Thread: 8 axis lathe

Any suggestions on which software to use for an 8 axis lathe. I am currently using mastercam V7.2 (lol). It works for what we have. Esprit, edge cam and an updated version of master cam have been suggested. Any info will help.

Thanks

Partmaker would be ideal but also big money.

When you say "8 axis" do you mean; X,Z,Y,C and a Sub Spindle?

Gotta have two turrets for 8 axes.

Having said that, Partmaker or Esprit are the only ones to consider if you plan really getting the most out of that machine.

We use Edgecam for our six axis (one turret) ...it would work for a second turret, but it doesn't have multichannel infrastructure, so you would have to copy and paste code together if you want to do more than one thing at a time.

NX can handle this.

Some people refer to an 8 axis lathe as all 4 axes (single turret) work on the main and sub, some people refer to 8 axis as a machine with 2 turrets, some people refer to their Swiss' as 12 axis because they have 3 turrets and 3 spindles, having more turrets doesn't change the axis motion it only changes how many ballscrews the machine has. That said, as fpworks has 6 axes, that means he has an A and B axis in addition to X,Y,Z and C, is that correct?

Robert

Originally Posted by litlerob

?.. That said, as fpworks has 6 axes, that means he has an A and B axis in addition to X,Y,Z and C, is that correct?

Robert

X,Y,Z on turret (that can be used on main or subspindle)
C on main spindle
C on subspindle
W (or B) on subspindle position (for pulling or transfer)

=6 independently controlled axes

dare i say mastercam!! hahahahahah

Dan-

Originally Posted by fpworks

X,Y,Z on turret (that can be used on main or subspindle)
C on main spindle
C on subspindle
W (or B) on subspindle position (for pulling or transfer)

=6 independently controlled axes

You haven't added any axes geometrically, except B for the sub which really doesn't make sense, because a B-axis is one that rotates along the Y axis of a graph. I have run loads of these machines, I just don't think they deserve all those axis designations, mathematically. Reverse motion on the z axis does not denote a new axis----

W (or B spindle)

Robert my ±2

Originally Posted by litlerob

You haven't added any axes geometrically, except B for the sub which really doesn't make sense, because a B-axis is one that rotates along the Y axis of a graph. I have run loads of these machines, I just don't think they deserve all those axis designations, mathematically. Reverse motion on the z axis does not denote a new axis----

Robert my ±2

Subspindle motion is called "W" all over the machine, but you can't program the subspindle position with W because that is incremental Z. (so somebody at Mazak decided to use address B...which is agree is strange) Subspindle motion/position is not "reverse Z" since is accomplishes something that Z cannot do...which is translate the part with respect to Z. I think that is enough to deserve it's own independent axis (after all, it does have it's own ballscrew, servo, drive, etc.)

Gibbs will run a twin turrett as far as i know, with a sub aswell


And our hyundia-kia C axis lathe denotes the subspindle motion with a B aswell, didnt make a bit of sense to me either.

-Jacob

Top Solid is another choice: TopSolid: Specialist in integrated CAD/CAM/ERP software solution

Originally Posted by fpworks

Gotta have two turrets for 8 axes.

That would have been my guess!
Two INDEPENDENT turrets/slides. I run some with 2 turrets, but the are on the same slide.

Originally Posted by litlerob

You haven't added any axes geometrically, except B for the sub which really doesn't make sense, because a B-axis is one that rotates along the Y axis of a graph. I have run loads of these machines, I just don't think they deserve all those axis designations, mathematically. Reverse motion on the z axis does not denote a new axis----

Robert my ±2

Robert

Not on a lathe. B axis is not a rotating axis, it is usually a the subspindle. Just like the Mazak, Mori uses it for the same purpose.
I would actually call it a sub Z-axis as it really relates to Z axis motion.
On a Mori NL, the X, Y, Z and C axis are the same axis, only the Z direction varies depending on which spindle you use.
With the addition of the B axis ( subspindle motion ) that, in and of itself would only translate to a 5 axis machine.
The only reason I would classify it as a 6 axis is because you can synchronize the sub with the main.
IOW in reality you have a C1 and C2 axis, where C1 is the main spindle and C2 is the sub.

Lathe parts are geneerally relatively simple,,,and those live tools generally are not doing massive 3dcontouring programs, so why not code it by hand? You'd be amazed at some of the stuff hand coded.