A Friend Built A Turning And Milling Machine Tool

A friend built a turning and milling machine tool

The price of post-processing software is staggering

Recently, a colleague raised a question in the group, saying that he bought a turn-milling compound machine tool, and was told that the post-processing software cost 18,000 yuan for turn-milling compound processing. What is so difficult about it? A friend built a turn-milling compound machine tool. He also said that if you buy the software directly, the price can reach around 100,000 yuan. This suddenly shocked everyone in the group.

To be honest, this is the first time I heard that post-processing actually costs money, and the price is so high. We have more than 20 Mazak horizontal machining centers in our factory, all of which are manually programmed. We have used them for so many years without any problems. Looking at the price now, it really makes people a little unprepared.

Is hand coding good or not?

In my factory, there are more than 20 Mazak sleeping machines, all of which use hand-programmed machines. This method is actually quite convenient. Programmers can directly write processing codes based on part drawings, without relying on complicated software or purchasing expensive post-processing systems.

Hand-coded programming is highly flexible. Programmers can adjust parameters at any time according to the actual situation. When encountering certain parts with special shapes, they can manually optimize the tool path to prevent tool collision or overcutting. Although the learning cost is high at first, the efficiency is quite impressive after becoming proficient.

Difficulties in turning and milling combined processing

Really, the turn-mill combined machine tool is really excellent in terms of functionality. It can actually perform two different types of processing operations, turning and milling, with one clamping. However, you must know that the programming complexity of this type of machine tool is much higher than that of ordinary machine tools. There is a need to deal with a series of problems such as multi-axis linkage, tool compensation, and possible transformation of the coordinate system. It is simply difficult to effectively deal with these problems if we rely on manual coding programs.

The key difficulty in being able to perform turn-milling composite processing is programming. For an ordinary horizontal machining center, a programmer may be able to complete the program in one hour by hand-writing the program. However, if it is replaced by a turn-milling composite machine tool, for the same part, it may take three or four hours, or even longer. This is why many factories are willing to spend money to buy post-processing software.

What is post-processing software?

A software whose function is to convert tool path data generated by CAM software according to specific rules into program code that can be recognized by machine tools. This software is post-processing software. Different machine tool manufacturers use different control systems, and the required post-processing code formats are also different. Therefore, post-processing software is developed based on specific machine tool models.

There are dozens of post-processing software commonly seen on the market, and their prices range from several thousand to tens of thousands. There are some relatively high-end post-processing software, which also have the function of supporting multi-axis linkage and compound processing, so the price will naturally be higher. The price of the set of post-processing software mentioned by the user is about 18,000 yuan, which is actually considered a normal level.

Software purchase or rental

When it comes to purchasing post-processing software, there are two options available in the market. One of them is to conduct a one-time buyout operation, the price of which is generally in the range of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. There is another method of leasing, which is charged according to the month or year, and the price will be relatively cheaper. The specific method to choose is determined by the frequency of use and budget of the factory.

Our factory has not purchased post-processing software. The key reason is that the number of machine tools is limited, and the types of processed parts are relatively stable, and hand-coded programs are sufficient to meet production needs. However, if the factory processing tasks become more complex and the machine tool models become more diverse, purchasing post-processing software may be a smarter choice!

Shopping advice and experience

If it is your first time to purchase a turning-milling compound machine tool, it is recommended that you first inquire about the price of the post-processing software and how to purchase it. Some manufacturers will include the price of the software into the total price of the machine tool, while others need to be purchased separately. Be sure to confirm this before signing the contract to prevent disputes later.

In addition, if you plan to use this machine tool for a long time, you can consider purchasing post-processing software. Although the investment is relatively large at the beginning, if used for a long time, it can improve the efficiency of turn-milling combined machining and reduce programming errors. In the long run, it is worth it. It is recommended to do more research before purchasing to compare the prices and after-sales services of different manufacturers.

Do you think the post-processing software used in machine tools with turning and milling combined functions is worth the price? You may wish to share your personal opinions and past experiences in the comment area!