Hi All,
We are finally running a Charmilles Robofil 290 at my place of work. We are using it to cut fairly small stainless steel tubing, and I am having trouble getting the finish that I want.
Let's back up just a bit. Here's a bit of information on what knowledge I am currently holding onto. I know some basic G-code, I could use Mastercam for this if I had it at work, but I don't. This is all being programmed by hand. I have had all of 6 hours max training on this machine with a few more hours of conversation with the tech that got it back up and running.
I know that I need at a minimum, a TEC file to designate the type of pass that I am making, and an ISO file to designate the working path. I have figured out that I can create a CMD file to reference the TEC file that I want to use, and then designate ISO files for each pass that I make.
The trouble is that I cannot get the finish that I want on these parts. If I cut a thick piece of steel, I get a fairly nice satin finish in one pass. However, when I cut this small tubing, I am getting a course finish with lines running from top to bottom.
I have been creating a TEC file with three passes: Standard Roughing Cut, Finishing Cut, Surface Finishing Cut. Initially I was just doing all three passes with one ISO file all in the same direction. I am now using a CMD file that uses three ISO files: one for entry and cutting forward along an initial curve, one for a finish pass backward along the same curve, and on that moves forward on a curve that is 0.001" farther into the material and then exits to home. What I notice is that the arc is consistent on the roughing pass, but very intermittent on the finish passes.
My question is should I be moving into the material farther on each pass, calling for an additional ISO file with different coordinates for each one, or should I be counting on simply repeating the same coordinates and changing just the TEC file add more passes?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
B
We are finally running a Charmilles Robofil 290 at my place of work. We are using it to cut fairly small stainless steel tubing, and I am having trouble getting the finish that I want.
Let's back up just a bit. Here's a bit of information on what knowledge I am currently holding onto. I know some basic G-code, I could use Mastercam for this if I had it at work, but I don't. This is all being programmed by hand. I have had all of 6 hours max training on this machine with a few more hours of conversation with the tech that got it back up and running.
I know that I need at a minimum, a TEC file to designate the type of pass that I am making, and an ISO file to designate the working path. I have figured out that I can create a CMD file to reference the TEC file that I want to use, and then designate ISO files for each pass that I make.
The trouble is that I cannot get the finish that I want on these parts. If I cut a thick piece of steel, I get a fairly nice satin finish in one pass. However, when I cut this small tubing, I am getting a course finish with lines running from top to bottom.
I have been creating a TEC file with three passes: Standard Roughing Cut, Finishing Cut, Surface Finishing Cut. Initially I was just doing all three passes with one ISO file all in the same direction. I am now using a CMD file that uses three ISO files: one for entry and cutting forward along an initial curve, one for a finish pass backward along the same curve, and on that moves forward on a curve that is 0.001" farther into the material and then exits to home. What I notice is that the arc is consistent on the roughing pass, but very intermittent on the finish passes.
My question is should I be moving into the material farther on each pass, calling for an additional ISO file with different coordinates for each one, or should I be counting on simply repeating the same coordinates and changing just the TEC file add more passes?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
B