[MetLHead]

You can download this latest version of NCPlot v2 at www.ncplot.com.


NCPlot v2.02 Release Notes
June 2, 2007


General

NCPlot would only recognize a particular version of Machinist ToolBox. This has been changed so that NCPlot will work with any version of the MTB ActiveX.

The default file types setting now allows wildcard characters "*" and "?".

NCPlot will now give run time estimates for lathe programs that use constant surface speed (CSS). This calculates run time for both G20 Inch mode (surface feet per minute) and G21 Metric mode (surface meters per minute). This also takes into account the G50/G92 clamp RPM settings "S" Maximum RPM and "Q" Minimum RPM. This requires that feed per rev also be active.

Improved the backplotting speed for programs that make heavy use of subprograms.


DXF Import

The layer header and footer text were not being added when converting a DXF file to a lathe program. This is fixed.


Preferences

Added an option to the Preferences dialog that allows you to set whether you want the plot to pause at M00 commands.


Variable Display

You can now edit variables that are displayed on the variable display window. Double-clicking a variable number in the list will open a window where you can enter a new value for the variable. You can enter any valid expression as the new value. To set the variable to , enter the null variable "#0" as the expression.


Expression Calculator

The contents of the expression calculator results window is now saved on exit.

Clicking a line in the results window will now copy that line back to the expression text box. This makes it easier to go back and re-evaluate an earlier expression.


Thanks,
Scott

[duenow]

Seems the run time don't work on lathe not using CCS. I get 15:11S on a job that runs 42 S. Works fine on mill. I tried many lathe programs that I know the cycle time on & get many minutes when all run a max of 65 seconds.

I don't use CCS on .500 diameter or less.

[MetLHead]

Argh... I must have broken something. Can you post a program along with it's cycle time?

Thanks,
Scott

[MetLHead]

Now that I've had some time to think about this... I changed the default feed mode for the lathe configurations from feed per minute to feed per rev. So, you probably need to change the config setup back to feed per minute. To do this, just delete the G99 from the initial state setting.

Let me know if this helps.

Thanks,
Scott

[duenow]

Argh... I must have broken something. Can you post a program along with it's cycle time?

Thanks,
Scott

Cycle time 38 seconds.
&HE:%
:0318(7/16HEX)
G20
G65P9150H1.(SET-FOR-50-90-PS1)
(BELLMED7/16HEX)
(P/N-A-72-000-20-JOB->O318)
N2(-FEED-STOCK-T0200)
G97
M98P1
T0202
X0.Z1.M09
/X0.Z-0.275F400.
/M21
/G04U.5(1/2SECDWELL)
/Z0.040F400.
/G04U1.
M22
G00Z1.M01
N12(-CENTER-T1200)
G97M13S2800
T0000
T0212
X0.
Z.100
G99G01Z-.105F.0120
G04U.2
M98P2
N4(TURN .080 ISCAR GROOVE)
G97M13S2800
M98P1
T0404
G99
G00X0.550Z0.300
Z0.
G01X.12F0.004
X.293F.003
X.375Z-.041
Z-.1126F0.005
Z-.1852
X0.309Z-.1936
Z-.195
X0.415
X.5012Z-.2073F0.003
G00X.570
M98P2
N5(-THD-OD-CUT-T0500)
G97M13S2800
M98P1
T0505
X0.499Z0.375
/G76P010055Q0015R.0004
(P=SPRING-PASSES.P--=PULL-OFF-DIS.P----=COMP-ANGLE)
(Q=MIN-PASS-DEPTH.R=FINISH-PASS-AMOUNT)
/G76X0.3239Z-0.150P0256Q0160R-.0F0.041667
(X=ROOT-DIA-Z=LENGTH-P=SINGLEDEPTH-Q=1STPASSDEPTH-R=TAPER)
M98P2
N6(-DRILL-T0600)
G97M13S2800
M98P1
T0606
X0Z.200
G65P9135J0.2K-0.400B0.05F.020H0.189C0.062A0.2
(K=DEPTH-B=STARTFEED-H=DRILLDIA-C=MINDEPTH-A=P/O-DWELL)
G00Z2.X3.5
N1(-CUTOFF-T0100)
G97M13S2800
T0000
T0101
G99
G00X.5426Z0.300
Z-.3298
G01X.5026Z-.3498F.01
X.4114Z-.362F.002
M26
X-.06
M09
G00X.570
M25
M98P2
/M31(DEL-FOR-NON-BAR-WORK)
M30(-PRG-END)
%

[duenow]

Now that I've had some time to think about this... I changed the default feed mode for the lathe configurations from feed per minute to feed per rev. So, you probably need to change the config setup back to feed per minute. To do this, just delete the G99 from the initial state setting.

Let me know if this helps.

Thanks,
Scott

Deleting the G99 saving & reloading still came up with 15m

[MetLHead]

Deleting the G99 saving & reloading still came up with 15m

I just tried this program and got a time of 40 seconds. This was 7 seconds of cut time and the rest was split between the rapid motion and tool changes.

For the heck of it, uninstall NCPlot and then delete it's folder from the Program Files folder. Keep the file "ncplot.key" if you have one. Then re-install and try this again. Don't forget to remove the G99 again.

Thanks,
Scott

[duenow]

I just tried this program and got a time of 40 seconds. This was 7 seconds of cut time and the rest was split between the rapid motion and tool changes.

For the heck of it, uninstall NCPlot and then delete it's folder from the Program Files folder. Keep the file "ncplot.key" if you have one. Then re-install and try this again. Don't forget to remove the G99 again.

Thanks,
Scott

I did that, & after uninstall deleated all folders. Installed NCPLOT & my .key.
& removed the G99 & saved the config.

Still shows 15m 11s. It's no big deal I can live with that. I was one of the first to buy NCPLOT & never even knew it had a cylce time calc.
Just strange it is right on in the mill but not lathe.

[duenow]

Ok, now it gets strange, some programs show the correct time cycle & others way to much. This is with the G99 left in. This job shows 27s
Which is correct. Removing the G99 they are still the same, some right & others way to high.

%
O457(BENSHAFT-317-DIA)
G20
G65P9150H1.(SET-FOR-50-90-PS1)
(BENSHAFT-317-DIA)
(P/N-SHAFT317DIA-JOB->O457)
N3(-TURN-&-FACE-T0303)
(PUT-TOOL-NOSE-RADIUS-IN-GEO-FILE)
G97M13S2500
M98P1
T0303
G99
G00X.6Z.200
Z.050
G01X-.060F.005
G00X.600Z.060
Z.002
G99G01X-.06F.006
G00X.04Z.100
G01G42X-.06Z.002F.010
G01X0.2920F.0060
G01X0.3420Z-0.0250F.0075
G01Z-0.873
G01X0.4400
G01X0.5000Z-0.9050F.004
G01Z-0.9600X.510
G00X.6
M98P2
N4(-TURN-&-FACE-T0404)
(PUT-TOOL-NOSE-RADIUS-IN-GEO-FILE)
G97M13S3000
M98P1
T0404
G99
G00X.6Z.200
Z0.
G99G01X-.06F.003
G00X.04Z.100
G01G42X-.06Z0.F.010
G01X0.282F.0030
G01X0.3165Z-0.0300F.0030
G01Z-0.8750
G01X0.4400
G01X0.5000Z-0.9050F.0030
G01Z-0.9600X.508
X.6
M05
M98P2
/M21
G00Z8.
M30
%

[MetLHead]

Ok, now it gets strange, some programs show the correct time cycle & others way to much. This is with the G99 left in. This job shows 27s
Which is correct. Removing the G99 they are still the same, some right & others way to high.

Thanks, I'm still trying to get to the bottom of this. I will let you know what I find.

Scott