Use Vericut For 3-Axis Machines?

[CNCAppsJames]

Have you tried looking in the Machine library that installs with Vericut
They have a lot of machines in there. You might get lucky.

Chances are there is something close enough that even a novice user can get squared away with a decent GoogleFu game.

[JakeL]

Building machines, especially 3 axis machines is pretty easy. Get your boss to pay for a class and go to town.

This can also be a good time to point out that STNADARDIZATION in the shop for the future will make things like this alot easier.

It should take less than 5 minutes to output a 3 axis vericut session. Don't be lazy. Well worth the piece of mind that the code is good. So many things that can go wrong in this business its nice to have SOMETHING you know is 99% before sending to the machine.

I'd love to learn to build Vericut machines, only so many hours in the day tho. I'm been trying to dedicate some time to learn Solidworks CAD for over a year now.

I fight for machine standardization as hard as I can every time it comes up. Some of my coworkers think I'm crazy for it, but it's ridiculous how many different machines we have.

[JakeL]

Have you tried looking in the Machine library that installs with Vericut
They have a lot of machines in there. You might get lucky.

I'll have to give this a peek.

Vericut's still very new to me but it's clear it's a super powerful tool so I'm trying to dig into it.

[Zoffen]

I'd love to learn to build Vericut machines, only so many hours in the day tho. I'm been trying to dedicate some time to learn Solidworks CAD for over a year now.

Only way to learn this stuff is to walk the walk. Takes time but that's the only way.

Think of it as investing in yourself so in a few years you too can be a one man manufacturing army! One man manufacturing armies can demand top pay from their top tier results.

[JakeL]

Only way to learn this stuff is to walk the walk. Takes time but that's the only way.

Ya I get it. With anything new it takes a while to get over the initial "I have no idea what I'm doing", but I like the idea of being a "jack of all trades" rather than only knowing Mastercam.

I know a bit of post editing, some chook stuff, how to draw prints with Solidworks, how to program and run PCDMIS, a dabble of vericut, and a lot about Mastercam.

I've still got a LONG way to go to even compare to what most of you guys know.

[CNCAppsJames]

I'd love to learn to ..., only so many hours in the day tho.

While that is true, you kind of have a decision to make; invest in yourself and reap the rewards or, maintain the status quo and reap the results of that. Hate to say it like that but... if you want to reach the apex of this career path and all the benefits that entails you need to make some hard decisions regarding those hours.

We have 8 hours to sleep, 11 or so hours to commute - -maybe you're lucky and it's only 10 and work which leaves 5 or 6 hours for personal and professional development.

Choose wisely what you do with those 5 or 6 hours. It's the difference between XX,XXX and XXX,XXX.

[JParis]

Ya I get it. With anything new it takes a while to get over the initial "I have no idea what I'm doing", but I like the idea of being a "jack of all trades" rather than only knowing Mastercam.

I know a bit of post editing, some chook stuff, how to draw prints with Solidworks, how to program and run PCDMIS, a dabble of vericut, and a lot about Mastercam.

I've still got a LONG way to go to even compare to what most of you guys know.

Well, let's see... I've spent more hours than i can count driving Mastercam...one place I used to take the hasp home to learn as much as I could...9.5hrs at work,  I'd spend another 5 hours at night and on weekends....

Solidworks I was lucky, the guy that was teaching me told me he thought I was solid modeling in my crib...I passed many of the engineers quickly...

Here I am at 58 still learning,  and teaching...Access, Vericut, teaching my guys Solidworks as they go through things with Solid Professor.

Always driving to learn.

Don't make it a task, make it a way of life...

There are Top Dogs and then there are the rest...if you're gonna be a dog, be the Big Dog.

[TSmcam]

Is Vericut worth it for 3 axis machines?

In a nutshell, hell yes! Even if only for the calculate minimum cutter extension function. Model your toolholder and tool, and if cutting cavities, you can simulate and ensure you have the absolute minimum length of the tool required. I've have chucks down inside cavities, with .5mm clearance between the wall of the cavity and the body of the chuck. The same for 5 axis operations.

I did the machine building course, and furthered myself in Vericut. I'm using it for anything from twin spindle twin turret multitaskers through 5 axis mills and even down to 2 axis lathes.

It is another level of programme quality control. If you have it, use it

[Brian]

"Model your toolholder and tool, and if cutting cavities, you can simulate and ensure you have the absolute minimum length of the tool required. I've have chucks down inside cavities, with .5mm clearance between the wall of the cavity and the body of the chuck. The same for 5 axis operations."

Mike, does MC not have some sort of minimum tool length function for this? (I use this quite frequently in TS, but don't have Vericut obviously).

Cheers, Brian

[JParis]

 and to add to the things I am learning...3D metal printing.....

[TSmcam]

"Model your toolholder and tool, and if cutting cavities, you can simulate and ensure you have the absolute minimum length of the tool required. I've have chucks down inside cavities, with .5mm clearance between the wall of the cavity and the body of the chuck. The same for 5 axis operations."

Mike, does MC not have some sort of minimum tool length function for this? (I use this quite frequently in TS, but don't have Vericut obviously).

Cheers, Brian

Hi Brian,

When I was using MC, no it didnt. Not sure if it does now. But yes, TopSolid has it (among other great things too )

The Vericut function is rock solid, and I wouldnt be without it

Cheers,

Mike

[Brian]

Thanks Mike!

Cheers!

[neurosis]

Mike, does MC not have some sort of minimum tool length function for this?

No, it doesn't.  It would be really nice if it did.

You can put the tool on the screen and adjust the length while viewing your toolpath, but you can't have it calculate the minimum tool length needed for a particular path based on clearance.

That function in TS is super useful as you don't always need your tool hanging out the entire depth that you're cutting.

[JParis]

I'll admit I don't use it but it's still in there...it's a c-hook now

[neurosis]

I'll have to check that out on Monday and see how it works.