Announcements
Attention for Customers without Multi-Factor Authentication or Single Sign-On - OTP Verification rolls out April 2025. Read all about it here.

Bridgeport DX32 - No WCS

charlie.buscher
Contributor

Bridgeport DX32 - No WCS

charlie.buscher
Contributor
Contributor
 

I'm attempting to machine parts using multiple operations that require WCS.

From what I can tell, I've come to find my machine - Bridgeport Explorer II (knee mill) running DX32 software, does not have the capability for G55/G56 etc which is leaving me dead in the water for combining multiple operations in one program. It's entirely possible I'm not understanding how to setup G55, G56 on my machine but I see no reference to G54, G55 etc in the manuals I have. At this point I post the program and the machine throws an alarm for the line containing G55.

Obviously being able to rotate a part for different operations is an integral part of CNC machining.

 

Is there any possibility for a work around?

Would it be possible to write different operations using the same XYZ point above the vice through out the program?

 

Attached is a program for the first 2 ops of at least 4 to make a complete part. I have to use a XYZ coordinate that is either the stock or the model, when I create the next operation for change in height the model and stock is in a different position which would require a different XYZ coordinate.

 

I'm under the gun and would rather not write each op as a separate program and go through making the parts that way.

 

Thank you for any help anyone can give.

0 Likes
Reply
677 Views
5 Replies
Replies (5)

seth.madore
Community Manager
Community Manager

Do you have a digital version of the manuals you can share, or a link to where I may find them on the internet?


Seth Madore
Customer Advocacy Manager - Manufacturing
0 Likes

charlie.buscher
Contributor
Contributor

I have to admit.. I did not find the WCS section of the DX32 Operators manual until now.

With that said I'm confused on how to integrate Fusion360 post file with my machines way of handling WCS.

 

Attached the programmers manual and the section of the operators manual which references WCS.

 

EDIT: I've also added the complete DX32 Operators Manual. It's the "machining center" operators manual but looks to be the same as the one I have.

 

Thank you,

 

0 Likes

seth.madore
Community Manager
Community Manager

A cursory reading of this seems to indicate that the G97XxxYxx values are the difference between one WCS and the next, and are incremental in nature. So, in order for that to be handled by Fusion, you would have to know those distances AND model up your work as such. Possibly more work than it's worth. I'd suggest having it put out G97X0Y0. and manually adjusting it at the control, once you know the distance from your first WCS system to the next. It doesn't appear that there is any limit on how many times you can do this, so it will take some experimentation to figure out how far you can push it

 

-EDIT- And I'm assuming that you are using the post that's found here? It appears that the output code is wrong, based on my reading of the manual.... 


Seth Madore
Customer Advocacy Manager - Manufacturing
0 Likes

charlie.buscher
Contributor
Contributor

Its been a while but IIRC I'm using the Bridgeport post file that came with the software along with a couple minor changes. I've attached the one I'm using.

 

I followed the instructions in the Operators Manual for setting WCS (Appendix C) at the machine and when entering G55 for the new XY location the machine throws the same "invalid Gcode" error.

 

So it does seem that only the Bridgeport Machining centers have WCS capability.

 

I've made a few parts using fusion360 and this machine. I've always separated ops as an individual programs but those were 1 off parts. I'm now into production and don't want to setup op1 - 100 parts. Then setup for op2 - 100 parts, op 3 setup etc.. only to find out in the end that I made a mistake during op 3 and have to start all over again. I could run through all the setups once to make sure its a good part and then start with op 1.

I'm going to search for DX32 Machining Center software.


Thanks for your help.

I enjoy using fusion360 with an ancient machine.

 

 

0 Likes

seth.madore
Community Manager
Community Manager

Right, your machine DOES NOT support G55, G56. But, it does support a G97 Xxx Yyy which is the XY shift amount from your first WCS setting (G54) to your new XY setting point on your 2nd operation. I "think" a 3rd Op would also be G97, incremented from the last setup, but I'm not sure about that...


Seth Madore
Customer Advocacy Manager - Manufacturing
0 Likes