indexer help needed!!!

[myxpykalix]

Due to family health issues i have to stay at the hospital but promised a friend previously to get a small job done but under the circumstances i frankly can't think straight and need help.

I need to take a 2"x2"x36" square stock and turn a section round to 1.5" that is 34" long.
I need to then flute it evenly around the 1.5" with a .25 ballnose

then i need to slice 1/4th out of it (an equal space between the flutes) in order for this to be placed on the corners of a cabinet.
My app i normally use it unavailable on a bad HD so i was using the indexer tool within the control software. I can't recall how it designates what axis to go in and you can see what happened. I buried a .5 bit a inch deep and 2" across the table before i could get it stopped.

Also when i tried to run the rounding toolpath i set the depth of cut to .1 and it buried the bit like it was taking the whole .5 cut at once.

Normally i don't have these issues but need to make the files and when i have relief here at the hospital i try to go and run them quickly at home.
So if someone can look at these pics and maybe make me some toolpaths For the various rounding, fluting, cutting away toolpaths I would be eternally grateful.
My indexer is mounted in the X axis and these files i've tried seem to want to cut in the Y. thank you....

[kevin]

Jack
If you remember I had the same problem
The thing is no app on Shopbot works .Recently what I did when i was in a jam.
I did it manuly 45, 90. etc it work it didn't take that long

Some times when you stay away from the indexer you feel like your learning again as the saying goes "use it or loose it"

[feinddj]

Jack,

instead of trying to saw this in half after it has been milled, try cutting two halves and then gluing it up with a piece of paper in between. once it has been milled, then use a chisel on the end at the joint. it will split apart at the paper. You can do this with 1/2 or 3/4 columns. You can use the paper in your printer. that solves at least one of your problems.

David

[mmason]

Jack

I have put picture with some instruction on it for turning.
I hope this will help. I use the Indexer tool for all my turnings.

Michael Mason

[myxpykalix]

Michael,
Thank you for responding and all the settings you show is exactly how i did it, only i had a smaller step down. I vaguely recall Bill Young telling me to put in a larger stepdown (which is counter-intuitive) now that i think of it then what i had of .1 .
The real problem i'm having is for some reason it wants to move in the Y axis instead of the X. Under my circumstances i can't recall what tells it to go in the Y or X when just using the indexer tool? :confused: you saw the result in the previous pics.

To me it is way more work and more problems trying to make 2 halves then cut a forth off and try to glue that together and have it line up correctly. It would seem easier to just round it, flute it, then cut out a portion while its still in the indexer.
I would hope some kind indexer expert could help me out under the circumstances with some files. Thanks for everyone's help so far...

[myxpykalix]

Actually michael now that i look at your example it is incorrect.
The blank is 2"x2" which makes the
rough blank radius=1"
finish radius (start and end) should be .75"
starting position i have as 0
turning pattern length 34"
finish pass stepover .08
bit stepdown .25
safe Z .75

[mmason]

Jack,
I am so sorry I was just getting ready to correct what I said but you saw it first.
That is what I get for doing something on the fly.


Michael Mason

[mmason]

Jack,

I do always start at -.25 if I can. Keeps from diving right into turning.


Michael Mason

[mmason]

Jack,

To set the Indexer to run along x axis open Indexer tool then click on tools and
it gives you the option to pick x or y.

Michael Mason

[mmason]

Indexer Tool then tools then settings then pick direction.

Got to quit typing before thinking.

[myxpykalix]

For some reason under the tool settings it had my indexer set to go in the Y axis and every file i had made that i KNEW was to go in the X was still going in the Y
so after changing it, it is now going in the X direction correctly.

Under normal circumstances i probably would have picked that up but with what is going on my mind isn't functioning correctly. I am going to remake some cut files and try it again when i get some relief tonite. I'll report back my progress.
Michael...THANK YOU for helping me think straight.:D

[MogulTx]

Jack,

I can't help with the indexer, but I will send up a prayer for you and for the problem that has you at the hospital. I hope it turns out well, for you and the person getting treatment.

God Bless you and yours.

Monty

[mmason]

Jack,
Hope all goes well.
Sorry for making it so confusing.

Michael

[myxpykalix]

still having some issues...:confused:

[myxpykalix]

I have had rounding and fluting files sent to me and they were made with the indexer in the X axis and wrapping the Y axis however when i try to run the file, i have the X, 0 at the head of the indexer and the file should turn the indexer while the carriage goes down the X axis however when i start the file the indexer does not spin and the carriage runs across the table in the Y axis for EVERY file regardless of who made it or what pgm its made with.

I made sure in the control software that the indexer is setup in the X axis. Although when i first started this project it did say it was setup in the Y. Thanks to Michael M for that tip. I don't know how it got that way as it has always been working in the X.
Where is all the help when (I) need it?
"Help me Obe Wan Kenobe you're my only hope!" thanks:D

[mmason]

Jack,
Did you get your turning done.

Michael M

[myxpykalix]

No. Can't seem to get any toolpaths made for me. For some reason the toolpaths that have been made, rather then rotating the indexer while making the carriage go in the X, the carriage just moves in the Y. Even though the toolpaths were made to specify "wrapping the Y axis".

The indexer (should) stay still while the carriage moves in the X for this toolpath to take off the corners i guess.:confused:

[steve_g]

Jack

I've been out of town and not following the threads closely...Did you check raster along cylinder? sorry If I'm off base.

SG

[Brady Watson]

Post up an SBP indexer file that is not behaving how you think it should. Make sure your VD number of axes is 5.

You'd better be writing this stuff down...your memory is failing...(Seriously...write this stuff down!)

Who is making this so called indexer files for you? Why are you not getting support from them?

-B

[myxpykalix]

My axes is set to 5. I have asked another botter to make me some files to test to see if it is isolated to the control software or the file creation program. I don't feel it's their obligation to support me, was why i just asked for some files to be made to test.

Steve i don't use that pgm but one of the toolpaths i think was made with that optimized raster so that the carriage would go in the X, but the toolpaths they made and the ones i've made make the carriage go in the Y axis:confused:

[jimmya]

Here is a couple files i made for the guy. He needed help so i volunteered to help him since he has helped a whole bunch of us at one time or another. I don't have an indexer but i made these in aspire according to what he was needing so i'm not sure they are correct since i can't test them.
What he has is a 2"x2" square blank 34" long. He needs to turn it down to a 1.5" round then flute it 8 times leaving 1.75" at the top and 1.75" at the bottom and make the flutes 29.5" long using a .25" ballnose at .15 depth. Then he needs to cut 1/4 out so that it will go on the corner of a bookcase. His indexer is in the X axis and when the dialog box for the PP came up it said it was wrapping the Y axis, is that correct?

Jimmy

15789

15790

[Brady Watson]

OK, Here's a couple of lines from one of the files:

M5,,22.5000,0.8500,,1.7500
M5,,22.5000,0.8500,,32.2500

Disregarding the "M5," - We have the following taking place:

,22.5000,0.8500,,32.2500

First comma indicates that no values are set for the X axis.

Judging by the incremental moves up to 360, the 2nd value 22.5000 is moving the Y axis 22.5" in the positive. The Y axis is most likely not setup in degrees, so movement will be in inches.

Next parameter is the Z = 0.85"

The next comma shows no values for the A axis

The next parameter is 32.25, which if setup in degrees will move the B axis 32.25 degrees positive.

The post processor is most likely not set up correctly for creating the code. What you'll want to do, assuming your indexer is parallel with the X axis, is try out different post processors until your resulting code shows no movement for the Y or A axes.

Here is an example:

M5,1,,0.5,,10

This will move to 1 on the X, do nothing in Y, move to 0.5 in Z, do nothing in A, and move 10 degrees in B (your indexer)

Make sense?

-B

[jimmya]

Here is the CRV file. Maybe I didn't do some thing right.

Jimmy

15791

[Brady Watson]

Jimmy,
When you setup the 'Wrapped Job' make sure the indexer axis is parallel to the X which should say 'Wrap in Y axis'. Also, when you select the Indexer post processor, you should get a little box that pops up verifying what axis is to be wrapped and where you want to set your Zzero.

The attached files were fine, except when I went to post process with the indexer post, it was wrapping in the wrong direction. I may not have the latest post on this computer & I don't remember if there is an Aspire post specifically for an indexer parallel with the X (Wrapping in the Y). It sounds like you are having this issues as well, which is indicated by the M5 moves I explain above.

-B

[jimmya]

Thank you Brady!!!! I might get me an indexer now (NOT). I'm attaching the PP from Aspire, maybe there is something wrong with it.
Again Thanks You

Jimmy

15792

[Brady Watson]

Jim,
There is nothing wrong with the PP from Aspire...However, since ShopBot indexers are for the most part run by unwrapping the X, not the Y, you'd need a modified post to work with indexer unwrapping in Y.

You might want to contact someone at Vectric to see if there is a PP available for unwrapping the Y that outputs code for a ShopBot. Otherwise, you'll have to hunt & peck through the editing process yourself until you get it to do what you need it to do. I'm not in a position to test it, but it appears that you'll need to jumble a few of the values in the M5 command (and possibly Home positions) in order to get it to work for this type of indexer.

-B

[Brady Watson]

FYI - http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13619

I'll take a stab at writing one later tomorrow if there is interest...AND you've verified there isn't one floating out there somewhere that works in the Y already.

-B

[jimmya]

Thanks Brady,
I don't understand alot about the indexer myself. It did pop up the dialog box to say it was wrapping in the Y and that was how i saved it. Maybe someone who has a modified PP that has a indexer in the X axis could post it so i could try to make other toolpaths for him.
Thanks for your help

Jimmy

[Brady Watson]

OK...here's the deal. I wrote this and it looks good on 'paper', when you read the code in SBP. Someone will have to run it with an indexer setup in the X (which means it unwraps in the Y) to verify that it works correctly. It should...but test it - AND LET ME KNOW if it is good to go.

After you extract it, you are going to put this file in the C:\ProgramData\Vectric\Aspire\V3.5\PostP folder. Aspire MUST be closed for it to show up in the post processor list.

Disclaimer: If you crash your tool because it isn't right...You're on your own. But I want to hear about it so I can get things right.

-B

[jimmya]

Thanks Brady,
I took the PP you posted and remade the files and sent to him. He tried them and said that the carriage moved in the X axis as it should. He's up and running thanks to you!!!! :):):)


Jimmy

[Brady Watson]

OK, good. Thanks for letting me know, Jimmy.

-B

[myxpykalix]

Success! Under the circumstances everything that could go wrong DID go wrong and I wanted to thank those of you who helped me with this.

Jimmy...Thanks for helping make some toolpaths for me even though you don't have an indexer you really helped me.

Brady- I want you to know how much I appreciate you helping Jimmy and by extension helping me. For some reason everything was going wrong and your writing that PP for him made my toolpaths work correctly. Right now i don't have the luxury of sitting around and trying to figure out what the problem was or how to fix it and you did that for me and I am very grateful. So Thank you!:D

[Brady Watson]

Jack,
I'm glad I could help and it worked out.

Thanks for saying thanks - Gratitude keeps my wheels greased.

-B