Hi all,
my name is Klaus. I'm new at this forum and in doing cnc-work.
I wonder if it is possible to use a cnc milling machine and Vectric software to do some simple lathe work like shown in this youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gC55dQSv40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oenS58zZROg
I have no idea how it could be done.
Have a nice weekend.
Klaus
do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
-
Leo
- Vectric Wizard
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Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Klaus,
YES - and - NO
I have no idea what your machine is and what it is capable of doing.
Cutting metals will be more critical with speeds and feeds. Feeds are not a problem - but RPM might be. Steel does NOT like to cut at 8,000 RPM which is about as slow as a CNC ROUTER spindle RPM can go.
The other problem may be Ridgidity. Cutting steel, Aluminum and Brass requires some SERIOUS ridigity.
I don't know your machine and I don't know what it is capable of. My commercial CNC router can cut brass and aluminum - but NOT like the way it's done in those videos.
Routers and CNC Router Spindles are not designed to work that way.
The videos show a Knee Mill which is a totally different machine.
As to what they are doing in the video - I personally would NOT spend a dime on any CAM to do that work. I would simple write that code long hand.
YES - and - NO
I have no idea what your machine is and what it is capable of doing.
Cutting metals will be more critical with speeds and feeds. Feeds are not a problem - but RPM might be. Steel does NOT like to cut at 8,000 RPM which is about as slow as a CNC ROUTER spindle RPM can go.
The other problem may be Ridgidity. Cutting steel, Aluminum and Brass requires some SERIOUS ridigity.
I don't know your machine and I don't know what it is capable of. My commercial CNC router can cut brass and aluminum - but NOT like the way it's done in those videos.
Routers and CNC Router Spindles are not designed to work that way.
The videos show a Knee Mill which is a totally different machine.
As to what they are doing in the video - I personally would NOT spend a dime on any CAM to do that work. I would simple write that code long hand.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
-
vip-klaus
- Vectric Apprentice
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:01 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Wabeco F1410 LF-C HS; Sorotec AL1110
- Location: Wurmberg, Germany
Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Hi Leo,
thank you for your quick reply. And sorry: I use a Wabeco F1410LF HS cnc with "einfach-cnc" controller and mach 3 software.
https://www.wabeco-remscheid.de/index.p ... s-NEU.html
I added a highspeed cutting engine (Kress 1050 Watt, 10 - 29.000 1/min) to be able to cut wood too. Don't think that I will be able to write a g-code fille manually.
Greetings
Klaus
thank you for your quick reply. And sorry: I use a Wabeco F1410LF HS cnc with "einfach-cnc" controller and mach 3 software.
https://www.wabeco-remscheid.de/index.p ... s-NEU.html
I added a highspeed cutting engine (Kress 1050 Watt, 10 - 29.000 1/min) to be able to cut wood too. Don't think that I will be able to write a g-code fille manually.
Greetings
Klaus
-
Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4086
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
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- Contact:
Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Klaus,
I don't know how the motor ratings compare to HP, but I would guess you have enough to cut some metals.
The RPM range is fine.
With a bit of creative thinking - you could probably get the toolpath from Vectric products, but to my knowledge - Vectric is not really geared towards turning.
I have done my fair share of lathe work and used CAM a fair amount.
Lathes have some unique code - some of which I saw in the second video you showed.
G-Code is really very easy. It is noting more that point to point. I have been programming CNC 40 years on lathes and machining centers and swiss turn machine, 2 axis, 3 axis, 4 axis and complex machines up to 16 axis.
For the stuff you saw in the video - you could learn that pretty easily.
Do some internet research and find some free tutorials.
Basic set of G-Code is:
G0 - RAPID - moves the axis as fast as it can go.
G1 - Feed - used with a "F" code to move the axis in a feedrate
G2 - ccw arc - Moves two axis at same time to create a counter clockwise arc
G3 - cw Arc - clockwise arc.
M3 - start spindle right hand rotation
M4 - start spindle left hand rotation
S - designates the spindle RPM
ooohh There are a few more - and there is a little more explanation.
No matter WHAT you decide to do --- If you are going to play with CNC machine - it WILL serve you well to learn at least the basic CNC programming.
I don't know how the motor ratings compare to HP, but I would guess you have enough to cut some metals.
The RPM range is fine.
With a bit of creative thinking - you could probably get the toolpath from Vectric products, but to my knowledge - Vectric is not really geared towards turning.
I have done my fair share of lathe work and used CAM a fair amount.
Lathes have some unique code - some of which I saw in the second video you showed.
G-Code is really very easy. It is noting more that point to point. I have been programming CNC 40 years on lathes and machining centers and swiss turn machine, 2 axis, 3 axis, 4 axis and complex machines up to 16 axis.
For the stuff you saw in the video - you could learn that pretty easily.
Do some internet research and find some free tutorials.
Basic set of G-Code is:
G0 - RAPID - moves the axis as fast as it can go.
G1 - Feed - used with a "F" code to move the axis in a feedrate
G2 - ccw arc - Moves two axis at same time to create a counter clockwise arc
G3 - cw Arc - clockwise arc.
M3 - start spindle right hand rotation
M4 - start spindle left hand rotation
S - designates the spindle RPM
ooohh There are a few more - and there is a little more explanation.
No matter WHAT you decide to do --- If you are going to play with CNC machine - it WILL serve you well to learn at least the basic CNC programming.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
-
vip-klaus
- Vectric Apprentice
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:01 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Wabeco F1410 LF-C HS; Sorotec AL1110
- Location: Wurmberg, Germany
Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Hi Leo, thank you again for your very informative reply!
I will give it a try. Maybe, when I stuck with it, I will ask you again.
Greetings
Klaus
The motor has 2 kW (2.5 HP), this should be enough for cutting small parts in alu and steelLeo wrote:... I don't know how the motor ratings compare to HP, but I would guess you have enough to cut some metals...
16 axisLeo wrote:... I have been programming CNC 40 years on lathes and machining centers and swiss turn machine, 2 axis, 3 axis, 4 axis and complex machines up to 16 axis.
Leo wrote: ... For the stuff you saw in the video - you could learn that pretty easily...
I will give it a try. Maybe, when I stuck with it, I will ask you again.
Greetings
Klaus
-
Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4086
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
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- Contact:
Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Klaus,
Just one more thing
Mach3 has a thing called "Lazy Mill" that has some Lathe programming capabilities. You might want to look at that.
Just one more thing
Mach3 has a thing called "Lazy Mill" that has some Lathe programming capabilities. You might want to look at that.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
Re: do some lathe work wit a milling machine?
Klaus,
This screen in Mach will let you use the mill for a lathe. Being new it might be better for you to let someone else make your settings. Mach also has lathe wizards that will do many functions on a lathe conversationally. I do use a mill for a lathe sometimes for a quick short job, it does work.
Roy
This screen in Mach will let you use the mill for a lathe. Being new it might be better for you to let someone else make your settings. Mach also has lathe wizards that will do many functions on a lathe conversationally. I do use a mill for a lathe sometimes for a quick short job, it does work.
Roy
forgot to list the link