Mill/turn with Sub spindle

[pronc]

Hi all,

We will have a new mill/turn with sub spindle in very soon. I've done programming for mill/turn before but not one with sub spindle. There are a few questions I'd like to ask all the mill/turn gurus here. The machine only has the upper turret.

1. Should I bring in a second part for the sub spindle side? And set-up another csy for it?

2. How do you handle pick-up and release?

3. Should I approach the part from Z plus direction then use the post to mirror the Z axis since retract plane would be Z minus?

If anyone has a sample file and would like to share I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Dan

 

[chf65]

Hi pronc,


There is more than one way to do this, but here are my recommendations:


1- Bring in a second part for the subspindle work, but keep the same operation csys. This works much nicer for viewing toolpaths. Use a diferent csys only for the sequences on the siubspindle.


2- pick and relaese: auxiliary sequence if you already have machine routines. Just call then up. Else, a trajectory seq is necessary.


3- For work on the sub-spindle, use a keyword such as SPINDLE/SIDE to key your post to. No need to mirroe anything inmost machine cases. You may have toTRANS your data in the post (depending on the machine) but that is all.


Charles

 

[pronc]

Hi Charles,

Thank you for the reply. I have a question. How would you set the Z direction for the csy of the sub spindle? Should it be opposite to the Z direction of the main spindle?
Thank you.

Dan

 

[chf65]

Hi Dan,


Set the Z-axis of a CSYS on the subspindle opposite the Z-dir of the main only if you need to make milling/holemaking sequences on the face of the part when in sub-spindle.


Basically, keep the same operationCSYS, and output the whole thing as an operation. So that way, the programming in pro/NC is as straighforward as possible. Deal with the switch between main to sub-spindle in a combination of post and what your machinehas as far as offset capabilities.


Charles

 

[pronc]

Got it. Thanks.