Mori seiki lathe programming

[Dablaingc]

Ok so I’m new to the world of lathes and I have a Mori Seiki Mt1500sz. I’m programming with mastercam and trying to avoid a crash on my new to me machine. The main spindle programming is pretty self explanatory as far as setting the work offsets and all but I’m curious about work in the sub spindle after the part is transferred.

I’ve seen where G54 is used on the main and G55 is used on the sub so with that in mind, do I run the first part of the program, let it part off and return home and then stop and set G55 on the face of the part in the sub spindle or is G55 calculated from the machine position.

I can do about anything on the VMC but the lathe has me a little confused and like I said I don’t wanna crash.

Thanks for any help it’s appreciated

 

[DouglasJRizzo]

You set the main spindle up, normally, and the sub axis (usually "B" but it may be assigned differently) is also measured from the work piece in the main. Once the hand off has occurred, the G55 for the sub is measured with the part in the sub spindle.

 

[13engines]

You don't necessarily need to use two different offsets. If you're measuring all your main facing tools to a known length of stock sticking out of the main spindle, (and calling it Z0) and do the same for the rear facing tools to a part held in the sub spindle, the offsets will take care of themselves and you can run the whole job in one offset. Or no offset really, as G54 will be all zeros.

I use the spare offsets when creating multiple parts out of a single piece of stock sticking out of the main. Use the Z portion of the extra offsets to describe the new Z0 location after each cutoff. This will typically have a B component as well to take care of the moving pass-off position.

If your machine has a tool setter and you're bothering to use it, then your many G offsets do come into play to describe the difference between the setters reference position and your workpiece zero position. Same goes if you tend to keep a fairly static turret (not changing out most tools) and have set all Z's at say 3" off the face of the chuck, and you now want to run with 5" sticking out. You'll stick a Z2. in one of the offsets.

The X offsets are much more job specific when dealing with X axis live tools.Stick (turning) tools are usually good to go for most any job once set.

Said from one semi lathe newb to another. :-)

 

[Dablaingc]

Good deal. I’m trying to figure out the lathe portion and sub spindle before endeavoring to learn the b axis head. Turning in general is new to me let alone a 9 axis lathe

 

[13engines]

To Clarify... On my SL200-SMC Mori the B axis is the sub spindle. Or more technically, the carriage that caries the sub spindle, and what moves to go pick something up-off from the main spindle. Can't recall what the letter is for rotary angular movement at a feed rate of the Sub Spindle.

There is an M code to sync the main and sub during pass-off. On mine there are 3 or 4 actually. One for plane sync, (speed only) one for Phase Sync, (angle and speed) one for cutoff detection, and one for Torque Skip if you go that route, for sensing and seating the part for pass off. (Never used it myself so far) It's sort of cool the first time you set the spindles to pass off a part. They'll rotate a little independently of each other to find each other. Then hold your breath... as big, fast spinning steel things are going to get scary close to each other, and some of that at full rapid. Takes a little getting used to.