Centroid CNC

[team222badbrad]

I am wondering if anyone here has experience using Centriod CNC products?

http://www.centroidcnc.com/

The cnc knee mill we have in the shop uses this control system.

Since our team does not have a cnc machinist, I am going to attempt to learn how to use Centriod's Intercon programming software.

I am a amateur machinist by trade, but most of my CNC experience is with turning centers. I learned how to navigate through the many different control systems at my previous job, so that is not a problem, but I have little programming knowledge.

I have made a few basic parts with Intercon, but thats as far as I have gotten with programming.

I would like to stay away from MasterCam because I want to learn how to program the right way and because it is hard to get files to the cnc.

Basically what I am asking if anyone in the CNC field knows of any good books or online articles that go into detail with G-codes and contain CNC mill "need to know" information.

We do have a manual for the control system, but I do not have it at the moment.

Learn CNC or Bust!

[sanddrag]

There is this one manual I think is pretty good for learning G codes. While it does explain a lot of stuff applicable to HAAS only, it also explains a lot of G codes that are universal to any machine.
http://www.haascnc.com/training/Mill...m_PDF/xmwb.pdf

You may have some problems with syntax though as the HAAS machines are very forgiving of sloppy programming and other machines may not be.

[[527]phil]

I've been a machinist since I was 7, it seems to get in your blood, or is that just the machining fluid . Anyway, I don't think you really need something like that, at work the only thing I use is notepad, auto cad, and virtual Gibbs (pretty complicated and expensive). I work on 11 axis swiss style lathes, and 3 axis cnc mills. The lathes cost almost as much as my car and use simple controls, but require extensive knowledge of G-code. I suggest just learning G-code, it's really simple. for most of the parts your going to probably make (IE. aluminum axles out of a solid bar, mounts, custom plates, drilled out sprockets + gears, etc..) you really only need to know a few commands. and the syntax is really simple too.

"G" is the command to tell the machine to go (duh)
"x" is the command for using the x-axis
"y" same thing only with the y axis
Z" same thing but with the z axis
"F" feed rate, it's followed by a number telling the machine how fast to move
"M" turns on and off the spindle, it's followed by either a 3 or a 5, 3 turns it on,5 turns it off.

thats about it for a 3 axis mill, if your putting on a rotary axis then instead of using X,Y, or Z you would use A.
so lets say i want to make an aluminum axle. the code would be as follows

(first zero off all Axis's)
"M3" <-- turns spindle on
"G0Z-.02" <-- put whatever the depth of the cut is, i suggest only cutting a maximum of .02 on each pass to increase life of machine and tooling
"G0X-5" <-- Put the length of your slot, make sure you know the travel of the Axis's or you'll prolly run the table off the track. And thats a negative sign next to the 5. it can also be positive.
"G0Z-.04"
"G0X0"
"G0Z-.06"
"G0X-5"
etc....

Don't put quotations around the commands and don't use the <-- thing , I just did it for demonstration purposes. If alot of people actually want to learn G-code maybe you can ask the moderators if we can get a topic on just Machining. When you start making curves and circles it gets a little more complicated. BTW my name is Phil. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

[Smrtman5]

I bet thats gonna be one awesome machine. And, thats an awesome link to the CNC stuff. Modern Machine Shop's "Handbook for the Metalworking Industries" has a whole section on CNC and G Codes for lathes and mills, in reference format. Its a great book in general too, for all sorts of info about materials, threads, etc. Our school just got a Prolight 1000 mill for our Project Lead the Way CIMs course. Anyone have experience with that machine? The teacher and I are still wiring it up and such. I worked in a machine shop over the summer using full size stuff, which was absoultly awesome, so im really excited to incorperate the cnc to our robotics. Youve gotta keep us up to date on your learning progress with the CNC.

[ConKbot of Doom]

I worked at a cnc shop over the summer, didnt do too much with programming, but some of the other g-codes

M00 manditory stop in the program
M01 optional stop (controlled by the optional stop switch on the machine)
M03 is spindle on, forward followed by a spindle speed I.E. M03S2000 for 2000 rpm forward
M04 dont know, but given that M05 is stop the spindle, I think that it would be spindle reverse
M05, spindle stop

M08 coolant on
M09 coolant off

Thats all I leaned, didnt do any programming, just ran the machines.

[[527]phil]

You don't always have to put the 0 on the m5 or m3 command, it will confuse some machines (trust me, confused machines aren't fun to be around). and i don't know why you'd want to reverse the spindle on a mill because the bit won't cut backwards. You only might use that once in a blue moon on cnc lathes, but never on mill unless your making reverse threads. And the spindle speed can be manually controlled on most machines using a knob in the back, you have to be carefull of the spindle speed, to fast and you could snap the bit, too slow and you'll either bind up the bit or make an extremely sloppy cut, and noone likes sloppy cuts .

[Smrtman5]

I belive conkbot is refering to large scale production machines, where the speed does need to be referenced. The knob, then is only used to tweak the speed Ie from %120 to %50 of the referenced speed. Anything more than a %10 change really should be edited in the program.
And dont forget about those infamous lefthanded drills. Or as was the case with the Bridgeport at school, if they hook the phases up in reverse. Then reverse comes in real handy lol.

[[527]phil]

The machines I work on have a graphical interface for setting the speed (star cnc if anyone cares). But alot of the older machines have a knob, and it controls the speed from 0 - whatever. I work on high end production machines with automated bar feeders, pretty much they pay me to write the code, and then they pay someone to fill the bar feeder when it gets low. these machines can run for weeks making the same parts. unless of course the bit breaks or you loose power . Some of the Bigger ones (really really really big) have automated part placers so you don't have to hire another person to do it. I don't know if this interests anyone but their installing a robotic part picker in the building i work, they said it's supposed to be 3 stories tall, I'll get pics when it's finished. But basically your supposed to go to the interface, type in the part ID# and then it'll bring it to the window for you. But i think that only works when they guys in the parts department take the time to put the parts in the right slot .

Also you might want to think about useing labels, they act kinda like "If THEN" statements. that way incase the bit is in the wrong place, or if the spindle isn't the right speed, then it'll fix it before you have a bunch of useless broken bits.

[Smrtman5]

3 Stories?!? Yes, of course pics!!! Where do you work/ what are some machines you program? I ran a Nakamura-Tome 6 axis lathe for two days while the other guy was on vacation. That was pretty awesome. And i got to oggle the 2 toyoda FA450s with pallet changers. It never ceases to amaze me, the machinery they make.


Lets see if we cant get this thread going: Whats the best part for your robot any team has made on a CNC...or manual machine?

[[527]phil]

We'll i work in any machine shop that i can get work in, but mainly Star CNC, i work on the smaller swiss style cnc lathes, like 9 or 11 axis. hmmm, my team doesn't use many parts that require machining, i made aluminum axles a few times, but thats about it.

[Jim Schaddelee]

Bad brad

I used to own a centroid knee mill some 15 year ago when I first started in business.This is my 2 cent on learning G- code programing . I have been programming cnc mills for many years and owner of a machine shop.When I hire a new employee I really don't care if he or she knows what G55 or G00 are .What I look for is experience using my cam software (Computer Aided Manufacturing ) in my case we use mastercam .Mastercam is expensive to buy but there many other software packages and also student version that are not.
The advantage of programing with CAM is that you will be able to program any kind of mill . Please don't get me wrong Knowing some G code is great ,but if you have problems or crashes just know there is a better way .

Jim Schaddelee
Team 107 mentor

[ConKbot of Doom]

Originally Posted by [527]phil

You don't always have to put the 0 on the m5 or m3 command, it will confuse some machines (trust me, confused machines aren't fun to be around). and i don't know why you'd want to reverse the spindle on a mill because the bit won't cut backwards. You only might use that once in a blue moon on cnc lathes, but never on mill unless your making reverse threads. And the spindle speed can be manually controlled on most machines using a knob in the back, you have to be carefull of the spindle speed, to fast and you could snap the bit, too slow and you'll either bind up the bit or make an extremely sloppy cut, and noone likes sloppy cuts .

I'm not too sure either, the only thing I can think of off hand is if your using a wire brush and you want a CCW brush pattern, but it doesnt hurt to know.

As for threading, the machines Ive worked with have a seperate G codes for rigid tapping (tap is held solid in the tool holder), and for the kind of tapping that allows the tap holder to move up and down independantly of the spindle, to a point. Its kinda neat watching the machines run the taps down into the hole so fast, and then reverse and back right out...

Jim, yes knowing how to run the CAM software is definitely important. When I worked over the summer, I saw the programmers add a toolpath to debur a part in a matter of minutes, and doing so manually would have taken hours. Once you get beyond basic parts, CAM software is pretty much absolutely needed.

[ghansel]

Originally Posted by Smrtman5

I bet thats gonna be one awesome machine. And, thats an awesome link to the CNC stuff. Modern Machine Shop's "Handbook for the Metalworking Industries" has a whole section on CNC and G Codes for lathes and mills, in reference format. Its a great book in general too, for all sorts of info about materials, threads, etc. Our school just got a Prolight 1000 mill for our Project Lead the Way CIMs course. Anyone have experience with that machine? The teacher and I are still wiring it up and such. I worked in a machine shop over the summer using full size stuff, which was absoultly awesome, so im really excited to incorperate the cnc to our robotics. Youve gotta keep us up to date on your learning progress with the CNC.

My school has one (Prolight). I've been using it (virtually singlehandedly) for just over a year and have a bit of experience with it (as well as a techno-isel router/mill). Feel free to PM with any questions about it, no need to clog this thread.

With regard to Gcode - I know it (well, to put it one way, it was easier to learn than brain%@#$, the programming language). I have however never had to use it. Modeling in Rhino and CAMing in Mastercam (9, if anyone cares) is quite effective.

George

[team222badbrad]

Thanks

At the meeting tonight I got a former team member/coworker to show us some basic stuff. He walked us through the programming (80 or so lines) of a prototype part using G codes and M codes.

I did have a dimensioned print in front of me the whole time so that helped. I now also have an understanding of programming.

I just have to remember/know the G codes and M codes.

In the prototype part we programmed; we changed tools three times, did some peck drilling, and some circle pockets.

We ran it in open space, went through the flaws, and finally got it to work correctly.

One of the reasons for posting this thread was to spur some conversation so feel free to post anything you would like about CNC Milling.

[Smrtman5]

Originally Posted by ghansel

My school has one (Prolight). I've been using it (virtually singlehandedly) for just over a year and have a bit of experience with it (as well as a techno-isel router/mill). Feel free to PM with any questions about it, no need to clog this thread.

With regard to Gcode - I know it (well, to put it one way, it was easier to learn than brain%@#$, the programming language). I have however never had to use it. Modeling in Rhino and CAMing in Mastercam (9, if anyone cares) is quite effective.

George

So we're still in the process of wiring the mill and finding a spare computer to run our software off of.
Have you (or anyone reading this) ever used inventor to edgecam? Thats what were supposed to be using for cadcam, and ive never used a cam program before, ive only edited Gcode.
What parts have you made with it so far?
What are the quirks/limitations of the machine?