CNC mill 3 lab instructions

Lab instructions for CNC mill 3 upgrade on the TMC 7

Table of Contents

Overview

These lab instructions are for the CNC Mill 3 TMC 7 upgrade and is designed to be accompanied by the relevant machine guide for the upgrade (e.g. CNC Mill 3 TRAK TMC upgrade and should use the TRAK TMC 7 mill guide listed below). If at any point during the training you have any questions please contact staff.

Machine Guides

 

Part Files

Material Requirements

Aluminum stock is approximately 3"x 6"x 1" thick.

Tool List

Students are required to set their own tooling. End mills are located in the grey Hout box located by the first aid station. All other tools needed are located in the green tool box labeled TMC 7.

Part A

  • Pair of 1-1/4" parallels with a 6" vise. See pro staff if you're not sure.

  • Edge finder

  • 8” caliper

  • Tools required:

    • Tool 1: 3/8" spot drill
    • Tool 2: #7 drill (.201")
    • Tool 3: 1/8” drill
    • Tool 4: 5/16” 3 flute center cutting carbide end mill
    • Tool 5: 3/32” 3 flute center cutting carbide end mill.
    • Tool 6: 1/2" 4 flute chamfer tool

Part B    

  • Pair of 1-1/4" parallels with a 6" vise. See pro staff if you're not sure.

  • Edge finder

  • 8” caliper

  • Tools required:

    • Tool 1: 3/8" spot drill

    • Tool 2: 5/32" drill (.156")

    • Tool 3: 3/8" 4 flute carbide end mill 

    • Tool 4: 1/4" 4 flute center cutting carbide end mill

    • Tool 5: 1/2" 4 flute chamfer tool

Operations

Part A

  1. Refer to the TRAK TMC 7 mill guide to complete operations listed below.
  2. Use the Enhanced ProtoTRAK Assistance(EPA) at anytime while using the machine.
  3. Plug in the thumb drive and load the E:/programs/CNC Mill 3 Upgrades/M3-A1.CAM file.
  4. Mount the program tools into appropriate tool holders and place them in order on the tool cart. At no point should the air blast nozzle be used to blow off machine/vises/parts without a tool in the spindle!
  5.  Note: When using the collet chucks, be sure the collet, collet nut, and holder are clean of chips, dirt/debris, and coolant!
  6. Take the nut off the holder and push the collet into the nut until it clicks. Screw the nut back on the holder. Place the tool into the collet and use the designated spanner wrench to tighten. Make sure that the nut is tight!
  7. Set the reference(base)tool in the tool table.
  8. Set tool 1 in the tool table the same as you set the base tool.
  9. Set tool 1 in the 1 spot in the ATC.
  10. Respeat steps 7 and 8 until all tools are referenced in the tool table and are in the ATC in order.
  11. Secure the stock in the vise and set X0,Y0 in the center of the stock, using the edge finder.
  12. Use paper to set Z 0 at the top of the stock. Make sure the tool that you are using to set Z 0 is identified at the top of the DRO page.
  13. Go to the Set up mode and press verify part. 
  14. Press define stock to set the size of the size of your part. 
  15. Press make part and then verify part to show your tool path. 
  16. Use tracking at the start of each operation to make sure Z axis for each tool is set correctly.

Part B

  1. Refer to the TRAK TMC 7 mill guide to complete operations listed below.
  2. Use the Enhanced ProtoTRAK Assistance(EPA) at anytime while using the machine.
  3. Plug in the thumb drive and load M3-B1.CAM program from the upgrades folder.
  4. Mount the program tools into appropriate tool holders and place them in order on the tool cart. At no point should the air blast nozzle be used to blow off machine/vises/parts without a tool in the spindle!
  5.  Note: When using the collet chucks, be sure the collet, collet nut, and holder are clean of chips, dirt/debris, and coolant!
  6. Take the nut off the holder and push the collet into the nut until it clicks. Screw the nut back on the holder. Place the tool into the collet and use the designated spanner wrench to tighten. Make sure the nut is tight!
  7. Set the reference(base)tool in the tool table.
  8. Set tool 1 in the tool table the same as you set the base tool.
  9. Set tool 1 in the 1 spot in the ATC.
  10. Respeat steps 7 and 8 until all tools are referenced in the tool table and are in the ATC in order.
  11. Secure the stock in the vise and set X0,Y0 in the center of the stock, using the edge finder.
  12. Use paper to set Z 0 at the top of the stock. Make sure the tool that you are using to set Z 0 is identified at the top of the DRO page.
  13. Go to the Set up mode and press verify part. 
  14. Press define stock to set the size of the size of your part. 
  15. Press make part and then verify part to show your tool path. 
  16. Use tracking at the start of each operation to make sure Z axis for each tool is set correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TRAKing?

TRAKing allows the user to control the X,Y and Z feed with the use of the hand wheels, located at the front of the machine! The right side hand wheel is the course feed and the left hand wheel is the fine feed. It is recommended to use TRAKing at the start of every tool change to make sure that the Z offset is set correctly for each tool.

Troubleshooting

Why is my Z offset wrong?

The user may have set the Z offset with the wrong tool. For example; If you set the Z offset with tool 1, the tool # on the DRO needs to be set at tool 1. Most of the time the user will set tool 2 into the tool table and forget to change the tool number back to tool 1 to set the Z offset.

Important information after completing this upgrade- You do not have to have a CAM file or a GCD file to run the TMC.

This machine can be used manually as well as conversationally. Please consider using this equipment after you complete the upgrades!


Keywords:
cnc, upgrade, cnc 3, TMC 7 
Doc ID:
121508
Owned by:
Jay B. in ECB Shops Documentation
Created:
2022-09-22
Updated:
2024-11-27
Sites:
ECB Shops Documentation