I operate Prototrak CNC lathe with an SLX controller. At this time I like say thank you for posting this video. It has helped me learn to operate my lathe at work with Senior Aerospace Burbank California. I like to thank the technical support people at South Western Industries like Joseph (don’t remember the last name) his advice and suggestions on how set up the programs has been extremely helpful thank you all and God Bless you.👌👍🏼🙏😎
I thought the finish diameter is supposed to be 3.500? Is it possible to do more than one operation like facing a part with a facing tool then indexing to a inside cycle to do a finished I.D.?
I answered your first question up above but as for your second question, the answer is yes. I could have started with a facing event and then changed tools before I did the cycle. I could've also added an ID groove or thread after the cycle like I do in the next segment. Since this machine has a manual tool post, it will return to the home position between the operations and tell me to change the tools. If I made this same part on a machine with a turret, it would return home, index to the next tool and then continue on it's own.
Louie, we have not made a video using the X axis for roughing mainly because we are trying to keep them short. Unless a part is large in diameter and short in length, I wouldn't use the X axis. The procedure is exactly the same except that it will make each rough move from the hole size to the largest diameter. Once its roughed out, the finish cut is the same. T.P.
It's exactly the same as how I did it on the RLX here. You may want to watch a few more of the videos on both the SLX and the RLX to understand what's different from from doing outside and inside cycles but the process is always the same. T.P.
Me again, if I make a thread and it's not quite right can I change my modifier and run it again? Ie will it go to the same place and not cross thread? Cheers !!
Hi you again! Yes, the machine will always pick up the thread at the same starting point. You actually have two ways to adjust your thread. 1. Just modify your tool as you stated. 2. Change your thread type to a custom thread using the HELP key. This method will allow you to control both the major and minor diameters more precisely. It is also needed if you want to cut a non standard thread such as an ACME or BUTRESS. T.P.
I have had jobs of multiple parts the same, so need to use repeat , trouble is the option screen only allows you to input 1 tool at a time to do this, I need to have 4 tools , turning tool,drill , tap, and parting off tool,the z inc off set is 19mm, between each part. The only way I can do this is manually keep changing z home position by 19mm + ? Can Anyone help please?
Ian, if you use a sub-repeat of multiple events with different tools, use tool #1 in the repeat and the ProtoTRAK will still prompt you to change tools in every repeat. This is a good one and I'm very happy you asked this question! BTW, it works the same way in our mills. Thank you! T.P.
Adam, I apologize for not having a print for this part. We made this video more than 5 years ago. Basically, I had a piece of aluminum with a 3.125" hole in it that was 2" deep. I needed to bore it out to 3.4" and add a .050" chamfer to the front of the hole. I used the inside cycle instead of the bore event because the bore event doesn't have the ability to have multiple cuts, a finish cut, or a chamfer to the front of the hole. I hope this helps you. T.P.
We have SLX 355 in our machine shop. It has started to behave erratically, time to time loses all tool measures, makes shoulders without programming ,and once when running cycle starts to cut off part with roughing tool. I've read about a machine shop owner who had to replace Prototrak control three times in two years, I really hope it is not our destiny.
It sounds like that other shop may have a power problem. Bad electricity can damage a ProtoTRAK. As for yours, you should have a technician look at it. I'm not very familiar with the differences in the XYZ products so I'm afraid I'm not much help on this one. Good Luck! T.P.
Does anyone know what the error "the position events in cycle cannot move both towards and away from the center line and cannot move both towards and away from the chuck" I am really struggling with this one as it doesn't come up all the time.. HELP!!!
Yes Sir! It means that in a CYCLE series, you have a position move where you should have a turn or arc event. If you watch this video, ruclips.net/video/FSqBnlmP618/видео.html you will see that you have to use turns and arcs to describe your entire finished part. Once you get to the final length of your finished part and also the stock diameter, you use the positions to describe your current stock. Most likely, you described the finished part but then used a position to go from your finished diameter to your stock diameter. That position has to be a turn or an arc so that the machine knows to start cutting at that stock size and work it's way into the final part dimensions. T.P.
Unfortunately, you can't. The chamfer simply starts and finishes from the actual corner. For instance, if you program a .125" chamfer on a 90 degree corner, it will start .125" from the corner in X and then finish .125" from the corner in Z. If the actual corner is not 90 degrees, then the chamfer will not be 45 degrees. If you need a certain degree in your chamfer, just program a turn move at the angle needed and ignore the chamfer command. You may want to use MATH HELP TYPE # 28 to figure out the diameter or length of that turn move to get the desired angle you need. T.P.
@@louiemunoz2753 Feel free to call me at the home office if needed. 310-608-4422 Ext 199. Math Help type 28 is the trig triangle. If you know you length and you know your angle, it will tell you your diameter at the end of the angled line.
It is programmed from the center of the part for X zero and the front of the part for Z zero. In a TRAK lathe, we always program the X positive half of the part but we enter the full diameter in all of the X dimensions. Does this answer your question? If not, please let me know. T.P.
Oops! I said RLX in the beginning but I meant SLX like the title states... RLX will be in the near future. T.P.
Very informative, and nice presentation and photography.
Great feature on CNC stop, and clear part.
I operate Prototrak CNC lathe with an SLX controller. At this time I like say thank you for posting this video. It has helped me learn to operate my lathe at work with Senior Aerospace Burbank California. I like to thank the technical support people at South Western Industries like Joseph (don’t remember the last name) his advice and suggestions on how set up the programs has been extremely helpful thank you all and God Bless you.👌👍🏼🙏😎
Thanks for the kind words! T.P.
I thought the finish diameter is supposed to be 3.500? Is it possible to do more than one operation like facing a part with a facing tool then indexing to a inside cycle to do a finished I.D.?
I answered your first question up above but as for your second question, the answer is yes. I could have started with a facing event and then changed tools before I did the cycle. I could've also added an ID groove or thread after the cycle like I do in the next segment. Since this machine has a manual tool post, it will return to the home position between the operations and tell me to change the tools. If I made this same part on a machine with a turret, it would return home, index to the next tool and then continue on it's own.
TRAKing Pat Thank you for your quick response to my questions.👍🏼👌😎
great job i have vl 355 great machine
Are any Videos that use the X as approach for ID trimming?
Louie, we have not made a video using the X axis for roughing mainly because we are trying to keep them short. Unless a part is large in diameter and short in length, I wouldn't use the X axis. The procedure is exactly the same except that it will make each rough move from the hole size to the largest diameter. Once its roughed out, the finish cut is the same. T.P.
If I were to want a cut from my origin and go up .05 and go depth of .350 and do continuous cycle how can I program that on slx?
It's exactly the same as how I did it on the RLX here. You may want to watch a few more of the videos on both the SLX and the RLX to understand what's different from from doing outside and inside cycles but the process is always the same. T.P.
Me again, if I make a thread and it's not quite right can I change my modifier and run it again? Ie will it go to the same place and not cross thread? Cheers !!
Hi you again! Yes, the machine will always pick up the thread at the same starting point. You actually have two ways to adjust your thread. 1. Just modify your tool as you stated. 2. Change your thread type to a custom thread using the HELP key. This method will allow you to control both the major and minor diameters more precisely. It is also needed if you want to cut a non standard thread such as an ACME or BUTRESS. T.P.
@@trakingpat2750 you're a legend Pat
I have had jobs of multiple parts the same, so need to use repeat , trouble is the option screen only allows you to input 1 tool at a time to do this, I need to have 4 tools , turning tool,drill , tap, and parting off tool,the z inc off set is 19mm, between each part.
The only way I can do this is manually keep changing z home position by 19mm + ?
Can Anyone help please?
Ian, if you use a sub-repeat of multiple events with different tools, use tool #1 in the repeat and the ProtoTRAK will still prompt you to change tools in every repeat. This is a good one and I'm very happy you asked this question! BTW, it works the same way in our mills. Thank you! T.P.
Would be nice if U show the ready part drawing 😉
Adam, I apologize for not having a print for this part. We made this video more than 5 years ago. Basically, I had a piece of aluminum with a 3.125" hole in it that was 2" deep. I needed to bore it out to 3.4" and add a .050" chamfer to the front of the hole. I used the inside cycle instead of the bore event because the bore event doesn't have the ability to have multiple cuts, a finish cut, or a chamfer to the front of the hole. I hope this helps you. T.P.
Is your finished diameter 3.4 or 3.5 ?
The finished diameter of the bore is 3.400" I started my cycle at 3.5 so that I had room for the .030" chamfer on the front of the part.
@@trakingpat2750 I’m not understanding that. If you started your cycle at 3.5 doesn’t that make your diameter bigger than the finished size of 3.4?
We have SLX 355 in our machine shop. It has started to behave erratically, time to time loses all tool measures, makes shoulders without programming ,and once when running cycle starts to cut off part with roughing tool. I've read about a machine shop owner who had to replace Prototrak control three times in two years, I really hope it is not our destiny.
It sounds like that other shop may have a power problem. Bad electricity can damage a ProtoTRAK. As for yours, you should have a technician look at it. I'm not very familiar with the differences in the XYZ products so I'm afraid I'm not much help on this one. Good Luck! T.P.
Does anyone know what the error "the position events in cycle cannot move both towards and away from the center line and cannot move both towards and away from the chuck" I am really struggling with this one as it doesn't come up all the time.. HELP!!!
Yes Sir! It means that in a CYCLE series, you have a position move where you should have a turn or arc event. If you watch this video, ruclips.net/video/FSqBnlmP618/видео.html you will see that you have to use turns and arcs to describe your entire finished part. Once you get to the final length of your finished part and also the stock diameter, you use the positions to describe your current stock. Most likely, you described the finished part but then used a position to go from your finished diameter to your stock diameter. That position has to be a turn or an arc so that the machine knows to start cutting at that stock size and work it's way into the final part dimensions. T.P.
@@trakingpat2750 thank you mate 👍 all sorted now
How do you preset the angle of the chamfer to lets say 3 degrees?
Unfortunately, you can't. The chamfer simply starts and finishes from the actual corner. For instance, if you program a .125" chamfer on a 90 degree corner, it will start .125" from the corner in X and then finish .125" from the corner in Z. If the actual corner is not 90 degrees, then the chamfer will not be 45 degrees. If you need a certain degree in your chamfer, just program a turn move at the angle needed and ignore the chamfer command. You may want to use MATH HELP TYPE # 28 to figure out the diameter or length of that turn move to get the desired angle you need. T.P.
TRAKing Pat Not too cleat about TYPE # 28
@@louiemunoz2753 Feel free to call me at the home office if needed. 310-608-4422 Ext 199. Math Help type 28 is the trig triangle. If you know you length and you know your angle, it will tell you your diameter at the end of the angled line.
You don't program from center of the part? Seems like u program to the actual diameter not half of the diameter meaning z0 is from the center.
It is programmed from the center of the part for X zero and the front of the part for Z zero. In a TRAK lathe, we always program the X positive half of the part but we enter the full diameter in all of the X dimensions. Does this answer your question? If not, please let me know. T.P.