WHAT IS A MILL-TURN?
Mastercam Mill-Turn Addon combines the power of Mastercam’s Mill and Lathe toolpaths with a suite of tools and technologies that let you program advanced multi-function and multi-stream lathes with build in machine simulations.
Mill -Turn machines consist of Lathe machines with a combination of Multiple Turrets, B-Axis Head and multiple Spindles.
| Benefits of Mastercam Mill-Turn |
. . . and much more! |
The Mill-Turn platform has specific license requirements depending upon the complexity of the machines being programmed and the user access level. Mastercam Mill-Turn is a set of tools and features which runs on top of Lathe. It uses licenses differently than other Mastercam products. Mill-Turn requires both a license for the product, and a license for each individual .machine file. This is different than Mastercam Mill and Lathe, which only require a product license.
A typical Mill-Turn installation therefore requires the following licenses:
- Mastercam Mill-Turn
- Mastercam Lathe
- One or more Mastercam Mill licenses for the desired level of Mill functionality: Mill, Mill 3D, Multiaxis
- A license for each individual machine file
While Mill-Turn uses the same powerful toolpaths as Lathe, the programming environment is more advanced and includes a number of tools to meet the demands of advanced multi-stream machines.
MILL-TURN WORKFLOW
The workflow for creating a Mill-Turn job is different than other Mastercam products. This is because additional Mastercam tools, such as the Sync Manager, are required to meet the programming requirements of advanced multi-stream machines.
In addition, the Mill-Turn workflow is tailored to the specific machine selected for the job. Mastercam loads the proper options, settings, and part handling processes that are specific to the selected machine before the first toolpath is created.
ABOUT MILL-TURN MACHINE FILE
Instead of the machine definition–control definition–post architecture used in other Mastercam products, Mill-Turn serializes these resources plus many others into a single *.machine file.
When using Mastercam Mill-Turn, the *.machine file combines the machine definition from Mastercam Lathe with your Mill-Turn post, customizing your entire Mill-Turn experience for a specific machine tool.
Hundreds of machine files are available for purchase, including models for Fanuc, Mazak, Haas Siemens, and Okuma controls.
GENERIC MILL-TURN MACHINES
While in general each Mill-Turn .machine file requires its own individual license, generic machines are available for evaluation or training purposes. These do not require a separate license. Generic .machine files are available for a number of standard machine configurations for both Seimens and Fanuc controls:
- Single-stream two-spindle (Fanuc, Seimens)
- Single-stream single-spindle (Fanuc, Seimens)
- Single-stream single-spindle + tailstock (Fanuc, Seimens)
- Multi-stream twin-turret (Fanuc)
- Multi-stream turret + B-axis head (Fanuc)
- Single-spindle + tailstock (Fanuc)
However, users of these machines still must have the proper product licenses.
TWO FREE OF CHARGE MILL-TURN TUTORIALS
New for Mastercam 2023, we are developing a new set of standalone tutorials dedicate to educate our customers on how to use the software to program complex parts on a CNC Mill-Turn Machine.
The free of charge tutorials are based on two of the generic machines: the Generic Fanuc Mill-Turn TT.machine and the Generic Fanuc Mill-Turn LTZ.machine.
GENERIC FANUC MILL-TURN TT TUTORIAL
This tutorial covers the Generic Fanuc Mill-Turn TT machine which is a multi-stream twin-turret that has two spindles.
The following topics are covered in the Mill-Turn TT tutorial:
Mill-Turn Introduction
What is Mill-Turn?
Mill-Turn workflow
Mill-Turn Machine File
Generic Mill-Turn Machines
How to add the machine to the list
Mill-Turn Job Set-Up
Set the Initial Spindle, the Stock Type and Part Handling.
Select the part geometry and create the sub spindle geometry.
Set the bar stock, the number of parts to machine and the extra stock amounts on the ends of the part.
Define the Tool plane origin of the initial spindle.
Define how much the part is sticking out of the chuck.
Define the Tool plane origin of the sub spindle.
Set the location where the sub spindle will grab the part and define a cutoff tool if needed.
Left Spindle Toolpaths
Lathe Face toolpath
Set the axis combination/spindle origin
Lathe rough & finish toolpath
Backplot & Verify
Sync Manager & Simulation
Introduction to Mastercam Code Expert
Sync Manager
IOF file
Mastercam Simulation
Part Handling
Pick-off-Pull-Cutoff toolpath group
Part Handling Simulation
Right Spindle Toolpaths
Right Spindle Lathe Face toolpath
Set the axis combination/spindle origin
Right Spindle Rough & Finish toolpath
Backplot & Verify
Right Spindle Sync & Simulation
Mastercam Simulation
Sync Manager
Edit Part Handling Toolpath
Change Lower Turret Park
Post Processing, IOF & Tokens
Post Process from Sync Manager
Modify NC Output Settings in Properties
Edit tokens in Machine Explorer
Edit tokens in Sync Manager
DOWNLOAD THE GENERIC MILL-TURN TT TUTORIAL HERE
GENERIC FANUC MILL-TURN LZ.MACHINE
This machine is a Dual Spindle with a B-axis Head and Lower Turret that rotates about the Z-axis. The following topics are covered in the Mill -Turn LTZ tutorial:
Mill-Turn Introduction
Duel Spindle with a B-axis Head and Lower Turret that rotates about the Z-axis
How to add the machine to the list
Mill-Turn Job Setup
Set the initial spindle, the stock type, and part handling to single pieces of stock-pickoff.
Select the part of geometry and create the sub-spindle geometry.
Set the forged stock.
Define the tool plane origin of the initial spindle.
Define how much the part is sticking out of the chuck.
Define the tool plane origin of the sub-spindle.
Set the location where the sub-spindle will grab the part.
Left Spindle Toolpaths
Multiaxis Unified (Guide) toolpath
Multiaxis Unified (Morph between Surfaces) toolpath
Transform – Rotate toolpath
Create geometry for tool axis control
Backplot & Machine Simulator
Part Handling
Pickoff a single part and transfer it in the sub spindle
Part Handling Simulation
Right Spindle Toolpaths
Right Spindle Lathe Finish Toolpath
Set the axis combination/spindle origin
Right Spindle Helix Bore toolpath
Right Spindle Circle Mill toolpath
Right Spindle Contour C-axis Face toolpath
Right Spindle Multiaxis Unified (Guide & Morph between Curves) toolpath
Transform Rotate toolpath
Backplot & Verify
Upper & Lower Streams Sync & Simulation
Mastercam Simulator
Sync Manager
Post Processing from Sync Manager
