Russ,
After watching again I noticed that you zero your X before every tool index on the ST-20. Is it a haas thing or is it the way that you guys program? Not giving you crap or anything just a honest question.
After a tool cuts, I have the turret return to a safe location using G58 which is an operator assigned distance clearly spelled out in the beginning of the program based on what the G54 offsets are.
Example.....G54 equals the face of stock.....stated in the instructions in the program. It would also state, that G58 X = 11.500 (that is the clearance in X from any tool in the turret) and also that G58 Z is the G54 Z number plus the length of the longest tool plus .250".
This way, no matter what tools are in the turret, they will clear the chuck and the operator only has to change two offsets in the entire program. G54 Z and G58 Z.
Now I can program whatever I want and be certain no crashes will occur and the operator does not have to make any edits in the programs making the programs repeatable without incident every time.
It is the best way I have come up with for someone with little experience to setup and run the machine with a good amount of certainty that what they are doing will not crash the machine. Perhaps not the most efficient programming method, but considering the fact I am working with a crew of all "trained as we go along" machine operators,.....it's working very well!
One of the really nice features I like about the ST-20 lathe is that I can over ride the speed at which the turret indexes and even stop the turret in mid change with the feed hold button so as I'm proving out a program right up next to the chuck. The chances of a crash are almost non-existent because you can run it in virtually slow motion.
Another nice feature, is that I can feed hold the machine after a fussy dia. is cut and while the tool is backing off, I can feed hold, over ride the spindle to 0% percent, open the door, measure the part, and either continue running or make adjustments and re-run the tool.
With regard to holding size.........I just finished a job today running some end caps. 440C SST .375" OD with a .2805" dia. +/-.0005" dia. .687" lg. 600pc order running unattended using 48" lg. bars. Even running at 4,000 rpm all day long, the machine held size right on all day from first thing this morning until 4:30 this afternoon. (my shop is climate controlled though, so it helps,....tremendously!!)
I know with my Okuma it always tended to creep in, in X minus as it heated up. Not so with the Haas. I really like that Haas has the spindle motor above the spindle housing. With the heat always rising up and out the vents at the top I see no effect with tolerance with it running wide open all day long.
The only down side I can think of is with the motor up top and vented up there........... the damn belt whine will drive you nuts!!........holy crap......that's going to take some getting used too!!
By the way..........Thanks for all the compliments gentlemen, and advice.
I am always all ears when it comes to someone stating they have a better, faster, easier, or safer way or doing something they see us doing.
Doesn't mean I'll necessarily implement it.......just saying...........I'm all ears!
Best Regards,
Russ
