[Peter Neill]

Spotted this free machining calculator on another site, anyone using it or tried it out?

FSWizard

[kevinro]

Spotted this free machining calculator on another site, anyone using it or tried it out?

FSWizard

I have tried it in the past. It has a lot of issues and I was never happy with the results. But, it is free. It is easy to mess up the inputs.

GWizard is $69, works very reliably, and the author is a frequent contributor to this community and very responsive with good information.

For the amount of trouble and broken tooling you save, GWizard is the way to go. GWizard is just like any other tool in your shop. A good tool that you use often is something you should be willing to pay for. Besides, a few broken carbide cutters and a number of wasted hours is a common alternative.

Just a happy customer.

[zero_divide]

I have tried it in the past. It has a lot of issues and I was never happy with the results. But, it is free. It is easy to mess up the inputs.

GWizard is $69, works very reliably, and the author is a frequent contributor to this community and very responsive with good information.

For the amount of trouble and broken tooling you save, GWizard is the way to go. GWizard is just like any other tool in your shop. A good tool that you use often is something you should be willing to pay for. Besides, a few broken carbide cutters and a number of wasted hours is a common alternative.

Just a happy customer.

Ouch. did you just compare it to the results GWizard is giving or actually tried it?
I was not happy with the results GWizard was giving me, so i decided to do my own thing.

The speeds and feeds FSWizard is giving are always within 10% of manufacturer recommended and usually on conservative side.

What do you mean by "easy to mess up" the inputs? I always need good suggestions.

By the way for the people who don't have or don't want to use internet connection. There is also a free Windows based version available for download. It works instantaneous. And has lots of safety features like Torque and HP limitations.

I have run jobs calculated 100% with my tool and never broken a single cutter. All you need to do is only type in the right values.

Here is a download page for a Standalone Windows version:
FSWizard Standalone

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I have run jobs calculated 100% with my tool and never broken a single cutter. All you need to do is only type in the right values.

Here is a download page for a Standalone Windows version:
FSWizard Standalone

Very nice piece of work. I also started my own months ago, but haven't had time to finish it - when complete, it will calculate values for an entire set of tools, and export the toolset to some of the popular CAM programs. Yours is generating values very much in line with the values I've been using for years. I have yet to find *any* problems with yours (while I have seen G-Wizard calculate bogus values at times), and I think the calculated values are spot-on. Thank you for making this available!

Regards,
Ray L.

[Bubba]

zero-divide,
I see you have v0.012 available on your site. I thought I would download and see what was new over the previous one. However, when I attempt to install I get:
"Installer corrupted or incomplete.

This could be the result of a failed download or corruption from a virus....."

If I click on the Yes button to try and install anyway, it looks like it goes through, however it still shows the v0.010 status on the initial logo screen.

I like the program and just trying to give some feedback

[zero_divide]

zero-divide,
I see you have v0.012 available on your site. I thought I would download and see what was new over the previous one. However, when I attempt to install I get:
"Installer corrupted or incomplete.

This could be the result of a failed download or corruption from a virus....."

If I click on the Yes button to try and install anyway, it looks like it goes through, however it still shows the v0.010 status on the initial logo screen.

I like the program and just trying to give some feedback

Thank you.
Version 0.012 is just a bug fix with some improvements like added high feed milling. Maybe that's why i didn't bother to change the status window text
Yeah the situation with false "corrupt installer" has been brought to my attention. But i don't yet know what causes it.
What Windows version are you using?
How do results its giving match the optimal ones for you. I work in prototyping/semi production environment and or more-less rigid machines from 10 to 25 HP. Have not broken a cutter in years because of wrong cutting parameters. And since i started my project the cycle times have reduced by at least 50 percent.
So i am interested how things work for Tormach and other small machines.

Thanks for the interest.
Cheers

[kevinro]

What do you mean by "easy to mess up" the inputs? I always need good suggestions.

Oh, well, here are the first few things that, well, didn't impress me:

Workpiece Material selection isn't sorted in any reasonable order. Looked messy on the very first field.

When I tried using it the first time, where the list of tools shows was a database error message. I still haven't quite figured out what the list of tools is for.

Every time I made a change, there was a pause and the screen repainted. The repaint caused everything on the screen to visually change, so my eyes could not validate the changed parameter made sense.

The numbers generated, at least for my simple test, where pretty similar to GWizard, so I don't have complaints. It just seemed clunky to use, the database errors gave me pause, and the data entry part didn't give me a warm fuzzy. So while the numbers were similar to GWizard, I didn't have high confidence in the results.

Kevin

[zero_divide]

Oh, well, here are the first few things that, well, didn't impress me:

Workpiece Material selection isn't sorted in any reasonable order. Looked messy on the very first field.

When I tried using it the first time, where the list of tools shows was a database error message. I still haven't quite figured out what the list of tools is for.

Every time I made a change, there was a pause and the screen repainted. The repaint caused everything on the screen to visually change, so my eyes could not validate the changed parameter made sense.

The numbers generated, at least for my simple test, where pretty similar to GWizard, so I don't have complaints. It just seemed clunky to use, the database errors gave me pause, and the data entry part didn't give me a warm fuzzy. So while the numbers were similar to GWizard, I didn't have high confidence in the results.

Kevin

Ok i, added material groups to the list, so things are much more readable now.

Regarding slow response and glitches you had using online version: i addressed that by releasing the standalone Windows app.

In Next couple of days i will release an update for it.
Right now you can see changes online here
FSWizard

Thanks for valid hints!
I am sorry you didn't like it.

[kevinro]

Thanks for valid hints!
I am sorry you didn't like it.

I applaud your efforts! I like the new materials list. I will get a chance in a few days to download the PC version and give it a whirl.

[Steve Seebold]

Spotted this free machining calculator on another site, anyone using it or tried it out?

FSWizard

I always say, "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR".

[philbur]

I always say, "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR".

So if the guy charged 200 bucks a shot you'd be happy.

I guess you never buy off ebay.

A more sceptical but realistic point of view would be "YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR".

Phil

[MFchief]

Zero divide,

Wanted to try your stand alone verision, but it requires net v4.0, which isn't on my tormach controller, and without an internet connection, I can't install it.

Any ideas?

Terry

[zero_divide]

Zero divide,

Wanted to try your stand alone verision, but it requires net v4.0, which isn't on my tormach controller, and without an internet connection, I can't install it.

Any ideas?

Terry

Do you have NET v2.0 installed there?
I could scale it back to v2.0 it could help you.

If you dont even have v2.0 installed then i dont know how to help you.
Besides v4.0 is like 40MB in size. and 2.0 is "only" 20MB....

I had a version that did not requre .NET but its very much behind now. Gonna be very hard to resurrect it. I killed it B/C it didnt work on Windows 7 but worked on anything from Windows 95 to XP.

[MFchief]

Thanks for replying so quickly.
Under microsoft.net\framework, there are folders labled:
V 1.0.3705
V 1.1.4322
2.0.50727
V 3.0
V 3.5

Does that make sense to you? I know zilch about framework

Terry

[zero_divide]

Thanks for replying so quickly.
Under microsoft.net\framework, there are folders labled:
V 1.0.3705
V 1.1.4322
2.0.50727
V 3.0
V 3.5

Does that make sense to you? I know zilch about framework

Terry

I will get home and scale everything down to .NET version 2.0 if its still possible. Maybe V3.0 if its too far gone.

Hang on and i'll make it work for you.

[cncoperator]

Zero divide,

Wanted to try your stand alone verision, but it requires net v4.0, which isn't on my tormach controller, and without an internet connection, I can't install it.

Any ideas?

Terry

I think it's very poor practice to install anything on a Tormach controller beyond what is provided by Tormach. Anything that can cause a timing interruption of even a few micro seconds can cause rough performance even to the point of loss of position. Tormach has issued a white paper on the subject Engineering Documents - Tormach Machine Controller | Tormach LLC | We provide personal small CNC machines, CNC tooling, and many more CNC items It's is unfortunate that the Tormach controller looks like a general purpose Windows computer when it is really a dedicated cnc controller that shouldn't run anything but controller software

[zero_divide]

For 2 flute standard 1.25" long HSS endmill i get around 5000RPM at 37 IPM for 0.250 deep slotting (i used to run part like that all the time before we went all carbide) . its not even very high and tool life is guite good.
Here is the FSWizard calculation page
That considering you have a rigid machine and flood coolant.
Pretty much industial setup.

I do not know if Tormach is gonna be able to take that cut anyway. This is where i need some feedback from you on what works and what doesnt on light machines.

You should definately decrease SFM when dry machining aluminum.

Manufacturers recommend 300-400SFM for pretty much all kinds of aluminums just to be safe.
But 650 SFM for 6061 is ok hor HSS. All you need to do is actually cut (not rub) material so that heat gets carried away with thick chips.

Regarding saving data on exit and manual SFM/Chipload oferrides:
I am actually working on it right now, but it has to be done as a part of User Tool Library.
So, doing this right way takes a while.

But i am getting there.
Thanks for the interest.

[MFchief]

cncoperator,

Thanks of your concerns about using the controller for other things. I certainly agree in principle, but I envision using the calculator only while not operating the mill, just doing a quick check for F/S then actually closing the calculator program. I don'g see how that would affect operations?

If I'm wrong, please smack me!

Terry

[cncoperator]

cncoperator,

I certainly agree in principle, but I envision using the calculator only while not operating the mill, just doing a quick check for F/S then actually closing the calculator program. I don'g see how that would affect operations?

Terry

I'm clueless if any particular piece of software will cause problems, but there does seem to be a lot of changes to the Tormach OS when .NET Framework - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is loaded

[Bill Buzzell]

I think it's very poor practice to install anything on a Tormach controller beyond what is provided by Tormach. Anything that can cause a timing interruption of even a few micro seconds can cause rough performance even to the point of loss of position. Tormach has issued a white paper on the subject Engineering Documents - Tormach Machine Controller | Tormach LLC | We provide personal small CNC machines, CNC tooling, and many more CNC items It's is unfortunate that the Tormach controller looks like a general purpose Windows computer when it is really a dedicated cnc controller that shouldn't run anything but controller software

Yeah Windows is a great environment for the design side of CNC files but is not well suited for a Real-time system. The Tormach guys did good if they are running on Windows as it is. If you introduce an app that doesn't account for the RT concerns that Tormach worked out, you might load back in routines intentionally left out via unseen libraries etc.