Category Archives: Useful Stuff

CNC Tooling Spot Drill Centre Drill

Category : Tooling Useful Stuff

CNC Tooling

Spot Drill Centre Drill Spot The Difference

Now if you already know then:

GET SOME WORK DONE

You don’t need to waste your time reading all this bollocks.

CNC Tooling

Spot The Difference

Now Let’s Talk About Centre Drills

They come in various sizes designated by a BS number.

BS1 to BS6

BS6 being big.

Anyway BS1 is 1/8″ diameter and BS6 weighs in at a massive 5/8″and a government health warning.

CNC Tooling

There is only one reason why you would use a centre drill and that is if you require clearance for a centre.

CNC Tooling

If you have a long part and you wish to support it with a tailstock then you need clearance for the point of the centre.

If you used a spot drill the point would touch before the sides.

CNC Tooling

If the part is going to be ground then it will most likely be held between two centres.

CNC Tooling

 

CNC Tooling

Now the big problem with centre drills is that in order to clear the point of your centre they have to have that little point (pilot) on the end.

And these little bastard break off. Oh and if your turret on your lathe is not aligned properly, you got no chance.

A BS1 centre drill has a pilot that’s just .64mm in diameter!!!!!

As soon as it makes contact you’ll see it wandering aimlessly around like a drunk teenager in Birmingham on a Saturday night.

Carry on now and it will snap off and if your having a shit day it will lodge itself in the part. You’ll need a neutron bomb to get it out.

So let’s move on and stop talking about these annoying little beasts.

Rule Number 1 only use them if you have to.

Rule Number 2 only use them if you really have to.

Rule Number 3 only use them if you really really have to.

CNC Tooling Spot Drills

Now these again come in various sizes a much bigger range from 2mm to 20mm and you get a 120 degree point or a 90 degree point.

B & Q are great for all kinds of DIY products (free add). But whatever you do don’t use the drills for serious engineering.

CNC Tooling

Shelves, building kitchen units, making the misses a Jewelry Box. They are fantastic, but not if you want to be a serious grown up engineer and play with the big boys.

So lets bin all the shitty cheap HSS drills and buy some decent stuff. Oh by the way don’t blame me if your boss says “dream on”

Why Am I Saying This

Well because modern drills are amazing.

They hold accurate size.

Don’t need a spot drill.

Really super fast.

Last longer.

Oh did I mention they are bloody expensive.

Centre Drill

Now with HSS drills you can buy thousands of em for a fiver and still have change to buy Robbie Williams concert tickets.

Authors Note

Please don’t read any of my articles if you like Robbie Williams, it means your a twat. Now Robin Williams, that’s totally different. Don’t you just love “Mrs Doubtfire” my favourite film.

Drills Drills More About Drills

But good quality modern drills are expensive. The good news is they easily pay for themselves. You need to treat them carefully because if they are carbide then they can chip and smash easily. You know in that James Bond movie where he is disarming a nuclear bomb? Well treat them like that and you’ll be just fine.

CNC Tooling

Anyway that’s not what this article is about.

CNC Tooling Centre Drill

A centre drill has a 60 degree point which is not good to start a drill. With a spot drill you can get a 120 degree point which is roughly the same as your drill point so it gives the drill a great start.

The drill won’t wander but if you heed my advice and use a super duper new drill then it will drill perfectly without any spot drill.

Spot Drill Last

I would always  use good quality CNC Tooling.

Use a good quality modern drill and then use a 90 degree point spot drill after to chamfer your holes.

This means you can rapid the spot drill right into the hole and then feed in just a tiny amount to create the chamfer.

Spot Drills The Good Bit

You can deburr with a spot drill. Just program it to go around your shape and put a nice clean chamfer around you part.

CNC Tooling Conclusion Spot Drill Centre Drill

Always use good quality CNC Tooling

Use a centre drill only if you have to.

Make sure your turret is aligned on a CNC Lathe.

Centre drills are for centre locations on long or ground parts.

Centre drills are for grinding between centres

Spot drill can be same angle as drill.

Spot drill after drilling.

Use spot drills to deburr parts.

Thanks

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this post or need CNC Counselling then contact me.

If you want to learn to program CNC Milling Machines

Look no further Contact CNC Training Centre

The Best CNC Control what is it?

Category : Useful Stuff

If you are buying a new machine what is the best CNC control?

You might not have a choice of the control if it’s a Mazak or a Haas.

Given the choice what would you choose.

the best CNC control

Things to Consider (the best CNC control)

  1. Availability of Skill to use it.
  2. Batch size, one off or thousands of parts.
  3. Ease of editing.
  4. Do you want to program on the machine?
  5. Graphics.
  6. Program Restart.
  7. Compatibility with existing controls.
  8. Mobility of labour (who can use it?).
  9. Do you need bells and whistles?

Availability of Skill

Probably the most common CNC Control is Fanuc. Like it or love it, it’s the one we all know.

But is it the the best CNC control? Well, I’ll let you decide.

So when you are trying to get a setter operator or programmer.

If you have a Fanuc control you have plenty of fish in the sea. It’s more or less the industry standard.

So beware if you buy a new machine and the control uses bitcoin and nanotechnology you might be the only dude who knows how to program it.

Siemens controls are really creeping up in the background even Mazaks use them now. There is still a massive shortage of people with Siemens programming skills. Maybe you should talk to us.

How Many Parts Do You Make?

If you are in the business of making one offs or small batches of parts, then you may think it will be more profitable for you to program at the machine.

Mazatrol is excellent for this. When it comes to turning, from drawing to bubble wrap, it really takes some beating.

Hurco is also really good for one offs and small batches. Oh and both of these controls usually have an ISO option meaning you can run Fanuc type programs if you want to.

Oh and the new Hurcos are fully Fanuc compatible

Read the small print on your final machine spec and always check what options are on your machine control.

Fanuc controls are on thousands of machines and every one is different. Things like Manual Guide i are options and sometimes very expensive to install as an add on.

It’s like getting a car and finding you got the one that doesn’t do 0-60 in 5 seconds.

Don’t forget you can always get yourself a CAD CAM system for a very reasonable price these days. This will do everything these controls can do and an awful lot more.

the best CNC control

the best CNC control

Things like proper collision detection. It’s way cheaper and ethical than framing the apprentice and getting him another written warning.

You can get entry level CAD CAM systems for around £2500 pounds (that’s about $1000.000 since we decided to leave the EU). Oops, sorry.

Only joking.

Anyway when buying a new machine it’s not much money to sneak under the radar.

Editing

Do you need to do loads of editing? I have to say Haas controls are brilliant for editing (you even get an undo button along with loads of other clever shit).

The handwheel can wizz you through the program at breakneck speed unique to Haas I think.

Heidenhain has the ability to jump to sections of program really quickly. One of my favorite features Read this.

Yes and make sure your programs are easy to read. Loads of comments and spaced out. This makes them easier to navigate and edit. Read this.

Siemens controls are also very easy to edit COPY/ PASTE an absolute doddle and its really easy to move stuff around. (Siemens 840D Sinumerik)

On your Heidenhain control use this button maybe just to leave gaps and add the odd comment.the best CNC control

Use the colon (;)  to add a comment.

the best CNC control

New Fanuc controls are much better than the old ones for editing. You needed a PHD in calligraphy just to work out how to copy and paste.

Fanuc Tips

If you have Manual Guide then use it to edit. There’s loads more functionality. You even get an undo button.

Even if you don’t use it to program swap over to edit, please.

Check out PL. EDTthe best CNC control

This button lets you edit two or more pages at once so it’s real easy to copy n paste from one program to the other

the best CNC control

Don’t forget to pressthe best CNC control

when your done or you will be punished by being locked into that screen until home time.

Oh and don’t forget the calculator button on Fanuc too.

the best CNC control

Read this

Mazak Tip

When running ISO programs on a Mazak control there’s a real nifty edit function. You know that feeling when you think “oh shit I know I should have changed that tool number”.

Well you can stop the program alter it and just carry on. You can’t alter anything before your current position but you can alter anything after. Like that looming feedrate you know you meant to alter.

(WARNING ONLY WORKS IN ISO)

Programming On The Machine

Just one thing to say about this.

It’s expensive.

It’s great for bored operators, they love it. Yes “that’s what background edit is for, you dick” I hear you say. (You really should learn to be more articulate).

Mmm yes well that’s not without its problems as we all know.

This will obviously work for some organizations and not others. But, be sure to check carefully that production and quality are not adversely affected when you program at the machine.

Just saying.

Graphics

Well most machines have em. But usually they are a pile of shite.

Joking aside (and you know I love to joke) they are really useful for checking programs for errors but mostly not collisions.

So long as your not expecting to get the Jeremy Kyle Show with subtitles you’ll be just fine.

For typos and little coding errors they are brilliant and save loads of stress and panic when you decide to run your code for real.

Program Restart what’s the best CNC control?

Don’t get me started on this one. Well ok here goes.

Even the best CNC controls don’t always have good program restart.

Haas (Brilliant)

Fanuc mmmmmm (It’s an option) read this

Mazak not bad.

Heidenhain good.

Semens good on newer machines old controls with care.

Mixed Bag Usually Not That Good

Anyway it’s a bit of a mixed bag but on a machining centre where you almost definitely will need it. I suggest you check it out first.

Oh and if you already have it then learn to bloody use it.

Clones

 

You see it on LinkedIn all the time, such and such a company has just bought their 96th ????? machine.

Well there’s a reason for that, and I know our machine tool friends would like to think it’s loyalty to their amazing products but ……

Their are some very pragmatic reasons why you stick with the same boring old brand of machine tool.

If every machine has  a different control you won’t get much mobility of labor because every machinist will be scared of the dark evil beast next to him.

And when your trying to recruit… well the wish list will be like War and Peace

If you have bought loads of new machines from the same company when you call the service department you got way more clout (don’t tell anyone I said that).

Don’t forget you can run ISO programs on most Heidenhain controls with a few mods.

Haas, Fanuc, Mazak (ISO) and Yasnac are almost 100% compatible with one another.

So it’s worth looking at how compatible the new control is with your old stuff.

Bells and Whistles

Do you need all this crap?

Can it contact your misses and ask her to get the takeaway ordered and put some Vodka in the freezer?

Can it check your credit rating?

So if you are programming offline with a CAD CAM system what do you need?

I reckon you need good editing, good program restart, good graphics.

If you are programming everything using CAD CAM it’s more about hardware than software.

Don’t forget the hardware is the expensive bit (the metal) computers and software are cheap but if you want a machine that can drill and tap 500 holes in one side of a railway carriage then you need some big bucks.

Verdict So What’s the Best CNC Control?

Sorry there ain’t one. As usual it’s subjective.

The main points to consider if you want the best CNC control:

  • Do you need it to check your lottery numbers?
  • Batch quantities will it run for hours untouched?
  • Do you want to program on the machine and is it practical and cost effective to do so?
  • Can you find anyone to program set and operate it?
  • What skill sets do you already have? Maybe you need to stick with what you have?

Siemens 840D

Thanks

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this post or need CNC Counselling then contact me.

If you want to learn to program CNC Milling Machines

Look no further Contact CNC Training Centre

Well Set Out G Code CNC (CNC Programming)

Category : Fanuc Haas Useful Stuff

Well Set Out Code

Contact David 07834 858 407

Well Set Out CNC Code

Well Set Out CNC Code is really important. It can save lots of time spent trawling through code trying to find the section you’re looking for. Simple things like leaving gaps after the tool change line can really help.

The program runs exactly the same but……

Look at the two examples of the same program

Well Set-Out

g code cnc
Uncluttered CNC Code

Not Well Set-Out

g code cnc
Cluttered CNC Code
  • Notice where the gaps are.
  • They give clarity to what’s happening in your program.
  • Try to create your own convention and always lay your program out in the same way.
  • Notice how your eyes are drawn to the tool change lines. These are usually the first things you are looking for.

Read On

It’s like reading a book without paragraphs, and page numbers. It also makes it easy to spot mistakes with well set out CNC code.

Dog reading a book

This is my dog, his name s “Get Back Here You Bastard”

See if you can find the simple error in the well set out code and let me know what it is. That way I will know you’re concentrating.

Clue: if you are the fortunate owner of a Haas machine it will spot this for you and alarm out.

 

Meaningful Comments

Insert meaningful comments. Remember you might not see this code for two years and you won’t remember what you did or how you were thinking at the time.

When you eventually come back to this code you’ll be scratching your arse for hours trying to figure it out.

You’ll think:

“Why the fuck did I do that”

A little comment will explain everything

 

Well Set Out CNC Code
An Elephant and my wife never forget

Come on Get a Grip

Yes you will figure it out eventually but that’s the same with the human genome project.

Well Set Out CNC Code
It takes time to remember what you were doing

Why do I need Well Set Out CNC Code (Things To Do)

  1. Leave gaps at strategic points in the program.
  2. Loads and loads of comments, write them as you would say it, (don’t try to be posh).
  3. Always make the order of the code the same.
  4. Write an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for how you want your code laid out.
  5. Make the tool change lines stand out these are the key points.
  6. Use N numbers at strategic points so that you can easily find things.
  7. Don’t use too many N numbers or you will get confused they are like E numbers they can drive you crazy. They also take up loads of memory.
  8. The machine setter and operator are your customers and you need to make their lives as easy as possible. Give em code that’s easy to read.
  9. If your writing X50. Y50. Z50. don’t write Z50. Y50. X50. Yes it will run OK trouble is it’s bloody confusing.
  10. Someone suggested adding M01 after each tool so I’m adding this in. (Thanks Michael)

An M1 or M01 is an optional stop which means you have the choice to stop at each tool. (Very useful if you want to stop at the next tool and you can’t stand around.)

Continuity

When you arrange the program in the same way every time it will be easy to spot mistakes. If you always put your spindle start and speed at the end of the first position line like this.

G90 G0 G54 X50. Y50. S1500 M03

Were you to miss out the speed you would have a very good chance of noticing it because the line will look wrong.

G90 G0 G54 X50. Y50. M03

Tidy neat code is the same as a neat tidy workshop. It’s much easier to find things.

Thanks for reading my post.

Please contact me if you require:

  • CNC programming training.
  • Want to learn CNC programming.
  • Fanuc control training.
  • Yasnac programming training.
  • Any type of CNC course.
  • Fanuc training courses
  • CNC lathe training
  • CNC Vertical Machining Centre training

Services offered at CNC Training Centre

Edgecam Training.

Siemens Sinumerik Training

Classroom programmer training.

Onsite CNC Machine Training.

Training on all controls and machines.

Mazak Training Fanuc Training

Don’t forget we offer training on all types of Mazak Machines and all Fanuc Controls 6m to 31i Oi old to young.

Onsite Training

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