Intercon C axis turning

[Scary]

Hi all, I am running a standard acorn lathe conversion (CNCT Pro with encoder) and have been drooling over the impressive work Uwe has been doing on his awesome set up. Now I have decided to do the C axis conversion to my machine. My issue is I have no idea where to start with Intercon. A while ago I set up the C axis DRO and that has been working faultlessly but I am at a loss on how to program c axis moves through intercon. I would like to bench test the "C" servo motor and clutch set ups before modifying my actual machine. I am hoping that I dont have to get the mill licence or have to go to CAD everytime.

As always, thanks for the help.

[suntravel]

Intercon supports only C-Axis indexing.

I usually write g-code for C-axis use by hand, or use fusion for complexed things.

You can save the code for C-Axis in a single file, make your turning with Intercon and call the C-Axis part with G65

In the RTG you will only have a view from X Z plane, view from Y X plane is in your imagination

Uwe

[Scary]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like I am up for a few crashes
I will have to brush up on my hand coding. I have never had to transfer anything across from fusion though, is it a difficult process or does it go smoothly once set up?

I eventually want to replace my acorn with the six as my end goal is to be able to do gear hobbing with live tooling. Once I learn enough and get comfortable with the basics I will upgrade my plasma from mach3 with my existing board then use the six to allow a second spindle encoder to slave the tool.

[suntravel]

I modified a PP for fusion and Acorn(6) Mill Turning, thats post, press button on the USB-switch and hit cycle start

At the moment, C-Axis in 4.99 (Acorn6) is better implemented than in 4.82, but with 5.00 it will be equal.

For cutting straight gears I use a short macro, thats faster to set up than fusion.

Uwe

[Scary]

Yes macros are where its at. I did a macro for knurling that was inspired by your recent milled knurl only I used a threading insert. The results were less than desirable but it was worth a shot. I will have to play with fusion to post some code across and see how it goes. I know I have a lot to learn yet but do you believe its possible to achieve hobbing of helical gears with acorn6 properly set up?

[suntravel]

........ but do you believe its possible to achieve hobbing of helical gears with acorn6 properly set up?

In a near future release this will work, needs only that both spindle outputs work independent with encoder feedback and one spindle could by synchronized to the other.

At this moment you can only cut each gear tooth after an other, or precut and use free hobbing.

Uwe

[Scary]

Kool, thanks for the info. It will be a while before I get to that stage, I still have a lot to learn first. Hopefully it will be out before I get to that stage. Another question if you dont mind, how so you switch between spindle and servo mode? I understand the mechanics but in code? Do you have to do it manually, have you written a macro and call it or can intercon call a macro automatically (as in an edit to a macro that is called in the mode change)?

[tblough]

...was inspired by your recent milled knurl only I used a threading insert..

You are going to have a huge problem with a threading insert trying to do knurling. Threading inserts do not have enough flank clearance to prevent rubbing. You'd actually have to tilt the tool to match the helix angle of the knurl.

[suntravel]

Set P93 to 145

M50/51

Thats all with Acorn6

Macros needs a little editing according to the particular setup of the lathe.

Here are mine.

Uwe

[Scary]

Awesome, thanks for all the info. I have enough to work on for now but I am sure I will have lots of questions in the future.