Hurco CNC Mill - VTAstrobotics/Documentation GitHub Wiki

Remember that everyone owns this documentation and if you find any errors or out of date information you should fix it.

Contents

Prerequisites

To use the Hurco, you need to be a Ware Lab badge-holder (see Getting Your Badge) with machine shop access (see Getting Machine Shop Access). Then, you schedule a time with Phil to complete the Hurco orientation. It is at this point that this page becomes relevant to you.

How to use

Machine Setup

  • Sign in on the clipboard on the HURCO
  • Turn the knob on the back of the HURCO to ON.
  • Check oil level is not below minimum line.
  • Sign in on monitor (Password: hurco)
  • Calibrate Machine
    • Press the physical manual button under the "Machine Mode" section. This should bring up a screen with several options.
    • Select the Calibrate Machine button on the screen. It should take only a few seconds.
  • Warming up the machine
    • After calibration, the machine needs about 20 minutes to warm up. On the same screen as calibrate, select Warm Up Machine. Wait.
  • Check if there are any tools in the magazine by checking automatic tool changer.
  • Tip: Press Input on control panel to return to main display menu.

Tool Setup

  • Control Panel: Press Manual under Machine Mode.
  • Display: go to Tool Management*. Make sure to clear the spindle if necessary by Clear tool in spindle.
  • Under where the display says Next tool, input a tool number. Then, on the control panel, press Auto under Tool Changer. You will be prompted to verify that spindle is empty. Press the flashing green button that says Start Cycle.
  • Open doors and insert tool into spindle.
    • (Doors are open and tool is in the spindle, measure the full length of the spindle/tool)
    • $${\color{red}ENSURE\space YOUR\space TOOL\space LENGTH\space DOES\space NOT\space EXCEED\space 8.5\space INCHES}$$
    • $${\color{red}ENSURE\space YOUR\space TOOL\space DIAMETER\space DOES\space NOT\space EXCEED\space 3\space INCHES}$$
    • $${\color{red}ENSURE\space YOUR\space TOOL\space WEIGHT\space DOES\space NOT\space EXCEED\space 14\space LBS}$$
  • Once doors close, you will need to press the green Start Cycle button again.
  • Make sure where display says Tool in spindle, that it is set to Auto. To toggle between auto/manual, press Toggle tool Auto/Manual on the display.
  • Display: press Tool setup. Then input tool number, tool type, tool diameter, and calibrated length (the length measured earlier).
  • Make sure calculated Speed and Feed are accurate. (Use littlemachineshop.com)
  • Display: Exit -> Clear tool in spindle -> press green start cycle button.
  • Repeat steps until all needed tools are setup.
  • Here are videos for reference:

Tool Probing

  • Probing is necessary for the machine to know an accurate length of each tool.
  • Display: Next tool -> input desired tool number -> Move tool to spindle -> green Start cycle button.
  • Display: Tool setup -> More -> Tool Probing.
  • Offsets; On Display: press Length tab.
    • If tool is an Endmill, keep offsets at zero.
    • If tool is a Drill, add offsets accordingly.
  • On Main tab, suggested values are:
    • Rapid clearance: 3.00
    • Spindle speed: 800
    • Fast feed: 10
    • Slow feed: 5
  • Display: Probe current tool now -> green Start cycle button.
  • Repeat steps until all needed tools are probed.
  • Here is a video for a reference:

Part Setup

  • Display: 'Part setup->More->Stock geometry->Set target type` -> insert dimensions of part.
  • Control Panel: Manual under Machine Mode
  • Display: Tool management -> Next tool -> select 9999 Probe* tool from the dropdown menu -> Move tool to spindle -> green Start cycle button.
  • Display: Part setup -> Part probing.
  • Control Panel: Press small blue x10 button, then use the knobs to manually move probe close to part (make sure red ball is aligned with the surface you are probing against).
    • X-axis: Positive - left to right.
    • Y-axis: Positive - front to back.
    • Z-axis: Negative - down (can only probe downwards)
  • Perform probe for each axis.

Program Setup

  • Sign into computer (Password: hurcovm20)
  • Insert flash drive with toolpath file into computer.
  • Desktop: File Explorer -> This PC: -> (T)' drive -> CNCSHARE->Astrobotics`.
  • Copy tool path file to this folder (files in this folder will appear on the Hurco)
  • Hurco: Program manager -> Open.
  • Press the "plus" sign next to CNCSHARE file, then click on Astrobotics folder.
  • Select your file to open -> Load.
  • Remove flash drive and sign out of computer.

Verify Setup

  • Control Panel: Press Draw to show part parameters. Press Draw again to show tool path.
  • Visually confirm that part and toolpath look correct.
  • Control Panel: Auto under Machine Mode.
  • Display: check for errors by pressing Check for errors
    • If there are errors, fix toolpath before continuing.

Running it

  • Display: dry run by pressing Dry run.
  • Once everything looks correct, Run program (make sure coolant hose is directed toward the tip of the spindle and that the nozzle is open).

Shutting down

  • Return to where you can select Tool Setup
  • Display: Next tool -> input tool number -> Move tool to spindle
  • Make sure where display says Tool in spindle, that it is set to Manual. To toggle between auto/manual, press Toggle tool Auto/Manual on the display.
  • Display: Clear tool in spindle.
  • Repeat steps until all inserted tools are removed.
  • Clean inside of machine.
  • Sign out on the clipboard on the HURCO.