CNC Lathe Setup and Programming. Really need some Help!

[STS]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here. My name is Dave and I am the owner of a small shop, now down to one man. Having difficulties keeping the doors open and own a CNC lathe that if I could figure how to use would help me greatly.

I bought a 1991 Wasino LG-6 with Fanuc OT control on the recommendation of a few people for the types of work I do. I was told that it would be easy to get it up and running in a short period of time. Needless to say the machine has been sitting now for almost a year unused. I am like a my 90 year old grandmother trying to figure out how to get on the internet with that machine. I don't have anyone around anymore to run it, so I really need to figure it out.

I have called all the Vo-Tch centers within a few hours drive from here and no one does training anymore. I really have no idea where to start. I have tried going through the manuals, but they do not tell you much about how to set the machine up.

I not only need to get the thing programmed, but I need to figure how to set up the tools and so forth. I have some conversational programming software that I have played with but don't know if what it is outputting is correct without the experience to know.

So what am I to do? I am kind of in between a rock and a hard place on this one.

I just found a link to a CNC Programming Manual today on this forum. I am going to print it out and start reading it.

This is the forum post:
CNC lathe setup

Here is the manual:
http://cnc-professional-forum.com/at...detraining.zip

Any help would be extremely appreciated.

Sincerely,
Dave

[camsys]

Hello,

It sounds like you're facing a couple of learning challenges-
1 - Basic CNC machine tool setup and operation
2 - Basic CNC programming

Where are you located? In the US ?

I ask because, if you'ld like to get up and running quickly, you might
consider some on-site specialty training. There would be a cost, but
the investment might offer returns.

The Internet certainly offers much information from many sources, some
at no cost. If you for instance Google CNC from the .edu domain you could
tap into information that pertains to courses that many schools offer on-line.

I'm also sure you can find some help from the manufacturer of the machine, or alternately some form of training resource (I'm one) that could work with you
on a Time/Material basis.

[Stevo]

Here are a few links to some other threads that help explain how to setup lathes.
CNC lathe setup
Entering and managing tool offsets on a Dahlih MCV-760 w/ Fanuc control

As already asked, where abouts are you located? I know Heinz does shop training along with others. He also has a lot of examples on his site along with CD’s.

Other than having a hands on approach it is going to be tuff. I would read some of the examples in the above threads and just start asking questions.

Stevo

[STS]

Thanks guys for the info. I live in central West Virginia. I sent Heinz an email earlier to see if I might be able to travel up where he is as I cannot afford the $750 a day for in house training.

Are there any books that would be good? I found these a while back but have not been able to find anyone that has read one to give opinions on them.

http://www.cncci.com/products/book%2...he%20setup.htm

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CNC.../9780831133504

http://cncci.com/products/tcpo%20manual.htm

http://www.cncci.com/products/tcso%20manual.htm

Are there any other resources to check into?

Thanks
Dave

[MMMMM]

Dave,

How about this; what do you need to setup and what kind of tools do you have?
Myself and others here are sure to get you to a point of self-sustainment with a couple of basic assists.

If you have the part's geometry, I'd be happy to write some simple tool paths for you - given, that you have some tools setup.

Do you know the condition of the machine? As far as geometries go, it needs to be level and square otherwise, you'll be fighting taper, excessive tool wear, etc. ... I regress.

PM sent

[Heinz Putz]

Dave:
If all you need is setup instructions, get my DVD called "Lathe Setup", that will be a whole lot cheaper than anyone coming there.
As a matter of fact, in the long run, you need the whole Lathe Package of DVDs.
Any questions or advice is free, just call.
Heinz, 614-888-8466
www.doccnc.com

[Stevo]

Dave,
I have not read any of those books.

I have seen Heinz's examples and I think they would help you out greatly.

As Doug has also stated try to give us a point of reference. Many of us can type out a long winded detailed explanation on how to setup and program your lathe but if you do not have any experience in machining it will be very Greek to you.

As an example the explanation of setting tools can be rather easy to explain but if your machine needs to be completely setup like home positions, soft limit settings etc, right on down to workcoordinates and programming then it will be hard to grasp.

Stevo

[tanvon]

hi
a good source of cnc programming and cnc machine setting is cnc blog http://www.visinia.com