Matsuura MX330

[gcode]

I worked on some Hardinge machines that had those buttons on the handwheel that made it impossible to operate one handed.

That's why God made duct tape

[YoDoug]

That's why God made duct tape

They were those stupid 3 position that require you to hold them under tension, but if you push too hard or try to tape/fix them they lose signal. Industrial robots have deadman switches like that to be able to jog the robot . The idea is that if you start to pinch/crush yourself you will either let go or grasp harder rendering the signal void and stopping the motion.

[CNCAppsJames]

Okuma has an open API with free downloadable SDK that anyone with minimum experience can get and start developing with. Fanuc requires you to buy software packages and often requires additional hardware to support. Big difference.

Perhaps that was the case years ago. Additional hardware is only required if you choose to use HSSB (fiber optic) interface.

[Tim Johnson]

How difficult is it to learn an Okuma control for someone who's spend a majority of their time on Fanuc? 

We're looking at an Okuma 800mm horizontal and I've finished reading the programming manual. I also sent Kipware a program to convert to OSP but It's been four days now and I haven't heard from them so I'm starting to get concerned. They stated that it would be "plug and play". After reading the manual I get the feeling that the programming was written more for the manual side. They have a lot of the same features as Fanuc but added a crapload of almost random letters for "words" for doing a lot of the program calls.  I fear that our operators will have a hard time with the OSP language. I understand that GOSIGER does have good training though. We're going to look at Makino on Thursday and I'm going to call Kipware tomorrow .

[TSmcam]

We're looking at an Okuma 800mm horizontal and I've finished reading the programming manual. I also sent Kipware a program to convert to OSP but It's been four days now and I haven't heard from them so I'm starting to get concerned. They stated that it would be "plug and play". After reading the manual I get the feeling that the programming was written more for the manual side. They have a lot of the same features as Fanuc but added a crapload of almost random letters for "words" for doing a lot of the program calls.  I fear that our operators will have a hard time with the OSP language. I understand that GOSIGER does have good training though. We're going to look at Makino on Thursday and I'm going to call Kipware tomorrow .

.

It shouldn't be that hard. I've done a ton of OSP to Fanu and vice versa. As for operators gaining familiarity with OSP after experiencing Fanuc, again, it shouldn't be an issue. I've trained a bunch of ex Fanuc operators and they have all embraced the OSP control easily.

[Tim Johnson]

.

It shouldn't be that hard. I've done a ton of OSP to Fanu and vice versa. As for operators gaining familiarity with OSP after experiencing Fanuc, again, it shouldn't be an issue. I've trained a bunch of ex Fanuc operators and they have all embraced the OSP control easily.

If the Kipware software works as promised my work will be minimal. If not I will need to either integrate the OSP codes into our current post, create a new post or purchase one with the option of being able to integrate our specialized needs.

[Brian]

My Bus.Partner literally took a year to get comfortable with the first Robodrill (31 control) after having 3x Chevaliers with 0iMC controls....Buttons in a different place, prog folder structure, on transferring a prog to run on the Robo, forgetting to remove the next tool preselect and adding the G49 at end of tool so the prog would just hang, miss-loading tools into the changer....
Flatly refused to stand in front of the Prototrak mill and didn't dare touch the Prototrak lathe or Siemens lathe because "I don't do turning".
Dang...memories....quick, where's the bottle of 43....

I know we're all different, but stuff like this always amazes me! Maybe some folks are "born old" and can't learn quickly? (At all?) This has got to be one of the worst trades if you can't think on your feet (at least if you're not running the same part on the same machine for the same boss...)! Of course if you need to be doing something different 10 times a day you've come to the right place! Endless challenges and opportunities and problems to tackle!

Ditto for learning software.....put on a pot of coffee and roll up your sleeves-it can't be that hard.

I guess this is why I'm always kinda amazed to see folks looking for such particular skills in their employees: a Mastercam programmer/a Hypermill programmer/ must know Fanuc/ etc., etc.....you mean somebody with a functional brain can't learn the new stuff? Would it be better to hire somebody who has learned how to learn? What about general machining horse sense?

(Something tells me you don't miss your former partner-LOL! What *was* he good at?)

[JParis]

Would it be better to hire somebody who has learned how to learn?

It is THIS that drives we need "college grads" for roles that really don't require it...

[Brian]

Not interested in the other 99 things to do with running a business or anything to do with audits or customers or....bit of a mistake really but too late now!

Wow-like he'd have been a great employee, but maybe not a business partner....of course this applies to many other things in life, too....great girlfriend may not translate into great wife, etc., etc.

[Brian]

It is THIS that drives we need "college grads" for roles that really don't require it...

Yeah, I've met quite a few "college grads" that (mostly) seem to have mastered the art of taking tests well....thinking creatively, being adaptable, etc., ....eh, not so much!

[JParis]

Yeah, I've met quite a few "college grads" that (mostly) seem to have mastered the art of taking tests well....thinking creatively, being adaptable, etc., ....eh, not so much!

Yup and be that as it may, they have a piece of paper...worthless or not is really dependent on the "person", that says they can learn.

[gcode]

Yeah, I've met quite a few "college grads" that (mostly) seem to have mastered the art of taking tests well....thinking creatively, being adaptable, etc., ....eh, not so much!

That is one of the tough parts of this trade ( or a good part, depending on your point of view)
You can always bullshit bosses, co workers, vendors, suppliers etc etc etc. They are people.

You absolutely cannot bullshit a machine tool. It reads your code and does what it's told.

All the fancy words and certificates in the world mean nothing to a machine tool
Your NC files speak for themselves.

[Brian]

You absolutely cannot bullshit a machine tool. It reads your code and does what it's told.

Yes! Nobody breaks the laws of physics!

[CNCAppsJames]

I am no more impressed by a piece of paper that hangs on a wall than I am by a roll of toilet paper.

[crazy^millman]

Yes! Nobody breaks the laws of physics!

My exact words to Elon Musk and the team at SpaceX trying to make the October 2017 Launch of the Falcon Heavy. Repeated that same thing to an owner of an EV Car/Plane company in December last year. It is insane and downright scary the number of times this high school graduate has had to educate the degreed people in Manufacturing.