Orac (or any lathe) Programming Problem

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri 01 Dec , 2006 18:59 pm

HELP!

I just cannot get my head around the whole Program Datum, Work Datum, Tool 0 and subsequent Tool Offsets thing.

How do you establish a Tool Change Position and how do you reference this to the work datum?

Any help very much appreciated.

Steve

Post by **Denford Admin** » Mon 04 Dec , 2006 10:26 am

Download the windows help file (*.hlp and *.cnt) we have in VR Turning - although this is related to different software and machines the basics still stand.

Help file:
https://www.denfordata.com/downloads/forum/VRTurn.hlp
Contents file:
https://www.denfordata.com/downloads/forum/VRTurn.CNT

Just put both files in the same directory (anywhere) and double clicking should open the contents

davidimurray · Post by **davidimurray** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 10:24 am

Hi

Have you looked through the Orac manual -

viewtopic.php?t=459

If your still having problems give me a shout and I will try and explain.

Cheers

Dave

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 11:55 am

OK folks thanks for your replies.

I'm OK with the concept of Tool Length Offsets as a general principle; I have programmed many types of lathes with different controls which all conform to those basic principles.
However the way in which the Orac control works eludes me.
I'm beggining to think there may be a problem with the control.

Any step by step, example programes that contain tool changes would be very much appreciated.

Steve

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 11:56 am

OK folks thanks for your replies.

I'm OK with the concept of Tool Length Offsets as a general principle; I have programmed many types of lathes with different controls which all conform to those basic principles.
However the way in which the Orac control works eludes me.
I'm beggining to think there may be a problem with the control.

Any step by step, example programes that contain tool changes would be very much appreciated.

Steve

davidimurray · Post by **davidimurray** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 12:26 pm

Hi Steve

Ok - can you tell us where the problem lies?

Presumably you have used the first tool e.g. tool 1 to take a cut across the end of the bar and hit enter to save the Z offset

Then take a cut on diameter, hit enter then enter the diameter. That should be tool 0 set. Ignore tool 1,Then put tool 2 in - jog until you touch the Z face and hit enter. Then either touch the diameter or take a cut. Hit enter then enter the diameter.

If you look in the tool table it should be something like this

Tool 0 X12.345 Z134.234
Tool 1 X00.000 Z000.000
Tool 2 X06.111 Z12.213

Remember the the Orac does not have home switches so you need to setup the tool offsets every time. Assuming you have your tools in holders, the easiest way is to write the values down on a piece of paper, or if your lucky you can save them to a cassette. You then just need to set tool 0 (tool 1 in reality) everytime you start the machine and enter the tool table values.

Hope that makes some sense.

Cheers

Dave

Post by **Denford Admin** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 12:30 pm

No home switches

That must make life difficult - can't you leave the machine at 0,0 before switching off so you don't have to reset offsets every time ?

davidimurray · Post by **davidimurray** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 12:38 pm

There are no home switches on an Orac - or the starturns in fact.

You could in theory leave it at a position. I think the worry would be though as to what happens on power up - i.e. when you turn the power on a bit of noise on the line could step the motor - and you don't know which way it might go and this would probably happen before the controller comes to life! I've got a feeling that the Orac might not even remember the numbers between turning it on and off ! Of course you could always rig something up like a DTI on each axis or a microswitch and a couple of LEDs - it's probably just easier to set the first tool up everytime.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 13:59 pm

OK I think I'm getting to grips with this, but it seems that when the program ends and returns to the main menu the X axis continues to move albeit very slowly and as a consequence loses its datums!
Is this a programming error or could it be a drive card problem? it is a replacement.

Steve

davidimurray · Post by **davidimurray** » Tue 05 Dec , 2006 14:12 pm

The machine continues to move - that doesn't sound good. Does it do it when you enter the main menu - you shouldn't be able to move the tool when on the main menu.

Does it still move when in manual mode? I'm wondering whether you may have a problem with the membrane keyboard and the machine is stuck in step mode. However I think when on the main program no motion should be allowed.

Cheers

Dave

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Wed 06 Dec , 2006 16:00 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I seem to have solved the problem of the X slide 'creeping' by swopping the drive cards over..........not sure why!

I'm slowly getting to grips with the TLOs and Program Datum.
Is it me or does the Orac lose it's way if you stop the program mid-way and re-start?

Also can anyone sell me some simple off-line programming/editing software with RS232 cable?

Steve

davidimurray · Post by **davidimurray** » Wed 06 Dec , 2006 16:59 pm

Hi Steve

Glad to hear it is working - may have been a loose connection.

To honest whenever I have stopped the machine I have always re set the offsets. The orac loses out because you can't actually see the DRO's.

No need to buy any software - just go here -

https://www.denfordata.com/downloads/dos ... FTWARE.zip

Their may be wiring diagrams in there - if not have a look in the manual I put on the site - should be relatively easy to make one as it is only 3 or 5 wires I think!

Cheers

Dave

Denford Software & Machines

Denford Software & Machines

Orac (or any lathe) Programming Problem

Orac (or any lathe) Programming Problem