Thread: Conversational program for older Fanuc

I have been using Centroid controls for years, Slow and Easy. Most of the machining I do is cutting shapes in A36 plate .375 to 1.5 inches thick. I recently purchase a machine with a Fanuc 15M B series. Is there a conversational program that will generate code for the controller. I am thinking just buy a dedicated computer to connect with the machine and work the program from there. Thoughts??

The 15 is a powerful controller, but I have never seen one with any conversational add on. Machines with the 15 were usually up-market machines where the sales tool of onboard conversational programming functionality did not work.

I have seen this used for shopfloor conversational. http://www.g-zero.com/
lots of choices for cam software these days.
put a microcenter refurb (must have a serial port)next to it for $200

The 15M is a really nice control. The one I ran in the past was very well-optioned.

If you're really into conversational programming, then I would suggest you take this opportunity to learn basic G&M code, and macro programming. There's a really good, long-running discussion on macro programming here.

Honestly though, I learned how to use Fanuc-controlled mills like a manual machine very early on. For all of their short-comings, Fanuc's are pretty easy to use in this regard.

My opinion - If it's a simple enough part to make with conversational programming, then it's simple enough to make with plain G&M code, and/or macros.






I say that as someone who spent time on a Dynapath something-model retrofitted HBM, and a Fanuc 16M controlled HBM, and Fanuc 15m Bridge Mill all at the same time.

I'll take the Fanuc controls, hands down, every day, and twice on Sundays....




If you want some bare-bones program templates, let us know. I'd be happy to assist.

Fanuc does have Manual Guide i but I can't tell you when they came out with it. If it was out then, the 15 control would have it. The 15 was the top shelf control at the time and the cost reflected it.

Paul

There was an option for conversational programming on the 15 series, both T and M models. The 15TF was the lathe version and used FAPT as its system. The 15M could be optioned with CAP which was the mill conversational. When a 15 was optioned for conversational there was essentially a second motherboard that handled the programming functions. I'd be amazed if Fanuc would consider or quote doing a field retrofit on a 15 to add the capability and I'm even more sure that the cost would scare you away if they did quote it.

You will be way better off with a simple CAM software program.

Originally Posted by Vancbiker

There was an option for conversational programming on the 15 series, both T and M models. The 15TF was the lathe version and used FAPT as its system. The 15M could be optioned with CAP which was the mill conversational.

I am pretty sure 15, 18 and 21 had the Super CAP-M for mills and super CAP-iT for lathes. FAPT was on the older Fanuc lathes.
The 15 being the hiogh end control of the time probably had Super CAP-M standard.

Originally Posted by LockNut

Fanuc does have Manual Guide i but I can't tell you when they came out with it. If it was out then, the 15 control would have it. The 15 was the top shelf control at the time and the cost reflected it.

Paul

Manual Guide i didn't come until the 30, 31 and 32.

Originally Posted by flylo31

I have been using Centroid controls for years, Slow and Easy. Most of the machining I do is cutting shapes in A36 plate .375 to 1.5 inches thick. I recently purchase a machine with a Fanuc 15M B series. Is there a conversational program that will generate code for the controller. I am thinking just buy a dedicated computer to connect with the machine and work the program from there. Thoughts??

Some Series 15 controls had color CRT's and FAPT programming, or the mill equivalent. It's kinda rare as 15s were very high level controls that didn't lend themselves to shop floor programming.

However, depending on complexity of your parts - software like PowerStation from Microcimm can really do the trick for a low price. Grab a PC, hook it up and program away. Nice thing about PowerStation is that you can write your own posts. Great stuff.

Originally Posted by Fancuku

I am pretty sure 15, 18 and 21 had the Super CAP-M for mills and super CAP-iT for lathes. FAPT was on the older Fanuc lathes.......

I don't normally post up guesses in regards to option questions. Straight off a GEFanuc database I have it says FAPT for the 15T.

Originally Posted by Vancbiker

I don't normally post up guesses in regards to option questions. Straight off a GEFanuc database I have it says FAPT for the 15T.

That seems right. I think it's kinda rare tho.

Sorry for not jumping in sooner, but just had a burst of busy..... I have a little experience with G-code related to edits I had to do in the Centroid. I have tried Fusion 360 but I do not use it enough to stay comfortable at it. Then there those of you I envy because you can sneeze in G-code. I do not get the machine until the first week of December, so I will work with it and see how things work for me. In my research I came across KipwareM, any thoughts on that?

I am not a fan of conversational programming ,, every time I have tried to use it i find something that it just well not do , so for 25+ years I did mostly finger cam and put a few days in on Fusion and just found I could not get my head around it ,, so I did a LOT of reading and found out that onecnc might be better for my fixture work and found it works great for my simple parts, it is super intuitive and I can go months with out using it and just jump back on it ,, you can get a free 30 day full working demo and see what you think about it ,,