CNC Machining Blog - Tips and Tricks for Machinists

Welcome to the Hurco CNC machine tool blog. Subscribe for weekly posts on high-speed and 5-axis machining, workholding, the latest control technologies, plus Hurco tips-and-tricks…just to name a few.

Posts about NC / G-Code Programming:

How to Add Text Along a Contour: Hurco CNC Programming

Mike Cope Fri, Jun 24, 2022
How to Add Text Along a Contour: Hurco CNC Programming

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.

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.

Veterans Day Video

Maggie Smith Mon, Nov 11, 2019
Veterans Day Video

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. 

Veterans Day Video

Maggie Smith Fri, Nov 11, 2016
Veterans Day Video

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. 

5-Axis CNC Mill Programming: Transform Planes Using IJK UVW Vectors

Mike Cope Mon, May 09, 2016
5-Axis CNC Mill Programming: Transform Planes Using IJK UVW Vectors

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.

Explaining Hurco’s Select Surface Finish Quality (SFQ)

Mike Cope Fri, Jan 29, 2016
Explaining Hurco’s Select Surface Finish Quality (SFQ)

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.

Veteran's Day Video

Maggie Smith Wed, Nov 11, 2015
Veteran's Day Video

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. 

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