Zero return is not where you think it is.

If possible remove your part. Or alternatively you can press X then zero return this will just zero X. This means it’s possible to zero return separate axis.

Fagor 8055 Control Stranger Than Fiction

The manual tells you to zero return the machine but it’s not mandatory it’s recommended!!!

What the fuck does that mean, we just did it anyway.

G50 (SMAX) Fagor 8055 Control

Press S the press S again allows you to enter a maximum speed (G50)

Tool Change (Piss Easy)

Type in T then a tool number then hit CYCLE START.

Fagor 8055 Control Tool Change Position

You need to store a tool change position which the control will go to whenever there is a change of tool.

Press T then X and type in your position.

Press T and Z and type in your position.

These will be remembered and used in your program.

Tool Setting Fagor 8055 Control

Each tool has it’s own screen from here you use cut and measure to set both Z and X.

It has this great feature where you can wind the handwheel at an angle, just press this button.

If you wondered how to set it weirdly you have to press F. This allows you to cursor down and input the angle then voila it works.

You can put chamfers on parts by hand mmm even when they’re not needed

Handwheel

Wow two handwheels, is that greedy? Well actually once I got used to it it was quite nice. Mmmm the shear luxury of not having to switch from X to Z.

To select handwheel make sure this dial is set on one of the increments. Then when you press this button, the hand wheel icon will appear.

(Sorry it’s dirty, no time to wash my hands)

Off you go handwheel all you like.

Start Spindle Fagor 8055 Control

Press these, forward reverse and stop.

Ah but first you need a speed. Type S80 or any number and when you press cycle start it will register the speed.

Go on press me what you waiting for sucker.

Use the buttons above to actually start it.

You can lock the spindle with this baby too. Use this to remove jaws n stuff.

The percentage buttons you see above will override your spindle speed if you want to adjust it.

New Program

Highlight CREATE NEW PROGRAM and press ENTER

Fagor 8055 Control I Like, I Like It

Ajax Lathe with Fagor 8055 Control, once you get over the prejudice and the bullshit of other controls this basically is an easy control to use.

You can easily use it like a manual lathe (why the fuck would you do that?) but I hear people do.

Alternatively you can use it as a semi automatic machine and just do bits and bobs using all the dedicated screens.

Now stick all these together and you have a program.

It’s easy to set tools cut and measure style, no tool arm (these are for wimps and children). The screen makes this a doddle.

It is definitely easier than creating a G code program.

Did Someone Say G Code

Oh by the way if the sado mosaicists among us really want to then  yes they can seamlessly add G code to their program and mix em up.

Just stick em in wherever you want. Joking aside this is rather useful.

The graphics as usual leave a lot to be desired but they are functional and definitely make life easier. Prove out is simple and you can see the usual distance to go. The built in tool change position means you don’t have to worry about crashing the beast when it changes tools.

This was a 2006 machine and I recon it’s faster than any g code system to get up and running. I’ll take you on any day buddy.

And for all the tricky bits you can’t do, it’s back to the old G Code shit for the minutia.

And just in case you are saying “ok David great but why would I want one of these machines”

Well it only cost two and a half grand. Yes you heard it, fuck you.

What I don’t Like

Buttons fuckin buttons, it’s anybody’s guess what they do you just have to press to find out what they do.

So you may lose the odd limb sorting out what they do but at least the actual machine didn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Learn Fagor 8055 Control

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407