Constant Speed Lathe Control

Modern Machine Shop, May, 2000 by John M. Jordan

The T-400 CNC lathe control is a Pentium PC-based turning control equipped with a color LCD and a large built-in hard drive. Many of the popular features of the manufacturer's controls for mills are shared by the T-400, such as: popular conversational programming software, Intercon and the manufacturer's familiar, yet easy-to-use, operator interface.

With Intercon, users can quickly program the parts right at the control. Intercon does not require learning or memorization of any G-codes and allows operators to program the part by filling in the print information and checking the graphics. Intercon creates the G-code program automatically. Canned cycles include: profiling, material removing, auto-roughing and finishing, cutoff, grooving, threading, line, arc, drilling and floating-tapping, automatic blending (connect radius), chamfering, and blended chamfer. Automatic material removal saves the user time by generating all the commands to remove excess material from stock. Then, the material around the profile is automatically "cleaned out." The roughing and finish pass can be completed with the same tool or with different tools. Intercon also includes Math Help, which will help solve for any unknown points.

The T-400 provides the correct surface speed over the entire part. The automatic constant surface speed feature automatically changes the spindle rpm to provide the same surface speed that the user specified over the entire part, ensuring a better surface finish, better turning, and longer tool life. Surface speed is also manually adjustable with the spindle speed override knob while the program is running.

Easy-to-use graphical menus will guide the user through part and tool setup. The control even remembers the zero position and the tool library after the machine is off.