CNC Machining Blog - Tips and Tricks for Machinists

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Posts about CAD/CAM / Post Processor:

Is Conversational Programming Dead in Today's Machine Shop?

Mike Cope Wed, Feb 12, 2020
Is Conversational Programming Dead in Today's Machine Shop?

Is Conversational Programming Dead in Today's Machine Shop?

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 – and in many of these shops, they used conversational programming for most of their work.

5-Axis Machine Purchasing Considerations: Size Does Matter

Mike Cope Fri, Dec 20, 2013
5-Axis Machine Purchasing Considerations: Size Does Matter

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.

5-Axis CNC Programming: Rotary Angles or Tool Vectors?

Mike Cope Mon, Jun 24, 2013
5-Axis CNC Programming: Rotary Angles or Tool Vectors?

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.

Auto Recovery Restart: the easiest way to recover a stopped program

Mike Cope Fri, Jun 14, 2013
Auto Recovery Restart: the easiest way to recover a stopped program

Have you ever had to abruptly stop your machine, in the middle of running a program, and wished there was a way to recover exactly where you left off - even if you were in the middle of all that code? For years Hurco’s Recovery Restart feature offered operators a way to just that…but you had to know exactly what block you ended on to recover. Well not anymore! The WinMax version 9 software – which was released at IMTS last year – offers a new feature that will automatically insert a restart marker at the exact location of the last block executed before the interruption - which relives the pressure on the operator to remember (or guess) what block to restart program.

Using Subprograms: A powerfully simple tool

Mike Cope Fri, May 24, 2013
Using Subprograms: A powerfully simple tool

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!

Put Your Shop on the Fast Track with UltiMotion

Mike Cope Fri, May 03, 2013
Put Your Shop on the Fast Track with UltiMotion

A few months ago 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 breakdown 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.

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