Howdy Everyone,
I'm trying to teach myself how to operate a 1980's vintage Okuma NC4PS running a Fanuc 6T A control and a Traub bar feed. This machine was running production until it was replaced with a newer unit. I'm running BobCad 26 and am perfectly comfortable designing parts, toolpaths and generating the G code. However, I can't seem to wrap my head around initially setting up the machine and importing and running the program. I'm sure I am simply missing a few basic procedures but, honestly, after searching the web and reading both the Fanuc and Okuma manuals I am more confused. In following some of the basic procedures I am able to power up the machine and home it to the initial start position via G28 U0.0 W0.0 when the dial is set to MDI mode. Loading up the tools in their turret positions is simple enough. However, I am perplexed with the task of setting appropriate tool offsets and then importing and running a simple program. Here's where I'm at:
I power up the machine, flip the dial to "MDI" enter "G28" "Input" "W0.0" "Input" "U0.0" "Input". hit "Start" and the machine heads to home.
Once the machine is homed I press "POS" hit "X" then "Origin" and "Y" then "Origin". The display then shows "Relative", "Absolute", "Machine" and "Distance To Go" all at "0.0000".
I call up my primary facing / turning tool (in position 1 on the turret.. .this tool will probably never be taken out of the turret) via typing "T0100" and hitting "Input" followed by "Start".
I then flip the dial to manual I power up the chuck and using the jog lever I skim cut the dia of a bit of aluminum bar stock, stop the chuck and measure the diameter at .9880". The X axis reads -5.0860
Using the jog stick again I take a facing cut of the same aluminum stock and note the location of the Z axis at -5.3287
It is at this point where I no longer know what to do. I'd like to get this machine up and running a couple very simple parts that I have ready to go in BobCad.
Manually I've made this part literally thousands of times. It's a pin turned from 6061 AL with a major diameter of .98" and a length of 2.05". This pin also has a base that is .748" dia with a length of .75". Machining this part manually I would face the stock and use a center drill to slightly dimple the end. The chuck would be stopped, the stock advanced and the tailstock would then be brought up to support the material and the entire pin and base would be turned to diameter and parted off.... pretty basic.
Though the plan (eventually) is to load a full bar of stock into the bar feeder and follow the machining strategy listed below, right now I'd just settle for getting the machine to simply turn the part without messing around with the bar feed, tailstock and parting.
Face
Center drill
Stop chuck and open jaws
Dwell long enough for the bar feed to advance the material to the live center in the tailstock
Clamp chuck and restart
Turn the OD of the pin
Part the pin to length
Repeat the above procedure
So the questions are as follows....
How do I set the tools offsets so the machine knows there the cutting tip of each tool in the turret is located?
Once this is accomplished How do I set the machine to receive the program from my PC through the RS232 port?
I'm trying to teach myself how to operate a 1980's vintage Okuma NC4PS running a Fanuc 6T A control and a Traub bar feed. This machine was running production until it was replaced with a newer unit. I'm running BobCad 26 and am perfectly comfortable designing parts, toolpaths and generating the G code. However, I can't seem to wrap my head around initially setting up the machine and importing and running the program. I'm sure I am simply missing a few basic procedures but, honestly, after searching the web and reading both the Fanuc and Okuma manuals I am more confused. In following some of the basic procedures I am able to power up the machine and home it to the initial start position via G28 U0.0 W0.0 when the dial is set to MDI mode. Loading up the tools in their turret positions is simple enough. However, I am perplexed with the task of setting appropriate tool offsets and then importing and running a simple program. Here's where I'm at:
I power up the machine, flip the dial to "MDI" enter "G28" "Input" "W0.0" "Input" "U0.0" "Input". hit "Start" and the machine heads to home.
Once the machine is homed I press "POS" hit "X" then "Origin" and "Y" then "Origin". The display then shows "Relative", "Absolute", "Machine" and "Distance To Go" all at "0.0000".
I call up my primary facing / turning tool (in position 1 on the turret.. .this tool will probably never be taken out of the turret) via typing "T0100" and hitting "Input" followed by "Start".
I then flip the dial to manual I power up the chuck and using the jog lever I skim cut the dia of a bit of aluminum bar stock, stop the chuck and measure the diameter at .9880". The X axis reads -5.0860
Using the jog stick again I take a facing cut of the same aluminum stock and note the location of the Z axis at -5.3287
It is at this point where I no longer know what to do. I'd like to get this machine up and running a couple very simple parts that I have ready to go in BobCad.
Manually I've made this part literally thousands of times. It's a pin turned from 6061 AL with a major diameter of .98" and a length of 2.05". This pin also has a base that is .748" dia with a length of .75". Machining this part manually I would face the stock and use a center drill to slightly dimple the end. The chuck would be stopped, the stock advanced and the tailstock would then be brought up to support the material and the entire pin and base would be turned to diameter and parted off.... pretty basic.
Though the plan (eventually) is to load a full bar of stock into the bar feeder and follow the machining strategy listed below, right now I'd just settle for getting the machine to simply turn the part without messing around with the bar feed, tailstock and parting.
Face
Center drill
Stop chuck and open jaws
Dwell long enough for the bar feed to advance the material to the live center in the tailstock
Clamp chuck and restart
Turn the OD of the pin
Part the pin to length
Repeat the above procedure
So the questions are as follows....
How do I set the tools offsets so the machine knows there the cutting tip of each tool in the turret is located?
Once this is accomplished How do I set the machine to receive the program from my PC through the RS232 port?