ESPRIT has machining technology that is designed specifically for lathes. This technology is called SolidTurn.
SolidTurn technology lets you define the physical properties of your lathe machine, create turning tools and lathe stock, create specialized turning features and turning operations, and simulate turning operations with section views that let you see the simulation on the inside as well as the outside of the turning stock.
The technology for SolidTurn machining cycles is displayed on a tab in the Project Manager. This makes it easy to enter machining parameters and view the part model at the same time. The user can also click on any of the other tabs in the Project Manager to make it easier to select features or create new cutting tools.
X The technology for a machining cycle will not open unless a valid feature is selected first.
The way that machining parameters are organized for all SolidTurn machining cycles is consistent to make it easy to learn and use the technology.
The interface is organized in three main areas:
• Toolbar area
• Vertical tabs
• Parameters area
The Toolbar area contains commands to validate (OK) and close (Cancel) the current technology as well as a Help button to open the help file for the current technology. The drop-down button displays the context menu for the technology. The icon reflects the last command used by the user.
The vertical tabs are arranged to save space. Parameters are grouped on the tabs in a “top down”
approach, where you define the most general information about the cutting cycle on the General tab, then move to the Strategy tab to define a bit more detail such as the cutting strategy or entry and exit moves, moving down each tab to add more detail about your machining operation.
The display of some tabs is controlled by a parameter setting. For example, if the parameter ‘Finish Passes’ on the Strategy tab is set to ‘No’, the Finish tab will not display because those parameters are unnecessary for the operation.
The Parameters area displays the machining parameters for the current technology. Parameters are grouped by category and each group control can be collapsed or expanded for visualization purposes.
As parameters are selected, the interface updates to show only the parameters you need. Options that are not used are hidden. If the user changes a parameter, the interface updates to show or hide a different set of parameters.
For example, if the stock type for a roughing operation is changed from ‘Automation’ to ‘Diameter’, the parameter ‘Stock Diameter’ displays to let the user define the diameter.
X When an arrow button displays next to a parameter, you can click the arrow and select an element in the work area to load a value.
If the value for a parameter is invalid or missing, an error displays next to the parameter. If you hover your mouse over the error icon, a description of the error displays so that it can be corrected.
Saving Machining Technology
Machining technology settings can be easily saved as a separate *.prc (process) file and used over and over for the machining of similar parts. To save the technology for a machining cycle, click Save on the drop-down menu. Enter a name for the file, browse to the location where you want to save the file, and click Save.
After a technology file has been saved, it can be loaded in a technology page. Click Open on the drop-down menu, browse to the file, and click Open.
X The type of technology in the file must match the machining cycle. For example, you can only load Roughing technology into a Roughing cycle. For this reason, it is important to name the saved technology file with the type of technology in the file.
Feeds and Speeds
The settings for feed rates and spindle speed are set on the General tab and displayed in two columns that are interactive. If you enter a value in one column, the value in the next column is automatically calculated. This allows you to “fine tune” your feed and speed values.
Speed
You can use Speed RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) or Speed CSS (constant surface speed) to control the speed of the spindle.
When a value is entered in ‘Speed RPM’, the system takes that value and the reference diameter and calculates and displays the value for ‘Speed CSS’ (in surface feet/meters per minute). The relationship of RPM to CSS is based on the following formula:
CSS in Inch = RPM * Reference Diameter * PI / 12 CSS in Metric = RPM * Reference Diameter * PI / 1000
You can also go in the opposite direction. If you set Speed CSS, the system takes that value and the reference diameter and calculates the Speed RPM (in revolutions per minute). The system uses the following formula:
RPM in Inch = (12 * CSS) / (PI * Reference Diameter) RPM in Metric = (1000 * CSS) / (PI * Reference Diameter) Feedrate PM, PR
These values are also interactive. Feed rate is defined as units (inch/millimeter) per minute (PM) or per revolution (PR). In general terms, the feed rate is the speed at which the cutter moves with respect to the work material.
To calculate the feed rate PR (per revolution) from the feed rate PM (per minute), the system uses the following formula:
PR = PM / RPM
Going the other way, the system uses the following formula:
PM = PR * RPM Reference Diameter
This value is used by ESPRIT to automatically calculate the spindle speed. By default, this value is set to the value of ‘Bar Diameter’ in Machine Setup.
If you are machining a constant diameter, enter the approximate diameter at the machining location. For diameters that are not constant, enter an average diameter.
Speed Unit
Speed Unit controls whether the value for Speed RPM or Speed CSS is used.
Feed Unit
Feed Unit controls whether the value for Feedrate PM or Feedrate PR is used. ‘Per Minute’ uses the value for Feedrate PM. ‘Per Revolution’ uses the value for Feedrate PR.
Transverse Feedrate %
This setting is available only for Roughing, Balanced Roughing, and Contouring operations. The percentage value is used to reduce or increase the feed rate for any tool movement that is not parallel to the main cut direction. Tool movement in the main cut direction uses the programmed feed rate.
When ‘Type of Work’ on the Strategy tab is set to ‘ID’ or ‘OD’:
• Vx = F * Transverse Feedrate %
• Vz = F
When ‘Type of Work’ is set to ‘Face’:
• Vx = F
• Vz = F * Transverse Feedrate %
X If a feed rate change is inserted into the tool path manually, it will be overwritten at the next slope angle change if the transverse feed rate is not 100%. The transverse feed rate is always calculated using the initial feed rate. It does not use the feed rate the user has inserted.
Maximum RPM
This value is applied only when Speed Unit is set to CSS. By default, this value is the same as the
‘Max RPM’ that is defined for the spindle in Machine Setup.
This value controls the maximum revolutions per minute allowed for the spindle. A machining operation will not be allowed to exceed this limit.
Spindle Range
This setting is used for RPM cutting. In general, set Spindle Range to ‘Off’ for CSS cutting. The options represent different levels of spindle ranges and vary depending on your machine.
Spindle Priority
This setting is used only for multi-turret applications where two or more turning operations are synchronized. For synced operations, you can specify which operation controls the spindle speed.
You can set spindle priority for more than one operation. Spindle priority can also be set on the operation page.
Use Feed and Speed KB
This option can be set to Yes or No. When set to Yes, feed and speed values from the KnowledgeBase will be inserted automatically.
Before setting this option to Yes, you must:
• Have speed and feed data set up in the Speed Feeds Manager in the KnowledgeBase
• Select a Speeds Feeds Standard and Material Class in KnowledgeBase Document Setup (on the Common Machining tool bar)
• Select a tool in Tool Selection
• Select a Type of Cut (the Type of Cut option displays only when Use Feed and Speed KB is set to Yes)
ESPRIT will combine the Speeds Feeds standard and material selected in KnowledgeBase Document Setup with the tool and technology settings on the operation page to provide
acceptable cutting speeds and feed rates. The inserted speeds and feeds are affected by the “Tool Material” specified on the tool page of the same Tool ID. The Type of Cut selected on the operation page also affects the inserted speed and feed values.
Feature Extensions
When features are created for turning operations, they are created on the profile of the finished part. However, there are many times when the tool needs to be positioned outside the feature to avoid stock material that has not been removed yet. There are also times when the user wants the tool to continue cutting past the end point of a feature. In ESPRIT, there is no need to modify the features to obtain the correct tool path.
Options are available that let the user automatically extend the start point or end point of the selected profile feature so that machining can begin or end outside the feature. The feature itself is not modified, only the reference path for the tool path.
A distance can be entered to extend the starting element or ending element of the feature. The start or end point is extended tangent to the feature. A positive or negative value can be entered.
Entering a negative value has the same effect as making the feature shorter.
X When a canned cycle is used, lead-in and lead-out moves are disabled. In this case, you can use the Feature Extension settings to extend the profile for the canned cycle for a safe start.