Standardizing C-axis rotation on Nakamura lathes

[Precision Paul]

Is there a parameter to flip the C-axis rotation direction? Got multiple Nakamura lathes and their C+ spin varies between clockwise and counterclockwise, which keeps things interesting in all the wrong ways.

 

[MachineFun]

If I'm not mistaken, most Nakamura lathes allow you to flip the C axis rotation, but it would help if we know the model to give you an exact answer. Keep in mind, this can play with the sync of the spindle, so back up any parameter you change so that you know what to revert to.

 

[CutsBothWays]

Yep, you can change the C-axis rotation direction on lots of Nakamura lathes, but how you do it can differ based on the model and the control system. For some machines, you'll need to tweak the settings for the C-axis control or the programming options.

 

[Precision Paul]

It seems you're on the same page that it's possible but model-dependent. The machines in question are a WT-150 and an older TW-20, which explains why they're behaving disparately. Great reminder to back up any parameters before I start poking around in the settings. Appreciate the good advice.

 

[xerxes]

Yep, most definitely the WT-150 should let you flip it in the parameters. For the TW-20, it might be a bit more finicky, so tread lightly and double-check the manual.

 

[weldmetenderly]

It seems you're on the same page that it's possible but model-dependent. The machines in question are a WT-150 and an older TW-20, which explains why they're behaving disparately. Great reminder to back up any parameters before I start poking around in the settings. Appreciate the good advice.

I think the safest thing you can do is to normalize rotation direction in the post or standardize it with macros.

 

[Precision Paul]

Thank you both for the recent input on this problem. We'll pursue the suggestion to standardize the C-axis rotation in the CAM post-processor. It will be a more robust and universal fix for our shop than attempting to alter the parameters on each machine.

 

[mill4nddrill]

Choosing a standard post-processor will likely save you trouble later. It's simpler than managing various settings on different machines and should fix the C-axis issues

 

[Precision Paul]

Handling the C-axis rotation in the post-processor aligns with the conclusion we reached after considering @weldmetenderly's advice. Managing a single post is a much more scalable and less risky solution for our shop than altering parameters on individual machines.

I can also report that we implemented the standardized post-processor in early August. It has been in production for over a month now and is working perfectly across all the Nakamura lathes.