Tormach CNC Lathe

CNC Lathe Training 1:

1)

• Fit the chuck key into the chuck and rotate until the chuck is wide enough to accept your 1" piece of stock.
• Take the stop tool and ensure that you have a minimum of 3" of stock sticking out of the chuck.
• Tighten up the chuck with an extra tug, spin the chuck to make sure that the stock is properly secured.
• Take the chuck key and put it on the workbench (it's very dangerous to leave them unaccounted for)

2)

• Remove whatever tool is in the quick change tool post holder and place it on the workbench
• Blow compressed air onto the empty holder to clear all chips and debris
• Load tool 1 (RH turning tool) into the tool holder and secure the tool
• In the computer, click the "main" tab and type in "T01" into the text box that faintly reads "MDI". This informs the lathe that it is cutting with tool 1.

3)

• Using the jogger, click the "Z" and carefully move the tool towards your workpiece.
• Take a piece of paper, place it between the tool and the workpiece, and slowly until the paper cannot slide in between the two
• In the center of your screen, where there is a text box to the right of a big "Z", enter the value: 0.003. This is the thickness of the paper
• Do a quick check to make sure that the diameter value is accurate. Jog the machine first in the z direction to clear the workpiece, then click the "X" and jog it until it is close to the diameter of the stock. Read the value listed to the right of the "X" and ensure that it is close to the diameter of your stock.

4)

• Now it is time to set up the conversational:
• Click on the conversational tab and select the option "Face"
• Enter "1" into the text box to the right of "T" to tell the lathe you plan to use tool 1 for this operation.
• For this operation, we are going to remove the first 50 thousandths of an inch off of the stock
• In the Z End box, enter the value "-0.050" to tell it how far into the material it will cut
• In the Z Start box, enter the value "0" to tell it you plan to start your cut at the beginning of the stock
• In the Initial X box, enter the value of the diameter of your stock (-1")
• In the Final X box, enter "0" to tell the machine to cut all of the way through your cut
• All of the other settings are pre-set by trained ninjas and do not need to be adjusted.
• Click "Post to File" and save the project as your last name in the folder "Lathe 1"

5)

• Once you save the file, it automatically uploads it into the main page
• Verify on the gridded display that the left-hand Z-value is "-0.05".
• Verify on the gridded display that the bottom diameter sign is "-1.20"
• In the lathe, adjust the purple coolant hose so that it sprays on the cutting edge of your tool
• On the computer, click the "Coolant" button to turn on the coolant and adjust as neccessary.
• Close the lathe door and adjust the velocity (bottom left) slider to 20%
• Double check the values on the screen, make sure the chuck key is not still in the spindle, click "Cycle Start"
• The lathe will auto-home first and so it will begin to move in the positive Z-direction. Once it hits its home, it will turn on the coolant, begin spinning the spindle, and move the tool towards the workpiece.
• When the tool appears to be about 1" away from the workpiece, slide the velocity slider to 0%. This will stop the movement of the tool and allow you to double-check your values. The X value should be -1.2" and the Z value should be around 1". If either of these are significantly different, consult your training advisor.
• If the values are correct, allow the tool to move until the z-value reads -0.0225. At this point, slide the velocity to 0% again. This marks the first cut of the facing operation. If all looks well, slide the velocity back to 20% and watch as the lathe does two roughing cuts of 22.5 thou followed by a finishing cut of 5 thou.
• Once the operation is completed, the spindle will stop spinning, the coolant will turn off, and the tool will move back to its home.

6)

• For this operation, we are going to perform an outer diameter cut which will cut the stock from a 1" diameter to a .75" diameter across 2 inches.
• Click on the "Conversational" tab and select "OD Turn".
• Enter "1" into the text box to the right of "T" to tell the lathe you plan to use tool 1 for this operation.
• In the Z End box, enter the value "-2.050" to tell it how far into the material it will cut (the extra 50 thou is to account for our facing operation
• In the Z Start box, enter the value "-.050" to tell it you plan to start your cut at the face of the existing stock.
• In the Initial X box, enter the value of the diameter of your stock (-1")
• In the Final X box, enter "-0.75" to tell the machine to the diameter to .75".
• All of the other settings are pre-set by trained ninjas and do not need to be adjusted.
• Click "Post to File" and overwrite your previous project in the "Lathe 1" folder.

7)

• Verify on the gridded display that the left-hand Z-value is "-2.05".
• Verify on the gridded display that the bottom diameter sign is "-1.20"
• Adjust the velocity slider to 20% and click "Cycle Start"
• When the tool appears to be about 1" away from the workpiece, slide the velocity slider to 0%. This will stop the movement of the tool and allow you to double-check your values. The X value should be -1.2" and the Z value should be around 1". If either of these are significantly different, consult your training advisor.
• If all is well, slide the velocity back to 20% and watch as the lathe makes two roughing passes of 70 thou followed by two finishing passes of 5 thou.

8)

• Now you will cut the first inch of the stock from .75" to .4987" diameter
• Click on the "Conversational" tab and select "OD Turn".
• Enter "1" into the text box to the right of "T" to tell the lathe you plan to use tool 1 for this operation.
• In the Z End box, enter the value "-1.050" to tell it how far into the material it will cut
• In the Z Start box, enter the value "-.050" to tell it you plan to start your cut at the face of the existing stock.
• In the Initial X box, enter the value of your cut stock "-0.75"
• In the Final X box, enter "-0.4987"
• All of the other settings are pre-set by trained ninjas and do not need to be adjusted.
• Click "Post to File" and overwrite your previous project in the "Lathe 1" folder.