Tech Tuesday is a weekly blog that addresses some of the most common questions and concerns that I hear throughout the previous week from users of BobCAD’s CNC software. Both customers and future customers are more than welcome to leave a comment on what they would like to see covered for the following Tech Tuesday.
In BobCAD-CAM, it can be very useful to utilize the Stock Tracking functionality for the lathe modules in the software program. This includes the mill turn module, which supports lathes with live tooling.
When creating Turning Jobs, one of the first steps is stock creation. The Lathe Stock Wizard provides an easy to use stock creation tool that handles basic cylindrical stock and custom, revolved stock geometry. This is an important part of the job setup as the stock can be used to define the clearance values.
Initially, there are four pages to go through in the Stock Wizard: Workpiece, Stock Type, Stock Definition and Machine Setup. The Workpiece page will only be in the stock wizard when the job is first started. After that, it is accessible in the CAM Tree. The Stock Type can be cylindrical or revolved for custom stock creation.The Stock Definition handles the stock location and size and the MachineSetup handles clearances. In the Stock Definition page, you can enter the initial outer diameter and inner diameter of the cylindrical shape the stock is starting at. You can also enter the initial length of the stock.
The cylindrical stock definition option allows you to select the exact geometry of the stock you are beginning your turning operations with. This is beneficial by avoiding any air cutting from areas of the stock previously machined. You can also define your stock if you are using a casting to create turning operations for.
Trim to Stock
The next stock tracking option is the Trim to Stock option. The software program will detect the remaining stock based on the previous operations already created, or from the previously defined initial stock. The toolpath will then be trimmed to reflect the remaining stock before the current operation. This avoids air cutting for each operation in the turning job. When trimming causes gaps in the toolpath, the extension option closes the gap from each side by the amount entered.
This is done to create a lead out of, and back into the material. Maximum gap sets the limit on the area to feed across when no stock is detected.
The Stock Analysis Tab
The stock analysis applies color schemes to the stock material which allows you to analyze the stock after operations are performed in simulation. There are a few options in this tab to verify each turning operation. There are options to view the material removal based on each tool number and based on each operation number. You can check any gouges and any excess material remaining. You can even view the deviation between the stock remaining and the defined workpiece.
Deviation
The deviation is a material offset compared to the target geometry. The color of the material changes the more or less material that exists on top of the target geometry. The main benefit of the deviation page is to identify the amount of the material left on the target geometry. You can also identify the gouges, when too much material is removed and the target geometry is being damaged.
Try these new Stock Tracking options in BobCAD-CAM today!
BobCAD-CAM has provided CAD-CAM CNC Software products to the global manufacturing industry for over 30 years. BobCAD-CAM software can be found to increase CNC productivity for many applications in aerospace, automotive, production manufacturing, mold making, general machining, woodworking as well as the medical manufacturing industry, consumer products, musical instruments, custom fabrication, defense industry and many others due to the products ability to automatically generate NC programming code for such a wide variety of CNC controllers. BobCAD-CAM software is also found in educational institutions throughout the world as well as independent hobby home use. Products include machining technology for 2, 3, 4 & 5 Axis CNC Milling, Routing, Waterjet, Plasma and Laser machines as well as 2 Axis CNC Lathe. BobCAD-CAM is modular allowing shops to start off at a reduced technology level and add technology as it is needed including an add-on, BobART, for artistic machining. Unique technology includes adaptive high-speed machining multiaxis milling and routing which is a first in the world of CAD-CAM software. BobCAD-CAM also provides a variety of quality training products that include regional and online training classes or private sessions tailored to specific applications. Professional certification and multi-tiered support solutions are available. Contact BobCAD-CAM directly for more information at 877-262-2231 or 727-442-3554
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