[Cartel, LLC]

im not sure if thats the correct term for it or not but here goes...

i have a vf-3. lets say that i have 2 identical fixtures and have numerous parts to machine. so, i want to set these fixtures up side by side on my table and put 2 pieces of material in at a time so that i have to check on the parts half as often. how do i set that up? im using bobcad if that affects anything. what i can do is just copy the drawing and basically run it twice which would work. but, thats not the right way to do it. any help? thanks!

[Geof]

That is not a canned cycle, it would use subroutines. Canned cycles are like the drilling cycles G82, 83, etc.

One way to do what you want is to make each tool a subroutine. For instance everything that Tool 1 does would be in a subroutine that starts with line N1000 and has the tool change, sets the spindle speed, etc like this:

N1000 T1 M06
S5000 M03
G43 H01
G00 (move to start point)
etc
etc
etc
G53 G49 Z0. (retract tool back to tool change position)
M99 (return from subroutine back to main program)

Tool 2 would be in subroutine N2000, Tool 3 N3000, etc.

The two parts in the machine each have their own Work Zero, one can be G54 the other G55 and the program is structured like this.

O11111 (Multipart program)
G53 G00 Z0. (retract Z just in case you start with it near the table)
(Safety line)
(Comments)
G54 (set first work zero
M97 P1000 (go to first subroutine)
G55 (set second work zero)
M97 P1000 (got to first subroutine again)
G54 (first work zero again)
M97 P2000 (second subroutine)
G55 (second work zero)
M97 P2000 (second subroutine again)
etc
etc
etc for all the tools
T1 M06 (go back to first tool)
G53 G00 X-10.0 Y0. (park table for reloading)
M30
(======)
N1000 (first subroutine as described above)
etc
etc
M99
(======)
N2000 (second subroutine as described above)
etc
etc
M99
(=====)
etc
etc for all the subroutines


I do know that Mastercam can be set up to post a program like this (I don't know how to do it I just know it is possible).

I have no idea whether Bobcad can do the same but you could always post each tool separately and then combine them into this type of program using the Haas editor on the machine.

EDIT: I reread your post and see you have two fixtures with multiple parts per fixture. The same principle applies but to many more work zeroes. I have put up several threads and also posted programs showing how I do many parts at different work zeroes. Go to my signature page and find All Posts by Geof and you can search through and find them, they machine 'multipart' in the thread title.

[KenFoulks]

This article matches your request:

http://atyourservice.haascnc.com/faa...-machine-tool/