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Machining Hex to specific size

Blackhawkxp

Plastic
Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Apparently as somebody that rides the mazatrol short bus i have a couple more questions. I am playing around with trying to program a hex. I get the shape to come out correctly but i haven't been able to get it to dimension correctly. Can somebody shed some light on the correct procedure to accomplish this? Lets say i need the wrench flats to measure 1.5" using 5/8" end mill. How do i calculate what the control needs in the FPT-R/x Column?

20191105_115745.jpg
 
Lest say i need the wrench flats to measure 1.5" using 5/8" end bill. How do i calculate what the control needs in the FPT-R/x Column?
When using polar coordinates (green numbers), program to the corners of the hex. Take the radius value of your flat (1.5" / 2 = .75") and multiply it by 1.154 = .8655" to get the dimension from the center of the part to the corner of the flat.

Then on your program you want to do a LEFT FACE, .625 width. The machine will compensate for the endmill diameter if your tool data page is correct.

X .8655, Ang 0
X .8655, Ang -60
X .8655, Ang -120
X.8655, Ang -180
X.8655, Ang -240
X.8655, Ang -300
X.8655, Ang -360
 
Just to verify the setting of the tool data the center of the end mill in a straight live tool holder has to be on the center line of the main spindle. This is how i have it setup and it worked perfect for milling the .5" flat on my last project. Since then i have been wondering since it is a lathe should the top edge of the end mill be at zero? I'm trying to take baby steps and i keep falling down the stairs.

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Center of the endmill needs to be X zero. Same as you would set a drill bit.

Here's my cheat sheet for milling a hex on the Mazak.
 

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Using the formula it seems to cut mostly right. It seems to be small by .020" on all sizes that i tried. Then all of a sudden i think the control didn't apply cutter comp and it started cutting way small. It just happened out of the blue. Not sure if there is a way to toggle it on or off? There might be something going on with the machine? What is the best way to adjust for size?
 
Using the formula it seems to cut mostly right. It seems to be small by .020" on all sizes that i tried. Then all of a sudden i think the control didn't apply cutter comp and it started cutting way small. It just happened out of the blue. Not sure if there is a way to toggle it on or off? There might be something going on with the machine? What is the best way to adjust for size?

The only way to toggle off the cutter comp is to completely clear out the cutter diameter from the tool data page or you accidentally edited the program to be Line Center instead of Line Left. Editing the program accidentally is easy to do. If that's not the case, then I don't have a clue what is going on.

If you have the correct endmill diameter registered in the tool data page, adjust the X axis offset +.020 as it sounds like your tool is off a bit.
 
I think i figured out what my issues were. I didn't put the (-) sign in the degree column so cutter comp was offsetting to the inside of the tool path instead of the outside. I am slowly figuring out how the machine works. Thanks for all of your help. Its the simple stuff that seems to get me. Hopefully others will learn from this in the future and save them from the humility of having to ask for help! :) I'm sure i will be back with more questions.
 
IMG_4858.jpg

here is my cheat sheet I have printed out next to my lathe for when i do hex. I also just keep a program in machine and labeled it hex. Then I go into file explorer, and right click the program and make it read only. This way nobody can change or delete it. Just copy it.
 








 
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