Create NC Program Operation ordering

[dave_]

Hi I am having some difficulty with the create NC program operation ordering. The reorder to minimize changes does order on the way I want most of the time. Is there a way to at least select the operation order manually?  Not being able to order as needed is a problem especially with a rotary axis on a machine. 

thanks Dave

[Don.Cyr]

@dave_ 

There is some info in this forum post.. I have issues with this as well and posted multiple times with no clear answer.. I personally haven't tried what is stated in the post, but if you do, please share your results..

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-manufacture/tool-reorder-not-working-with-cloud-tool-libra...

[dave_]

Hi that is not what I am having problems with that deals with the tool library. where I have a problem with the Final posting of a program and the operation ordering of this program.

Thanks

Dave

[engineguy]

@dave_ 

Your image shows only a single setup so the minimize not going to work for what you want, it is to cut down the amount of tool changing and works best between setups.

To change the order of the operations then just "drag `n drop" in your Browser tree and they will be ordered and cut as that in your NC Program.

Yes, some folks have asked for the same facility to "drag `n drop" in the NC Program as is available in the Browser tree but I think that as it is being regarded as pretty pointless having the same facility twice it is probably not being regarded as a High Priority change 😞

[Don.Cyr]

@dave_ 

It explains how the software thinks to re-order the operations based on tool selection.. 

Good catch @engineguy.. I didn't see there was only 1 setup.. Hopefully your explanation gets him the results he wants to see..

I also have had a few video calls with Autodesk to discuss having the ability to drag and drop operations.. So far it seems like a mute point... I sure miss my FeatureCam for little things like this..

[dave_]

Yes you are right with the program in the picture. This one in the first pic is really where my problem is. each setup has a different work offset and B axis rotation. In this case there is no way to order the tools and there respective work offset in the order I need. The second photo is what I had to do for a work around and It is very time consuming. This also can tie in to the problem where we can not assign different work off set to different operations when you change the tool orientation. What I did for a work around is program each side separately then make a folder that changes work offset and then take each operating in to a holder as labeled and repeat over and over again. I am using a horizontal and this makes things a pain for these more involved parts.

Thanks 

Dave

[engineguy]

@dave_ 

Hmmm, I am a bit puzzled by your problems, I have used a Bridgeport Horizontal with the usual X/X/Z/B axes, the B being the rotating Tombstone, X side to side, Y up and down and the Z in/out, a simple machine to be sure 🙂

I only use a single Setup which is the Tombstone and all the Operations are just selected as I would with a Vertical the only difference is that a "Tool Orientation" is needed for each Operation.

If you can upload a Fusion f3d file that can be looked at and maybe trimmed a bit for you then I am sure that you will get plenty of answers that may (Or may not) be of some help to you. See image below of a very simplistic Tombstone setup but it shows how I have things setup, no need for Offsets etc that I have come across and everything is referenced from the Center of the Tombstone and can be anywhere on the Tombstone.

Just a matter of ordering operations in the Browser tree based on how things need to be done, example, need to face something before doing a Pocket in it, etc and determining at the start whether you want to cut down tool changes or B axis Rotations, you can easily "mix `n match" for best productivity 🙂

I didn`t show any fixtures as they are not relevant to this Setup 🙂 🙂 🙂

[dave_]

Thanks I do know about using center of rotation and doing things that way. Depending on what you are doing that can leaving you with little to know adjustability with only one work of set. You have to know where everything is fixtures vises ETC in relation to center of rotation. For us we will have quite a pit of low volume work going through so a lot of things need simple quick setups IE vise. You will need to know where the vise or fixture is in relation to center of rotation. Take a look at the 2 files I have attached one is with the work around that I did and the other is just the program with each setup ( work offset and angle) separate. 

Thanks

Dave

[dave_]

sorry the File you attached is just a machine no part.

Thanks

Dave

[engineguy]

@dave_ 

Appreciate what you are saying and I agree 🙂

However, "each to their own" as they say, I have never worked like that with Tombstone setups, I machined fixture plates for the Tombstone and they were precision dowelled (Hardened and ground with Hardened and ground inserts) to the Tombstone faces, any fixtures/vises were precision dowlled to the plates so if I wanted say an 8in Chick vise or KURT 6in vise on a face then the appropriate plate was bolted on and the Vise bolted to the plate located on it`s own precision dowells, absolute repeatability  🙂

That way I could set up a vise/fixture on the Tombstone in just the time taken to actually bolt them on and I knew exactly where they were every time and they were also created in the Cad-CAM software I was using at the time so I could have a job setup in minutes at each end, similar to you really, one offs and small batch work which is why I went that route, to be Probing/Touching off every Fixture/Part every time was way more time than I could afford at the time being a "one man band" way back then 🙂

It did require a fair amount of time and money creating stuff both in the software and the hardware but in the long term it was well worth the effort, they lasted me 7 years and went with the machine when it was sold (11 years ago) and as far as I know are stiil used to this day assuming they were looked after and the machine is still running 🙂 🙂

But, as I said earlier, "each to their own", most folks get into a "zone" for workflows that suits them best, that way suited me and IMHO was definitely value for money, your way suits you so that`s all that matters 🙂 🙂

Apologies for uploading the wrong file, Homer moment Doh!

[dave_]

Yes exactly that is a great way to set things up. But for now I need to do things different. But for now I guess the answer is there is not away to order the nc program manually.

thanks

Dave

[engineguy]

@dave_ 

Yes, agreed, it is tough trying to do it manually with just the Browser Tree to work with 😞

I suppose I am lucky in a way that the very limited software I had way back then didn`t have anything like the NC Program to work with so I had to come up with as close to a "bullet proof" system as I could as the software I had then was of even less help than the Fusion 360 of today 🙂 🙂 🙂

Good luck and hopefully you will one day have the time and resources to get what you need with or without Fusion 360 🙂 🙂 🙂

Regards

Rob