[colton_m]

Hello,

I am new to modifying posts, changed a few basic things for Mills but never on lathe.

This is what I am trying to accomplish:

Mastercam X5

Starting with "GENERIC FANUC 2X LATHE.PST" I would like to make a copy of this post titled "Tailstock". Modified so that the Z move happens before the X move after tool changes and at the end of every operation I get simply G28U0.

This way there will be no manual editing when using the tailstock in our machine.

Here is a sample of how it is currently posting:

%
O12334
(PROGRAM NAME - TEST)
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 10-06-13 TIME=HH:MM - 12:52)
(MCX FILE - TEST)
(NC FILE - C:\USERS\DAVEY\DESKTOP\TEST.NC)
(MATERIAL - STEEL INCH - 1018)
G20
(TOOL - 1 OFFSET - 1)
(OD ROUGH RIGHT - 80 DEG. INSERT - CNMG-432)
( FACING )
G0 T0101
M8
G97 S868 M03
G0 G54 X2.2 Z0.
G50 S2500
G96 S500
G99 G1 X-.0625 F.008
G0 Z.1
M09
G28 U0. W0. M05
T0100
M30
%

Here is a sample of what I would like it to look like:

%
O12334
(PROGRAM NAME - TEST)
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 10-06-13 TIME=HH:MM - 12:52)
(MCX FILE - TEST)
(NC FILE - C:\USERS\DAVEY\DESKTOP\TEST.NC)
(MATERIAL - STEEL INCH - 1018)
G20
(TOOL - 1 OFFSET - 1)
(OD ROUGH RIGHT - 80 DEG. INSERT - CNMG-432)
( FACING )
G0 T0101
M8
G97 S868 M03
G0 G54 Z0.
X2.2
G50 S2500
G96 S500
G99 G1 X-.0625 F.008
G0 Z.1
M09
G28 U0. M05
T0100
M30
%

[ObrienDave]

Attach a copy of your .pst file, one of us will be happy to modify it to suit your requirements.

[mroy0404]

ObrienDave,

Could you post how this is done for the rest of us.

Thank you.

[ObrienDave]

I would be happy to as soon as the OP attaches a copy of their post so I can fix it.
If you need a similar fix, post a snippet of the code you get, an example of how you would like it to look, and attach a copy of YOUR post to a message.
If I can, I will fix it and document the changes inside the post file.

[ObrienDave]

ObrienDave,

Could you post how this is done for the rest of us.

Thank you.

For the benefit of others,

These forums don't support a file extension of .pst
So, make a copy of your post file.
Rename the copy with a .txt extension.
Using the advanced message editor, attach the .txt copy to a message on this thread.

I will be happy to make those changes and show you how it's done.

[mroy0404]

Hello Dave.


I have attached a copy of mplmaster in txt format. This will help many ppl.

[colton_m]

Hey guys sorry for the slow response,

I tried to go back and edit my original post with some updates but it won't let me for some reason so here's what's up:

Using Mastercam X5

Starting with "MPLFAN.PST" I would like to make a copy of this post titled "LATHE TAILSTOCK.PST". Modified so that the Z move happens before the X move after tool changes and at the end of every operation I simply get G28U0.

This way there will be no manual editing when using the tailstock in our machine.

I made a quick test program that faces, roughs and then finishes the O.D. to show what I would like to modify:

Here is a sample of how it is currently posting:

%
O1234
(PROGRAM NAME - MCX LATHE TEST)
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 24-09-13 TIME=HH:MM - 20:00)
(MCX FILE - C:\MCX LATHE TEST.MCX-5)
(NC FILE - C:\MCX LATHE TEST.NC)
(MATERIAL - STEEL INCH - 4140)
G20
(TOOL - 1 OFFSET - 1)
(OD ROUGH RIGHT - 80 DEG. INSERT - CNMG-432)
( FACING )
G0 T0101
G18
G97 S868 M03
G0 G54 X2.2 Z0. M8
G50 S2000
G96 S500
G99 G1 X-.0625 F.01
G0 Z.1
( ROUGH O.D. )
X1.9007
Z.102
G1 Z-.998
X2.
G0 Z.102
X1.8014
G1 Z-.998
X1.9207
G0 Z.102
X1.7021
G1 Z-.0424
G18 G3 X1.77 Z-.1313 I-.0993 K-.0889
G1 Z-.998
X1.8214
G0 Z.102
X1.6028
G1 Z-.0076
G3 X1.7221 Z-.0551 I-.0496 K-.1237
G0 Z.102
X1.5035
G1 Z.002
G3 X1.6228 Z-.0121 K-.1333
M9
G28 U0. V0. W0. M05
T0100
M01
(TOOL - 2 OFFSET - 2)
(OD FINISH RIGHT - 35 DEG. INSERT - VNMG-431)
( FINISH O.D. )
G0 T0202
G18
G97 S1886 M03
G0 G54 X1.5187 Z.1 M8
G50 S2000
G96 S750
G1 Z0. F.005
G18 G3 X1.75 Z-.1157 K-.1157
G1 Z-1.
X1.9375
X2.0789 Z-.9293
M9
G28 U0. V0. W0. M05
T0200
M30
%

Here is a sample of what I would like it to look like:

%
O1234
(PROGRAM NAME - MCX LATHE TEST)
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 24-09-13 TIME=HH:MM - 20:00)
(MCX FILE - C:\MCX LATHE TEST.MCX-5)
(NC FILE - C:\MCX LATHE TEST.NC)
(MATERIAL - STEEL INCH - 4140)
G20
(TOOL - 1 OFFSET - 1)
(OD ROUGH RIGHT - 80 DEG. INSERT - CNMG-432)
( FACING )
G0 T0101
G18
G97 S868 M03
G0 G54 Z0. M8 <Split up Z and X moves
X2.2
G50 S2000
G96 S500
G99 G1 X-.0625 F.01
G0 Z.1
( ROUGH O.D. )
X1.9007
Z.102
G1 Z-.998
X2.
G0 Z.102
X1.8014
G1 Z-.998
X1.9207
G0 Z.102
X1.7021
G1 Z-.0424
G18 G3 X1.77 Z-.1313 I-.0993 K-.0889 <Don't need redundant G18 here!
G1 Z-.998
X1.8214
G0 Z.102
X1.6028
G1 Z-.0076
G3 X1.7221 Z-.0551 I-.0496 K-.1237
G0 Z.102
X1.5035
G1 Z.002
G3 X1.6228 Z-.0121 K-.1333
M9
G28 U0. <Notice the M05 is totally gone, dont need it!
T0100
M01
(TOOL - 2 OFFSET - 2)
(OD FINISH RIGHT - 35 DEG. INSERT - VNMG-431)
( FINISH O.D. )
G0 T0202
G18
G97 S1886 M03
G0 G54 Z.1 M8 <Split up Z and X moves
X1.5187
G50 S2000
G96 S750
G1 Z0. F.005
G18 G3 X1.75 Z-.1157 K-.1157 <Don't need redundant G18 here!
G1 Z-1.
X1.9375
X2.0789 Z-.9293
M9
G28 U0. <Notice the M05 is totally gone, dont need it!
T0200
M05 <Add M05 before the M30
M30
%

I changed the unmodified post file to a .txt file and attached as requested.

Thanks guys.

[ObrienDave]

colton_m

Ok, I have everything fixed except for the redundant G18
These posts are a bit more complicated than what I'm used to.
I fully commented the changes inside the post file and left the original code intact as much as possible as comments so you can see what I changed
Just D/L the file and remove the .txt extension

As always, TEST, TEST, TEST before you run at full speed
I will not be held responsible if you crash/crunch anything

PS, Removed the tailstock post due to your safety concerns.

mroy0404

Here is the modified mplmaster post.
As above, TEST, TEST, TEST before you run at full speed
I will not be held responsible if you crash/crunch anything

[colton_m]

Thanks a bunch ObrienDave,

I will make up some test programs and have a look.

I am curious, does your knowledge of modifying posts stem from experience / trial / error? Or are there some other resources i.e. books that you know of? I believe Mastercam offers a class on post modification although I have never had the time to look into it thoroughly.

Again, the help is much appreciated.

- Colton

[colton_m]

Well I gave the new post a try and there were still a few things that needed tweaking but with your comments in the new post I was able to find where the problems were are fix them with some trial and error.

[ObrienDave]

Thanks a bunch ObrienDave,

I will make up some test programs and have a look.

I am curious, does your knowledge of modifying posts stem from experience / trial / error? Or are there some other resources i.e. books that you know of? I believe Mastercam offers a class on post modification although I have never had the time to look into it thoroughly.

Again, the help is much appreciated.

- Colton

I must admit I am NOT a lathe programmer.
Yes, my post knowledge is from experience/trial/error over the last 20 years or so.
Meaning, I scrapped a few parts, crunched a few more cutters, but never broke a machine. (knock on wood )
I took this on for the challenge and admit it kicked my butt.

I'm happy you were able to put the finishing touches on the post.

All the best