[emsee]

Please anyone know a software to help programming engraving text using live tool on lathe.
Text may be engraved on both cylindrical wall and end face.

Thank you.

[txcncman]

Yeah. That is easy. You must be pretty new to CNC machining. How long have you been programming CNC?

[Maxter]

Please anyone know a software to help programming engraving text using live tool on lathe.
Text may be engraved on both cylindrical wall and end face.

Thank you.

Here is what I use on an Okuma VMC for the end face:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/937567-post2.html (Delete the Mark code)
If this is of any help let me know and I'll dig up my cylindrical engraving macro.

[Tancuda]

Well, big help for me, and well done macro too.

Would appreciate your cylindrical engraving macro if available.

Thanks a lot Maxter.

[Maxter]

OK folks here is my cylinder engrave macro for the Multus. (Delete the ".txt" at the end of the sub program folder name) It's still a work in progress but the OLL and OLR subs inside are proved out and working.

I've also included the Multus BLETTERS.SSB barend or flat engraving folder. It's the same as my VMC LETTERS.ssb program except for some redundant code in the character code that the Multus took exception too. (Strange that it would run on one machine but not the other!)

On the Okuma VMCs I don't use buffering but on the Multus I do. This was a problem since look ahead buffering can mess up how parametric code works. I played with M331 but finally added two 'stop codes' to get the macro to end. I used "EMPTY" on the VMC but since the multus doesn't have that I used "99" as a flag to end the macro.

[Tancuda]

Thanks Maxter,

I realize that "EMPTY" did not work too on my P200LA control, so
with "99" it should work, and also in the code for machining letters, the
"R" for radius did not work, I'll try with that macro that use "L".

I appreciate a lot thanks.

[Maxter]

Thanks Maxter,

I realize that "EMPTY" did not work too on my P200LA control, so
with "99" it should work, and also in the code for machining letters, the
"R" for radius did not work, I'll try with that macro that use "L".

I appreciate a lot thanks.

I remember changing that myself! Use the Lathe PGM "BLETTERS.SSB" instead of the Mill PGM "LETTERS.SSB"

I also noticed on the instructions for the cylinder engrave PGM I left off "DIA=DIA of cylinder to engrave"

[Tancuda]

I did a simulation with the macro and it only worked
with G103 or G102, not G03 or G02, I can see the number
on the screen but there's some strange mouvement with the tool,
at each letters the tool make big circle around the letters, I'll have to try
on a real part as soon as I have my milling attachement. (one week)

Thanks

[Maxter]

I did a simulation with the macro and it only worked
with G103 or G102, not G03 or G02, I can see the number
on the screen but there's some strange mouvement with the tool,
at each letters the tool make big circle around the letters, I'll have to try
on a real part as soon as I have my milling attachement. (one week)

Thanks

If your using BLETTERS.SSB and have deleted LETTERS.SSB then it must be your machine or calling code. Here is an example of the Multus part program code:


N0321 G140 (T69 ENGRAVE)
N0322 G20 HP=4
N0323 M321
NAT69 TC=1
N0324 MT=3901
G20 HP=4
TL=6969 SB=10000 M242
M110 (C AXIS ON)
G0C0
N0325 M147 (C AXIS CLAMP)
N0326 TL=6969 SB=10000 M242
N0327 G0X0Z1
N0328 M8
N0329 G138 (Y MODE ON)
N0330 G127 (SLANT MODE ON)
N0331 G17 M13 (X/Y MODE)
N0332 V41=.1 V43=-.165 V44=0 V45=.005
N0333 V46=.0005 V47=.001
N0334 CALL OLOT
N0335 G0Z1M9M12
X20
N0336 G126 (SLANT MODE OFF)
N0337 G136 (Y MODE OFF)
M146 (CLAMP OFF)
M109 (C AXIS OFF)
N0339 G20 HP=4

[Multus User 71]

While I have found this info very useful I am looking to expand on it. I'm running an Okuma Multus B300-W and have used the Macro program for engraving numbers and letters on the end face of a part. It worked beautifully, but I must have done something wrong as I was limited in my number of characters to 11 or 12. Any suggestions? Also while engraving on the end face of the part I would like to do it RADIALLY so as to use more of the face and for longer part numbers. I have looked at the CYL program and while engraving on the OD of a part is appealing, most of my parts are gears so I have to use the face. I welcome any suggestions, and if I figure something out before anyone posts I will repost my solution in the future, should I come up with one.

[Maxter]

To add more than 11 characters simply add more code after:

IF[V61 EQ 99]NEND
V70=V61 (V61=11TH CHAR OF LOT#)
CALL ONUM

The new inserted code for the 12 char would be:

IF[V61 EQ 99]NEND
V70=V62 (V62=12TH CHAR OF LOT#)
CALL ONUM

To engrave radially you would have to replace: N99 V43=V43+[V41*V80] (AUTO X MOVE)
with an auto C move. The new equation would have to alter the amount of C move based on the diameter of your print circle.

[Multus User 71]

Maxter,
I am getting dangerously close to what I'm trying to accomplish. I can etch multiple letters now in a radial arch on the face of the part. My only problem is the letters are sideways (laying down) is there an easy way to rotate all of the info in the Macro program to rotate letters 45 degrees or 90 degrees. I'm working on changing my location to look right. I am still rather new to this C-Axis and live tooling, but I'm way ahead of where I thought I would be at this point.

[Multus User 71]

Maxter,
I can extend the number of characters like you suggested. I'm trying to etch on the face of an 8.5" diameter part in a radial arc of about 3.75 (7.5" Diameter) Text still wants to go in a straight line still rather than curve. Text looks to be rotated 90 degrees from what I want it to look like. Is there a simple way to rotate letters without having to rewrite all the Macro code?

[Maxter]

71,
Not sure what you're doing. What I had in mind was engraving the first character at the 12 o'clock position and then indexing the C axis instead of X.

"To engrave radially you would have to replace: N99 V43=V43+[V41*V80] (AUTO X MOVE)
with an auto C move. The new equation would have to alter the amount of C move based on the diameter of your print circle."

You need to replace line N99 with an auto C move. We don't want to index the X axis between characters only the C axis.
Lets make up a new variable for C say V48=0 and put it in the program next to V80=1.05 (X spacing variable)
Your print circle is 7.5" in dia X pie = 23.55" / 360° = .065 per C° so you will need a C index of 1.61° in between each engraved character. (1.05/.065)

Engrave first char then: N99 V48=V48+1.61, turn C brake off, G0C=V48, C brake on, Engrave next char etc. etc. (Example for .1" characters)

If this isn't going to be a one time thing I would add another variable in the main program for the print/engrave circle dia and add an equation on line N99 that uses V41 (scale factor)

[Tancuda]

Maxter,
I can extend the number of characters like you suggested. I'm trying to etch on the face of an 8.5" diameter part in a radial arc of about 3.75 (7.5" Diameter) Text still wants to go in a straight line still rather than curve. Text looks to be rotated 90 degrees from what I want it to look like. Is there a simple way to rotate letters without having to rewrite all the Macro code?

May be this could help

[ChattaMan]

Forget the macro. This will do all you are after. It's free and easy to use. You can output as G-code txt file or DXF

Attachment 214570

DOWNLOADS

:-)

[ChattaMan]

Here you go. I just downloaded it while sat at home and created the code for engraving in an arc.



:-)

[Tancuda]

I prefer Stickfont V1.1 free (NCPlot - Stick Font) because you can write a header and footer and when you convert to G code all the program is there !
Or Version 2 for multiple line and it's cheap.

But you can't modify the precision of the text as in "Deskengrave".

[Tancuda]

Hi,
little correction from my last post: I prefer StickFont on a milling, but with live tooling on my okuma the
program would have to create G101 instead of G01 so that's why I use a macro.

[ChattaMan]

the
program would have to create G101 instead of G01 so that's why I use a macro.

Just use Notepad Replace....

Find what G01
Replace with G101
Replace all