Hi Pat We’ve recently had an issue with a circular pocketing event in a pre-saved program on the RMX 2500. The event is to through cut a 20mm deep pocket with a 10mm diameter rough end mill & finish with a 0.2mm cut using a 10mm finishing end mill. The roughing cuts are stepped at -2.5mm Z increments. Prior to setting the tools & running the program, the finishing tool had to be changed to 12mm diameter. This was done in the program tools. Having run the roughing cut, the machine prompted for a 12mm diameter finishing end mill, but when CNC Run was continued it treated this as the original 10mm diameter cutter. Additionally, the machine attempted to plunge to full depth at rapid entry speed, resulting in tool breakage & part scrappage. We have contacted the UK agent: XYZ Machine Tools Ltd, who have confirmed their duplication of the fault, and have suggested the solution may be a software update. We are not aware of, or been advised of any update, we are currently running on 2.0.0. Any advice please??
Julian, Sorry to hear about this problem and it sounds like something we have corrected in the software. You can download the updated software from our website. Here is the link. www.southwesternindustries.com/software/page/prototrak-rx-cnc-software?ref=latest Just follow the steps. The guys at XYZ should be able to help you if you need anything else. Otherwise, you can contact me directly at trakingpat@trakmt.com T.P.
Yes I did. I also changed from multiple Z passes to one full depth cut and I changed the amount of step over for the cutter. After that, I increased the feeds and speeds. The defaults allow me to set a different step over percentage for adaptive tool paths then what I use for offset or parallel tool paths. T.P.
Hi Thanks for getting back to me. Would you have a screenshot of the defaults for adaptive tool paths? Also what CAD/CAM package would you recommend with RMX?
Julian, are you looking for a screen shot that shows the types of tool paths or do you want to see each tool path and how it will cut the same pocket? Also, we don't recommend any certain CAD/CAM package because they all work with our products. Obviously, MasterCam and SolidWorks are probably the two most popular since they are taught is more schools than any others. For the money, you can't beat Fusion 360.
@@trakingpat2750 hi Pat. Again thanks for getting back to me. It’s screenshots of the machine default settings that are specified for the adaptive toolpaths, and/or if we need to modify speed & feed notation in the options within the program. Basically we are looking for all of the instructional information necessary for the machine to run in adaptive. Both myself & my Brother are not machinists, but have purchased a new RMX 2500 bed Mill & want to learn CNC. Thanks for your assistance
I like our trak mills. I really wish there was a way so the irregular pocket only climb cut. When it goes back and forth and switches from conventional to climb it really kills tool life, and doesn't allow you to run optimum feeds and speeds. But to get the tool paths efficient, we have to post them. Which kind of defeats the purpose of the conversational interface. Also step over % should be able to be changed per event, that'd help IMMENSELY. Hurco conversational you can define stock paramater and then the profile, so it'll mill away the stock in steps in specified height steps. This makes it so that you don't have to mill through channels, then using phantom tools with fake tool changes to widen pockets so chips clear when the pocket gets deeper. Also being able to rotate engraving would be great. Overall the trakmills are great for their application, however, with these changes they'd be SO much better, that it wouldn't be worth posting parts that were relatively non-complex. Just some input! I am intersted in your VMC for prototyping for my business, but your reps haven't reached out to me. I recommend streamlining contact for purchasing. Haas posts their prices and make it so much easier to buy. It'd really be nice to just see pricing.
Aaron, You can choose CCW as your direction in the pocket event. Then, choose one way as your cutting method under the drop down window in either your options or defaults window. This works in adaptive or parallel tool paths. The step over % is also adjustable per event under the options window. You can choose your roughing sequence by either regions or depth in the options page too. The newest version of the RX software allows you to do the following things with engraving...Mirror, Angle, radius, vertical or horizontal. I have contacted your distributor and they will contact you about the VMCs. Did I answer all of your questions? If needed, contact me directly at pfitz@trakmt.com and I can send you pictures of all these options and how they appear in the options or defaults. Thanks! T.P.
Want the amount of step over you use? Each time I try adaptive machining, I got a lot of vibration and the milling can't handle it. I often work with 1045 steel or A36 hot rolled steel.
@@patrickfitzsimmons5187 how do you change from zig zag to just climb cutting only on the prototrak interface? I can't find it. The stupid climb cut, and then conventional cut back and forth is so stupid and irritating. At that point I'd rather just mastercam it out and post it so the toolpaths aren't stupid. I don't know why you'd ever mill with zig zag, even if your rapids suck..... it's still worth keeping it climb cutting. Would be fantastic to change to climb only.
Stepover when climb cutting only varies. Depends on material. Good place to start. .003" chipload, and 500SFM for a decent carbide endmill. So like today HY80 .4" length of cut, 5 flute carbide endmill was doing fantastic at 3500rpm and I think 45IPM 5% stepover. Or also today 4140 prehardene steel ran 1900RPM, .250 depth of cut, 15% stepover and 25IPM just for some guidelines. We very rarely machine A36 or 1018. I normally plasma cut A36 stuff, we may post machine fits for bearing fits or pins, but we generally dont mill A36 if we can stay away from it. If you have control over material selection, 1018 machines a bit nicer. You can do say 5-15% stepover for say half inch endmills when you have a decent length of cut (LOC). Truly side milling. If you for whatever reason it isn't a good way to do that piece/part, you can do like 20-40% stepover and whatever depth. Good to keep it under 50% stepover unless you are facing. A36 hot roll mill coat is really hard an kills endmills. A trick is to get the cut deep enough your break underthe mill scale and 'peel' the mill scale off. A36 may be soft so you'd think it'd be easy, but it cuts like crap lol. Just keep it climb cutting, and if you are running carbide don't be scared to run high rpm.
Hi Pat Another little issue on the RMX2500 unit. We are attempting a radial cut using a repeated 2mm step down arc with a final helix cut along the same tool path with a 0.2mm ramp down. The arc is on a 105mm radius and the helix is a quarter turn. What we are finding, is that at a z height difference on the helix of 0.3mm or less, the machine will not perform the helix programmed. However, if we switch to Tracking and use the hand wheels at any point of the helix operation, it will perform as programmed. Any ideas? We are on software version 2.2.0, firmware version 2.0.1.
Unfortunately, not. The entire electronics of the RX are different then the SX. Depending on how old your machine is, you may want to sell or trade it to get the RX. Otherwise, if you are just trying to get the type of machining tool paths that we have with adaptive, you can do so using a cad/cam system. Normally, I don't think you should need one unless you're doing contouring with the Z axis however, this type of machining can be very useful when cutting pockets. I'm sure your rep can give you all the options if you are still interested. T.P.
Hi Pat
We’ve recently had an issue with a circular pocketing event in a pre-saved program on the RMX 2500.
The event is to through cut a 20mm deep pocket with a 10mm diameter rough end mill & finish with a 0.2mm cut using a 10mm finishing end mill. The roughing cuts are stepped at -2.5mm Z increments.
Prior to setting the tools & running the program, the finishing tool had to be changed to 12mm diameter. This was done in the program tools.
Having run the roughing cut, the machine prompted for a 12mm diameter finishing end mill, but when CNC Run was continued it treated this as the original 10mm diameter cutter.
Additionally, the machine attempted to plunge to full depth at rapid entry speed, resulting in tool breakage & part scrappage.
We have contacted the UK agent: XYZ Machine Tools Ltd, who have confirmed their duplication of the fault, and have suggested the solution may be a software update.
We are not aware of, or been advised of any update, we are currently running on 2.0.0.
Any advice please??
Julian, Sorry to hear about this problem and it sounds like something we have corrected in the software. You can download the updated software from our website. Here is the link. www.southwesternindustries.com/software/page/prototrak-rx-cnc-software?ref=latest Just follow the steps. The guys at XYZ should be able to help you if you need anything else. Otherwise, you can contact me directly at trakingpat@trakmt.com T.P.
Hi.
Love to watch your videos.
When changing to adaptive tool path, did you manually increase the feed & speed rates?
Yes I did. I also changed from multiple Z passes to one full depth cut and I changed the amount of step over for the cutter. After that, I increased the feeds and speeds. The defaults allow me to set a different step over percentage for adaptive tool paths then what I use for offset or parallel tool paths. T.P.
Yes sir! The EPA will help you figure those feeds and speeds but you have to enter them manually.
Hi
Thanks for getting back to me.
Would you have a screenshot of the defaults for adaptive tool paths? Also what CAD/CAM package would you recommend with RMX?
Julian, are you looking for a screen shot that shows the types of tool paths or do you want to see each tool path and how it will cut the same pocket? Also, we don't recommend any certain CAD/CAM package because they all work with our products. Obviously, MasterCam and SolidWorks are probably the two most popular since they are taught is more schools than any others. For the money, you can't beat Fusion 360.
@@trakingpat2750 hi Pat. Again thanks for getting back to me.
It’s screenshots of the machine default settings that are specified for the adaptive toolpaths, and/or if we need to modify speed & feed notation in the options within the program.
Basically we are looking for all of the instructional information necessary for the machine to run in adaptive.
Both myself & my Brother are not machinists, but have purchased a new RMX 2500 bed Mill & want to learn CNC.
Thanks for your assistance
I like our trak mills. I really wish there was a way so the irregular pocket only climb cut. When it goes back and forth and switches from conventional to climb it really kills tool life, and doesn't allow you to run optimum feeds and speeds. But to get the tool paths efficient, we have to post them. Which kind of defeats the purpose of the conversational interface.
Also step over % should be able to be changed per event, that'd help IMMENSELY.
Hurco conversational you can define stock paramater and then the profile, so it'll mill away the stock in steps in specified height steps. This makes it so that you don't have to mill through channels, then using phantom tools with fake tool changes to widen pockets so chips clear when the pocket gets deeper.
Also being able to rotate engraving would be great.
Overall the trakmills are great for their application, however, with these changes they'd be SO much better, that it wouldn't be worth posting parts that were relatively non-complex.
Just some input!
I am intersted in your VMC for prototyping for my business, but your reps haven't reached out to me. I recommend streamlining contact for purchasing. Haas posts their prices and make it so much easier to buy. It'd really be nice to just see pricing.
Aaron, You can choose CCW as your direction in the pocket event. Then, choose one way as your cutting method under the drop down window in either your options or defaults window. This works in adaptive or parallel tool paths. The step over % is also adjustable per event under the options window. You can choose your roughing sequence by either regions or depth in the options page too. The newest version of the RX software allows you to do the following things with engraving...Mirror, Angle, radius, vertical or horizontal. I have contacted your distributor and they will contact you about the VMCs. Did I answer all of your questions? If needed, contact me directly at pfitz@trakmt.com and I can send you pictures of all these options and how they appear in the options or defaults. Thanks! T.P.
Want the amount of step over you use? Each time I try adaptive machining, I got a lot of vibration and the milling can't handle it. I often work with 1045 steel or A36 hot rolled steel.
In this video, I used 20%. You may also want to switch your cutting direction to one way instead of zig zag. T.P.
@@patrickfitzsimmons5187 how do you change from zig zag to just climb cutting only on the prototrak interface? I can't find it.
The stupid climb cut, and then conventional cut back and forth is so stupid and irritating. At that point I'd rather just mastercam it out and post it so the toolpaths aren't stupid. I don't know why you'd ever mill with zig zag, even if your rapids suck..... it's still worth keeping it climb cutting. Would be fantastic to change to climb only.
Stepover when climb cutting only varies.
Depends on material.
Good place to start.
.003" chipload, and 500SFM for a decent carbide endmill.
So like today HY80 .4" length of cut, 5 flute carbide endmill was doing fantastic at 3500rpm and I think 45IPM 5% stepover.
Or also today 4140 prehardene steel ran 1900RPM, .250 depth of cut, 15% stepover and 25IPM
just for some guidelines.
We very rarely machine A36 or 1018. I normally plasma cut A36 stuff, we may post machine fits for bearing fits or pins, but we generally dont mill A36 if we can stay away from it.
If you have control over material selection, 1018 machines a bit nicer.
You can do say 5-15% stepover for say half inch endmills when you have a decent length of cut (LOC). Truly side milling.
If you for whatever reason it isn't a good way to do that piece/part, you can do like 20-40% stepover and whatever depth. Good to keep it under 50% stepover unless you are facing.
A36 hot roll mill coat is really hard an kills endmills. A trick is to get the cut deep enough your break underthe mill scale and 'peel' the mill scale off.
A36 may be soft so you'd think it'd be easy, but it cuts like crap lol. Just keep it climb cutting, and if you are running carbide don't be scared to run high rpm.
@@aaronmansfield4758 See my answers under your other comments.
@@aaronmansfield4758 Thanks for all this information! It will be helpful for the others who follow our channel as well. T.P.
Hi Pat
Another little issue on the RMX2500 unit.
We are attempting a radial cut using a repeated 2mm step down arc with a final helix cut along the same tool path with a 0.2mm ramp down. The arc is on a 105mm radius and the helix is a quarter turn. What we are finding, is that at a z height difference on the helix of 0.3mm or less, the machine will not perform the helix programmed. However, if we switch to Tracking and use the hand wheels at any point of the helix operation, it will perform as programmed.
Any ideas? We are on software version 2.2.0, firmware version 2.0.1.
Julian, I am not sure but if you'd like to send me a copy of your program, I can take a look at it. My email is trakingpat@trakmt.com
Hi
Can you tell me if it’s possible to program a 3 axis arc using ProtoTRAK where the Z end point is at a lower depth than the start position?
Yes, you can use the helix event.
Great video. Can the RMX control be retrofitted to a 2018 SMX5000 bed mill?
Unfortunately, not. The entire electronics of the RX are different then the SX. Depending on how old your machine is, you may want to sell or trade it to get the RX. Otherwise, if you are just trying to get the type of machining tool paths that we have with adaptive, you can do so using a cad/cam system. Normally, I don't think you should need one unless you're doing contouring with the Z axis however, this type of machining can be very useful when cutting pockets. I'm sure your rep can give you all the options if you are still interested. T.P.
TRAKing Pat Thanks for the reply, I shall invest in some CAD/CAM software. Best Regards.