In the world of CNC machining, efficiency and precision are critical. Traditional CNC lathes operate primarily on two axes: X (diameter) and Z (length). However, the addition of a Y-axis can make a huge difference in machining capabilities, enabling greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the CNC machining industry is rapidly transforming the way manufacturers design, produce, and optimize their operations. AI-powered solutions are enhancing precision, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and driving innovation across the sector. In this article we will explore how AI is being utilized in CNC machining and what the future holds for this evolving technology.
When running a CNC lathe, making sure your part is securely clamped in the jaws of your chuck is vitally important. To be sure we have the maximum force allowable, we need to ensure that the part is fully clamped while the chuck jaws are in the center of their travel and not too close to either the fully open or fully closed state.
For years, the control software on Hurco's lathes differed from the control software on Hurco's mills. No longer! Now engineers have altered the lathe control to match the mills, allowing machinists to jump from mill to lathe seamlessly.
After the popularity of our last blog post highlighting the top five most viewed Hurco CNC Machinist blogs over the past year, we decided to keep it going with another post rounding out the top 10.
Hurco Senior Product Technical Specialist Mike Cope has been writing the Hurco CNC Machinist Blog for years. It covers everything from control features to mounting configurations to comparing different styles of machines. Several articles have become quite popular. Here are the blogs that rank six through 10 in views over the past year:
Hurco Senior Product Technical Specialist Mike Cope has been writing the Hurco CNC Machinist Blog for years. It covers everything from control features to mounting configurations to comparing different styles of machines. Several articles have become quite popular. Here are the top five most viewed Hurco CNC Machinist Blog posts over the last year:
In the world of CNC machining, achieving optimal efficiency is paramount for meeting tight production deadlines and maintainingthat competitive edge. One of the key factors influencing machining efficiency is the selection and optimization of toolpath strategies when programming with a CAM system. In this blog, we discuss the various toolpath strategies and provide detailed insights to empower machinists with the knowledge needed to maximize productivity and quality in their machining operations.
While the concept of having a Y-axis on a multi-axis live tool CNC lathe is simple, the non-orthogonal way the axis moves, and the ins and outs of those movements, can be a little more complicated than expected. So, in this blog I explain the Y-axis movement and how overtravel can occur.
Circle segment milling cutters are quickly becoming the norm in 5-axis machining. These cutters can reduce cycle times while still providing superior surface finishes and flexibility in machining. Although the traditional ball-nosed endmill is still the most widely used tool for surfacing, the circle segment (or barrel) cutter isn’t far behind.
Absolute Tool Length is an industry standard feature in CNC machining that provides continuity across machine brands and controls.
At Hurco, we do whatever we can to support our education and industry partners who are working diligently to attract younger generations to manufacturing and close the skills gap that our industry is currently experiencing.
How do I add text along a contour?
We often get asked through our social media channels questions that can't be easily answered with a simple response. At Hurco, it is our goal to always provide quality customer service to our users. We don't want any machinist to be left behind when it comes to a proper understanding of our powerful WinMax® CNC control.
This is why our "Your Questions Answered" series was born. This series aims to answer questions submitted to us through our social media channels. By doing this, not only are we answering individual questions of customers, but we are providing a resource for others who may have a similar question but can't find a resolution to their issue.
Hurco is known worldwide for our control software, and for conversational or “shop floor” programming, but we don’t often get enough credit for the machine’s iron. In addition to our award-winning control software, Hurco also builds a very robust and rigid machine tool that provides outstanding performance in any shop. That's why we decided to create the video below and write this blog post that highlights the design and manufacturing processes that we use at Hurco.
Conversational programming has always been a great choice for getting jobs up and running quickly and for very efficient programming of 2D and 2.5D contours and features. However, machining actual 3D surfaces required the use of a CAD/CAM software package – that is, until now!
Something new and improved is almost always better in the long run, but it isn’t always painless. The cost of innovation is CHANGE. And sometimes, machinists, as most human beings, don't really enjoy the process of change.
Liberty Molds is an injection mold shop located in Portage Michigan, and is in the business of producing injection molds for the automotive industry. The company is managed by the President Brian Scott and Vice President Jeff Dee. As it reads on their website, “Liberty Molds is an ISO 9001:2008 certified mold making tool shop who specializes in injection molds.” The company’s 13,400-square-foot shop has 30 employees, and they take great pride in partnering with their customers (like the Ford Motor Company) to meet quality, price, and delivery needs. I have a feeling that today’s current “needs” were never factored in when they wrote that statement so many years ago! But meeting the needs of our society today has rarely been more important. www.libertymolds.com
During my 35+ years in manufacturing, I have worked at several shops and visited hundreds more. In the vast majority of these job shops, there has been at least one CNC machine with some type of conversational programming; in many of these shops, they used conversational programming for most of their work.
I'm acting as guest blogger for Mike Cope today because he took a vacation day to honor veterans as he has done each Veterans' Day for the past 20 years. Mike has many interests, but he is passionate about patriotism and serving veterans and active duty military personnel. Therefore, he takes November 11th seriously...it is just one of the days during the year that he gives back to local veterans through honor and service.
Professionally, Mike is the go-to guy when it comes to understanding how the Hurco CNC control makes machinists more productive and shops more profitable. He knows the control inside and out, and helps all of us make sure the end user understands the value of the multitude of software features WinMax provides.
Interrupt Cycle can be used anytime on the Hurco control when the operator wants to suspend the automatic operation of the machine and place the machine into a semi-manual mode. This can be done in both conversational programs and NC programs.
Hurco CNC machines are built for the long haul thanks to their robust iron that will last a lifetime if maintained properly. We love to highlight customers who are still making money with vintage Hurcos that they purchased back in the 1980s and 90s. Bryant’s MachineShop is a great example.
Hurco's 3D Import feature provides the ability to import a solid model directly into the CNC control and conversationally program features from that solid on both 3-axis and 5-axis machining centers.
This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend the commissioning of the US Navy’s newest nuclear submarine, the USS INDIANA. In January of 2017 I posted an article about getting to meet the crew of the Indiana; in September she was christened, and now, after the September 29th ceremony, she is a full-blown US Navy vessel! For the ceremony the US Navy activated a 100 year old Captain – who was an original Plank-Owner (original crew member) of the previous USS INDIANA battle ship – to pass the official ship’s telescope to the skipper of the current USS INDIANA.
It was awesome to see the support provided to this effort by the entire state of Indiana. As the name-sake for this amazing boat (the Navy calls submarines “boats” and not ships) the state of Indiana stepped up in a big way. All 92 counties provided something for the crew of the Indiana. Individuals and clubs or organizations worked countless hours on gifts and donations. Dining tables complete with an Indiana collegiate sports theme, made from Indiana sourced veneer will adorn the mess hall. A humidor and three poker sets – all hand-crafted from oak wood sourced in Constitution Grove located in Crane, Indiana - will give the officers and crew something to do in their down time. A teak wood bar top – made from a section of the actual deck of the WWII era USS INDIANA BB58 – will be placed in the Chief’s lounge and will offer them many hours of “recreation” to help pass the time. Purdue University also provided a beautiful replica of the Bicentennial torch that was carried all across the state during the Bicentennial celebrations.
In addition to providing machines to the companies who actually built the USS INDIANA, Hurco’s involvement was also a bit more personal. The insignia of the US Submarine service is a warfare pin that includes a submarine flanked by two dolphins (fish not mammal) on either side. These pins are symbolic within the community of submariners, and synonymous with submarines throughout the Navy. As Hurco’s contribution we machined a set of these dolphins for each member of the USS INDIANA crew…and since the state of Indiana is known for limestone, we machined the symbolic dolphins out of Indiana limestone!
For anyone who might want to watch the entire ceremony, here is a link to the US NAVY official video...hint, the good stuff starts around 59:50 mark:
Below are some pictures of many of the items donated to the crew of the USS INDIANA:
The ability to import an STL file for stock geometry is a Hurco WinMax feature I'm excited to discuss. Although many people have this feature on their controls, they either aren't aware of it or don't know how to use it. I thought it was worth a quick blog post and video.
The Hurco control is so easy to use and self-teach that often times there are overlooked features that could be extremely useful if operators knew about them. This blog article is to help machinists understand some features of the WinMax® software they may not have been aware of.
CNC Cookbook Survey Respondents Rank Hurco Control #1
Well I’m just too excited about this not to share this news with my readers. With the help of Hurco Companies, I just recently published my very first actual book! It is a comprehensive guide to 5-axis CNC machining, and I wrote it to help the machinist as a shop floor guide of sorts.
Anyone who runs a 5-axis CNC machine knows how important correct centerline measurements can be for accurate machining. Often times, however, when troubleshooting for issues, or after a slight “bump” of the machine, there might be a need to verify or re-measure these centerline values.
Earlier this week, a few of us here at Hurco were invited to a local function to meet the command staff of a newly commissioned Virginia Class Nuclear Submarine, for the U.S. Navy, named after our very own Hoosier state - the USS INDIANA…and, as it was written on the picture below, by the skipper of the Indiana, Commander Jesse Zimbauer, this submarine is “Hurco made”.
Hurco has many different partherships - some in education, tooling companies, CAM software compalnies, and both Indy Car and NHRA drag racing. Even though every single one of our relationships are important and special in their own way, one of the coolest relationships that we have is with John Force and the John Force Racing team.
I'm acting as guest blogger for Mike Cope today because he took a vacation day to honor veterans as he has done each Veterans' Day for the past 17 years with his best buddy and Navy veteran Dave. Mike has many interests, but he is passionate about patriotism and serving veterans and active duty military personnel. Therefore, he takes November 11th seriously...it is just one of the days during the year that he gives back to local veterans through honor and service.
Professionally, Mike is the go-to guy when it comes to understanding how the Hurco control makes machinists more productive and shops more profitable. He knows the control inside and out, and helps all of us make sure the end user understands the value of the multitude of software features WinMax provides.
One of the features of Hurco that many customers love is the eight-nozzle coolant ring that comes standard on all VMX models of vertical machining centers. The amount and flow of the flood coolant is sometimes unbelievable to many new users. Now Hurco VM owners can experience this same overwhelming feeling of flood coolant!
A while back, I received a comment on one of my previous blog posts asking how to designate 5-axis transform planes using IJK UVW vector tokens instead of the traditional ABC rotary axis designations on their 5-axis CNC machine. Instead of just replying to that comment, I thought I would write this post as a response. Since this will be a continuation of the 5-axis CNC basics series, I suggest that you read and understand using IJK tool vectors as a pre-cursor to this article.
The idea behind creating a 5-axis transform plane using vectors is exactly the same as programming tool movement with IJK tool vectors on any machine with a fifth axis. However, the difference lies in the fact that you will have two separate vectors: one using IJK and the other using UVW. The reason you need two separate “legs” for this function is because you cannot designate a plane with only one axis. I will use the floor inside a room as my analogy: you could not create a floor in a room without having at least two walls. With only one, the floor would simply spin around that single axis and could actually point in literally any direction. To accommodate the two legs of the transform plane, and because we want to determine the direction of the Z-axis ultimately, we will use the X-axis and Y-axis as our legs, or walls of the desired transform plane.
Today’s Hurco users are well aware of the term SFQ, or Select Surface Finish Quality, on the Hurco control, and probably have a pretty good idea about which settings work best for them – however, many of them probably don’t realize what is actually going on behind the scenes, and what those settings actually mean or how they affect the machine’s behavior.
Over the years, Hurco has partnered with many tooling companies. Recently I received a link from G.W. Shultz, that showed a video of one of thier tools cutting 422 Stainless Steel, on a Hurco VMX30HSi High Speed milling machine - at some pretty impressive speeds. The information listed in the video comment section says: "Pushing the G.W. Schultz Tool HGW40250-01 to 1000SFM in 422 Stainless Steel".
I'm acting as guest blogger for Mike Cope today because he took a vacation day to honor veterans as he has done each Veteran's Day for the past 17 years with his best buddy and Navy veteran Dave. Mike has many interests, but he is passionate about patriotism and serving veterans and active duty military personnel. Therefore, he takes Veteran's Day seriously...it is just one of the days during the year that he gives back to local veterans through honor and service. Professionally, Mike is the go-to guy when it comes to understanding how the Hurco control makes machinists more productive and shops more profitable. He knows the control inside and out, and helps all of us make sure the end user understands the value of the multitude of software features WinMax provides.
Previously, I posted an article titled “5-Axis Machining: It just ain’t that scary,” and to date it has been one of the most popularly read articles in my blog series. So, I'm expanding on that article and diving deeper into what can be done with 5-axis machining to show that even the advanced features of 5-axis really aren't anything more than multi-axis common sense, when you break it down.
Hurco recently partnered with Modern Machine Shop magazine for an educational online 5-axis webinar, called: “Take Five for 5-Axis”. It was very well received by everyone who attended, and the feedback afterward was outstanding. In this webinar, I try to present this information in a very simple way, and attempt to explain things in a manner that even those who have no history of 5-axis machining can understand it. After all, that was the intention…to educate and teach!
Should you buy a new or used CNC machine for your shop? Does taking the time to train your machinists really pay off?
Hi, I'm Maggie Smith, and I'm hijacking Mike Cope's blog this week. The questions this blog post addresses arose after Mike visited a machine shop in New Jersey. As a product technical specialist, Mike visits shops throughout the US. When Mike returned from his New Jersey trip, he told us about his experience, and I thought it would be good information to share with his readers.
PUBLISHED: NOV. 7, 2014
UPDATED: AUG. 3, 2023
When people hear the term “automation,” it usually conjures visions of high-production processes, where shops are running hundreds of thousands of the same part. But in today’s ever-changing and increasingly competitive industry, that is not always the case. Just like many small job shops have begun to migrate toward 5-axis machines to increase multi-sided part efficiency, those same shops are also beginning to move toward automation to help them increase profits.
To understand and begin this migration toward automation, you first must understand and buy in to the ideas of standardization and palletization. Winning in the game of high-mix, low-volume part manufacturing means reducing spindle downtime. The first step towards winning that battle is standardizing your setup process. At the end of the day, you can only invoice for the parts that you have completed. So, reducing idle time between jobs is a crucial step to getting more done in a typical eight-hour shift.
As CNC machinists, we apply our skill, knowledge and experience to manufacture the best looking and most accurate parts that we can. We take a great deal of pride in the products that we produce, and we want others to see that pride in the finished product. But what do we do when we aren’t getting the results that we want? When dimensionally the parts meet blueprint specifications, but the surface finish and overall appearance is less than desirable? When this happens, we need to go back to the basics and ensure that we are using the best machining practices that we know to be correct.
Even the most carefully maintained machining centers eventually become obsolete. When it’s time to replace your older machine, look for one that gives you the maximum dollar value for your investment. 5-axis machining centers are versatile, efficient and flexible, and one can do the work of two or three 3-axis machines.
With that new machine comes an opportunity to upgrade your tooling, as newer machining centers can handle more advanced tooling options. Consider these tooling variables when purchasing a new 5-axis machine.
In this article, I discuss the ins and outs of the two main bed designs for CNC lathe machines: the true slant bed and the flatbed “flying wedge” configurations.
When purchasing a CNC lathe, there are several questions to ask yourself before you begin the process. Some of these questions will be quite obvious: how much axis travel do I need? What size chuck should I look for? How many tool stations are on the turret? What is the spindle bore size? Etc.
However, there are other specifications that are just as important but not always so obvious: what is the maximum swing distance that my work will require? What is the maximum turning diameter necessary for my family of parts? What kind of spindle horsepower and torque will my type of work consume? The first set of questions above is relatively easy to answer, but the second group requires a better understanding of lathes in general.
There are several things to keep in mind when you are in the market for a new 5-axis machining center. To be successful, you must make sure that the machine will fit all of your needs, not just your current one. Often times the purchase of a 5-axis machine is driven by a particular job or part, and sometimes shops fail to consider the other work they could run on the machine. Remember, size does matter.
If you're a regular reader, you're up to speed about the interview I conducted with Mr. Roch, co-founder of Hurco (you can scroll down to this week's video and skip the recap of Parts 1 and 2).
Last week, I posted Part 1 of our History of Hurco video series, where we learned about all of the events—good and bad—that led Mr. Roch to start a business with his boss at the time, Ed Humston. Mr. Roch ended up working in sales for Ed Humston who owned E.L. Humston Company when he quit his job as an industrial engineer at EMPCO in protest of the company president’s, who he believed was making a number of missteps—and his father owned 30 percent of the company, which made the situation even more awkward.
When we hear the term high-speed machining (HSM), most people associate it with mold making. What people fail to realize is that this technology is being used effectively by shops of every kind to positively impact the bottom line — and isn't that what everyone wants?
I couldn't let the month of October end without acknowledging our 45th birthday...it was October of 1968 when Mr. Roch asked Mr. Humston if he wanted to start a shop. Hurco co-founder, Gerald V. Roch, inventor of CNC and conversational progamming, sat down with me so I could document our company's founding…and he didn't "sugarcoat" it. He talked about failed product launches, financial challenges, and the times he feared the company would fold. During the coming weeks, we will post different parts of the interview with Mr. Roch. To skip the blog article and go straight to the video, scroll to the bottom!
In today’s CNC machining industry, it’s all about quick setup and changeover between parts, especially in an environment where you run a high mix of low volumes. In this article, I want to discuss how part and tool probing can offer a real advantage for the shops that find themselves in this type of environment.
It's that time of year again...figuring out how to keep more of your money for your business. Our friends at Tech Financial sent us the latest information on this year's Section 179 Federal Income Tax Deduction...it's not as great as the 2011 Section 179, but it's still money in your pocket. REMEMBER, we are not accountants so please check with your accountant to confirm eligibility for tax benefits.
Earlier this year, I reviewed the results from the Benchmarking Report by Modern Machine Shop called TOP SHOPS and promised to give you an update when the 2013 results were published. This blog post only touches on a fraction of the information contained in this incredibly extensive report—the Executive Summary alone is 22 pages—so I encourage you to explore Modern Machine Shop’s TOP SHOPS ZONE
For the past ten years or so, we have seen 3D printing technology – also called Additive Manufacturing – really gain momentum in the industry. In fact, it has become so common-place that there has been speculation by some that it might actually replace traditional manufacturing in the not so distant future. Although I can see many benefits of this amazing new technology, and although I do agree that it will someday impact our lives – such as how we, as consumers, acquire many common household items - I have my reservations about how much it will ultimately change the need for traditional manufacturing processes as we know them. Because of the limitations on mixing printing materials, and the fact that the materials available for use in printing are not always the best for a particular application - not everything that can be printed, should be printed.
Previously, I published a two-part series on the basics of mill-turn technology, where I cover topics such as: axis configurations, the orientation of live tooling holders, mill-turn terminology, instances when a Y-axis might be necessary, etc. In this article, I discuss the differences between the driven tool mounting configurations and offer my opinion on the benefits and challenges associated with each.
Regardless of a particular original equipment manufacturer machine tool builder, there are several common configurations for 5-axis CNC machines that are available. Each one has its own set of strengths that make it stand out among the choices. The most common types are table-table, head-table, and head-head configurations.
Hi Hurco Blog Readers. Mike Cope has been on the road quite a bit so I'm filling in as a guest writer for his blog.
When programming in 5-axis, we have two distinct options that we can use to command rotary moves and positions. We can output the data using either rotary angles or tool vectors. Although each one has its pros and cons, I prefer to configure a postprocessor to output these rotary commands as IJK tool vectors, instead of the more common ABC-axis rotary angles.
Have you ever had to abruptly stop your machine in the middle of running a program and wished there was a way to restart the program exactly where you left off, even if you were in the middle of all that code? With Hurco’s Recovery Restart feature, you can!
As machinists, we are all aware of the standard tools of our trade. However, there are other non-standard tools available that not everyone is aware of and could be very helpful in our day-to-day life in the job shop. Just like any other industry, if there is a time consuming and mundane procedure that must be completed, you can bet that somewhere there is someone who has already invented a tool or device that would make that task easier.
Here is a list of helpful products for machinists that addresses workholding, fixture building, part and tool setup, coolant nozzles and more:
As many of you are already aware, the Absolute Tool Length method of tool calibration has become the industry standard for measuring and recording the length of individual cutting tools on milling machines. This method of tool measurement not only produces numerical values that make sense to the operator, and can easily be verified with a pocket scale, but will also allow for tool lengths to be set offline using a presetter - and then the data can simply be entered into the tool setup for that particular tool…helping to reduce setup time at the machine.
I was asked by a reader to post an article about using subprograms. Although this is a pretty simple subject, it made me realize that not everyone is familiar with the use of subprograms and subroutines. I will also touch on the use of Hurco’s conversational NC Merge capability, which is powerfully simple and very useful!
We discussed the basics of mill-turn CNC technology in a past blog article. Today, I would like to build on that basic foundation.
On a regular basis I am asked to explain something pertaining to live-tool machining on a lathe, or "mill-turn," as it is commonly referred to in the industry. Even people with a CNC turning background are sometimes a little confused, especially in the areas of tooling and when the use of an additional Y-axis is necessary.
In this article, I will shine some light on the basics of live-tool machining and the application of the optional Y-axis.
Previously, I posted an article explaining the CNC motion control system and how it works. In that article, I tried to keep it very simple and break down a quite complex piece of technology into an easy-to-understand analogy. Today, I want to discuss it in a little more detail and point out some exciting advances in motion control technology.
I recently received a request from a reader to talk about what is under the sheet metal on the Hurco machines, and to discuss the components that make them so rock solid. Having been a fan of Hurco machines for quite some time now, I am happy to oblige this request.
It is possible to drill very deep holes, even small diameter holes, without the need for pecking cycles and in half the cycle time thanks to some really cool science that goes way over my head. Although this technology doesn’t apply solely to hole drilling, it seems to be the area with the biggest impact.
Just like any other form of technology within our industry, 5-axis manufacturing has its very own vocabulary and list of technical buzz words. Although many of the features described below can be viewed as common, some are only found on the more advanced machine controls. For anyone looking into 5-axis machining, understanding these buzz words can be a huge benefit - and just might keep them from making an uneducated decision that they might live to regret later on.
A common misconception about the Hurco control is that it is a conversational control. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Although Hurco invented conversational programming, and arguably has the most powerful conversationally capable platform on the market, I would not refer to the WinMax® control as a “conversational” one. I would instead call it “multi-lingual."
CAM systems have a diverse selection of toolpath strategies to choose from, and each has an appropriate place in 5-axis machining. But just like everything else in multi-axis programming, the programmer's experience and the actual machine configuration will play a big part in the selection of the suitable toolpath for a particular application.
If you asked 10 different 5-axis programmers to program the same single part, you would most likely get 10 different machining strategies. Depending on experience, machine configuration, CAM software, tooling, workholding, and a myriad of other criteria, everyone sees the path they need to travel just a little bit differently. But they all lead to the same place: a successfully completed part. This article will be part one in a multi-part series about 5-axis programming.
Is it possible to drill a square hole? Many will snicker at this age-old question and say, “Of course you can’t drill a square hole!” Well, it turns out you most certainly can drill a square hole… and a rectangular hole, and a hexagon shaped hole, a hole with splines, double keyways — the list goes on and on!
In an effort to keep this blog interesting and useful, I am asking for input from my readers. Please comment below with topic ideas that you would like to read more about, and that you would find helpful and informative.
I was recently asked to explain the motion control system used in CNC machine tools to someone in my family. Realizing that this individual didn’t have a background in manufacturing, and certainly had no experience with anything this complicated and technical, I had to relate my explanation to something common and simple: like driving a car.
For some reason, 5-axis machining scares people. While talking with people at trade shows, or when discussing the potential of a customer’s parts being a good fit for 5-sided machining, you can just see an uneasy feeling begin to overwhelm them and fear begin to well up in their eyes. The mere thought of all of those axes moving at one time sends them wanting to run for the hills. But if we take the time to look at it logically and break it down to what is really happening, it isn’t scary at all!
For many years, Hurco has offered an easy conversational solution for programming simple 3D geometries at the control, without the need for expensive CAD/CAM software. With today’s WinMax control, it’s even easier and more powerful than ever before!
High-speed machining is usually associated with any spindle speed above 15k rpm, but it is much more than just a faster spindle. The whole machine must be considered when selecting a good candidate machine for high-speed machining. Thermal compensation, overall machine rigidity and construction, positional feedback, the motion control system, tool retention, and many other characteristics must be looked at in detail before determining that a particular machine is suitable for the task.
If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that the addition of 5-axis technology can positively impact a company’s bottom line, even in shops that only run "3-axis work." On average, shops who take advantage of this technology have seen improvements of 20% to 30% in efficiency. Imagine what would a 20% to 30% reduction in cycle time and setup time on a part that you are already running in your shop would mean to you.
5-axis machining has become much more prevalent in today’s manufacturing marketplace, and the overall knowledge base of machinists and operators has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. Yet there is still a great deal of misunderstanding and mystery surrounding accuracy, both as it applies to the workpiece itself, and also how the overall positioning of the rotary axes of the machine might be affected.
For anyone new to 5-axis machining, it should quickly become apparent that fixturing can be one of the single most challenging tasks that you will face during the setup process. Although there are many different styles of professionally manufactured workholding devices available, from a variety of different manufacturers - like Kurt, Raptor Workholding, Lang, Jergens, Bock, Hirschmann, and System 3R just to name a few - creativity is the name of the game.
Hurco is well known for its powerful and easy-to-use conversational software, and for 2D and simple 3D geometries, the WinMax conversational control simply can’t be beat. But what about those jobs that share both simple 2D features and complicated 3D shapes that can only be programmed using CAD/CAM software? Hurco has an answer for that as well.
In the past, when using the Hurco control to program rectangular shaped geometries in which the four corners weren’t square or didn’t all have the same size radii, the feature needed to be programmed using a "MILLING LINES & ARCS" data block. However, thanks to the advancement of WinMax® mill software, this obstacle is now a thing of the past.
Have you ever needed to make the same dimensional change to multiple conversational blocks in the same program and cringed at the thought of tediously changing them one at a time? Well, cringe no more! Hurco’s Modify Dimension function makes this a simple task.
When programming a part, we often need measurement data that just isn’t on the print. Short of some very involved trigonometry, or redrawing and analyzing the part in a CAD system, there hasn't been a good way to find these reference dimensions… until now!
Hurco’s patented Automatic Safe Repositioning (ASR) feature is a very powerful tool for 5-axis NC or CAM programmers. One of the biggest problems when posting 5-axis NC code is configuring the post to always output safe, reliable data to reposition the tool tip without causing the machine to travel out of limits on rapid moves and display those annoying error codes that we all love to hate.
There are a number of features built into today’s CNC controls that are designed to make life easier for the programmer, and each has its own special place in our personal box of go-to tools. One tool I can’t live without is Hurco’s Absolute Tool Length feature, which helps enhance efficiency.
Hello, and welcome to the Hurco blog. I will be updating and posting something new each week on a variety of different subject matter: high-speed and 5-axis machining, workholding, the latest control technologies, and Hurco tips-and-tricks…just to name a few.
