controlled_burn
Plastic
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2019
I'll start off by mentioning that I have a Mazak SpaceGear U44 2.5kw laser. It can do flat, 3D, chuck/tube jobs, and has a 4'x4' bed. Lately, I've been scratching my head as to why it can't keep circular holes on the centerline of a part I'm programming. I've attached some photos of what my setup looks like, but basically, I have a chuck with a 1" square tube loaded in it and up against a live center on the other end (not shown in the simulation screenshot). The part that I'm programming has a bunch of circular holes, on various faces of the tube, but all on the tube centerline. When I'm done cutting (and I cut 8 parts to get a good sample size), I get holes off centerline anywhere from .010" to .080".
Here's what I know so far:
1. The tube is straight. I swept an indicator along the entire length of the tube using the laser nozzle and y-axis, and the tube only runs out by about .005" along the 4' piece that I'm working with, which is pretty impressive. I also rotated the chuck and did the same thing with the same results.
2. The software that I'm using to program is outputting correct g code (verified with a different program's backplot viewer). The machine is being told to put the holes directly on centerline.
3. When the machine is moving/cutting, I'm watching the DRO to see what actual values are showing up. The y work offset is the centerline of the part and y reads 0 whenever the nozzle moves down the tube and is not cutting a hole (y values would obviously not be zero while making a hole in the x/y plane).
4. I don't believe there is anything wrong with the machine with respect to servos, encoders, ball screws, etc. We keep out machine well maintained and have it serviced every 4,000 hours.
Anyway, if anybody could provide some insight or point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate that. Right now I'm just spinning my wheels.
Thanks!
Here's what I know so far:
1. The tube is straight. I swept an indicator along the entire length of the tube using the laser nozzle and y-axis, and the tube only runs out by about .005" along the 4' piece that I'm working with, which is pretty impressive. I also rotated the chuck and did the same thing with the same results.
2. The software that I'm using to program is outputting correct g code (verified with a different program's backplot viewer). The machine is being told to put the holes directly on centerline.
3. When the machine is moving/cutting, I'm watching the DRO to see what actual values are showing up. The y work offset is the centerline of the part and y reads 0 whenever the nozzle moves down the tube and is not cutting a hole (y values would obviously not be zero while making a hole in the x/y plane).
4. I don't believe there is anything wrong with the machine with respect to servos, encoders, ball screws, etc. We keep out machine well maintained and have it serviced every 4,000 hours.
Anyway, if anybody could provide some insight or point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate that. Right now I'm just spinning my wheels.
Thanks!