On lathes, I love it. On mills I think it is virtually useless. For turning (especially mill-turn), it really simplifies programming.
I have had customers who have never had anything to do with programming get up and running and confident within days of machine installation. Plus there is the added advantage of being able to convert to G-code format if you prefer that. I prefer to leave the programs in I-Guide (as I call it) format, because they usually store in less memory. You can simulate machining with the 3D graphics and the programming macros are quite extensive. Milling I-Guide on the other hand is very basic.
Only drilling/tapping functions, island milling/pocketing for basic shapes (rectangles, ellipses, circles), slotting, and simple (one depth) profile milling. Simulation leaves a lot to be desired, with the whole program being simulated with one tool size. That said, the machining centres that we have supplied with Manual Guide-I are lower end machines, so maybe they have lower end software. I AGREE WITH OZEMALE6T9. FOR TURNING AND MILL/TURN THE SOFTWARE IS OF GREAT USE AND VERY POWERFUL. LACKING IN MILL FUNCTIONS THOUGH, BUT STILL USEFULL IN SIMPLE THINGS LIKE MAKING FIXTURES FOR MILL/TURN WORK.
THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS WHAT TYPE OF CONTROL DO YOU WANT TO USE THIS ON. I USE THIS SOFTWARE ON THE FANUC 18i TB.
THERE ARE OTHER BENIFETS TO MANUAL GUIDE i. IT GIVES YOU EXTREMLY FLEXIBLE EDITING CAPABILITIES WITH ALLOWING YOU TO COPY,PASTE,MERGE FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAM SOURCES AND FORMATS.ALSO THERE IS MEASURING CYCLES FOR PROBING, FIXED FORM SENTENCES FOR CUSTOM PROGRAMS,CANNED CYCLES, AND MACROS.
OUTSIDE OF OKUMAS IGF IT IS ONE OF THE BEST CONVERSATIONAL SOFTWARES I HAVE SEEN. Hi My only Fanuc experience is with 31i on a horizontal machining centre. Didn't have proper manuals so have learned by trial and error.
Fanuc Manual Guide I Milling
It probably helped that I was new to Fanuc and I quickly abandoned the old program format for the new cycle/figure format. The logic behind it becomes clear. As mentioned previously in this thread, the program is more concise and easier to manipulate. Free Form figure creation is extremely useful (no calculator required). A lot still needs to be done to improve some of the milling cycles but in general you can get them to behave the way you want with experience, and you no longer have to memorise a bunch of address codes. I also like the intuitive file management, fixed form sentences and shortcuts to the offset tables. Im after the same as thread starter, but im wondering what would be best, manual guide i or edgecam, mastercam, gibscam?
Fanuc Manual I Guide Tutorial
We usually have allot of different parts but mostly the same, just a few differences here and there. Im thinking that changing speed, feed and depth of cut would go faster on manual guide, then a cam software? Mostly easy part's we program, but we want to be able to do some milling work, pocketing etc.
Manual Guide I Programming
Anyone know if it's possible to import drawing? Is writing on parts an option? Turning of cordinate system to drill and tap with angle head? Load monitor? And everything else that's nice to know. I have experience with Okuma's IGF and Fanuc's FAPT. If this is better great Omega om80 Fanuc 18iTB.
Hi, The main differences with the 'standard' format as far as I am aware are the new display, shortcuts via softkeys and new embedded cycles. The 31i we have can be run using the original 'hard key' displays also, but I find the manual guide interface a lot more logical and user friendly. As previously stated, the cycles are a little clunky, due to the varying opinion in previous posts my guess is that they are still being tweaked by Fanuc. The most useful cycles milling-wise are the 'partial' contours and the mega-easy 'chamfer' cycles. As others have also suggested, don't expect to get great documentation of the new functions - you will be lucky if you get anything other than the standard set of tomes.
Yamaha yfz350 banshee service manual. Programs are written in what I would describe as a cycle/figure format. You can save templates (fixed form sentences) of your standard program restart sequence, and simply insert a 'cycle', be it drilling/facing/contouring, along with a 'figure' (contour/pocket shape or pattern of holes). This is all done with on-screen pop-up menus. Drawing a contour is very similar to Heidenhain Free Contouring (but easier).
Shapes can be defined with limited information, and options given when more than one possibilty exists. These can be inserted into a main program or defined as a sub program. When these cycles/figures are inserted into the program it all looks like a load of complete gibberish gobbledygook for a while, but you do get used to it and find that you can make something of it after a while - but there is actually no need as whenever 'alter' is selected and your cursor is within the cycle the menu screens pop up and you enter the info into the boxes as before. You can also convert the program to standard G-code to run on other controls. Yes, there are engraving cycles available (may/may not be an 'option'). The string required is inserted in the program as a comment, so if you want to create incremental serial numbering programs you will need to get your thinking cap on.
I don't believe there is a facilty to import drawing files. I haven't really looked at tool load monitoring - but it is a separate entity as far as I am aware. Three-dimensional co-ordinate rotation is still an 'option' much to my displeasure.
If you are only working in the standard working planes, you choose the cycle to suit - I had quite a lucky escape thanks to this, when I failed to re-define my working plane - the new cycles override G17/18/19. Powerful parametric programs can be created using a combination of the new cycles and a bit of macro b programming. Hi, Sorry, don't have experience with FAPT or Mazatrol enough to make comparison, but it is quite simple to apply different cycles to a defined figure and likewise apply the same cycle to multiple figures. Copy/Paste is useful in that respect.
Chamfering cycles are designed for 90deg inclusive cutters, enter the diameter at the end of the tool to find tool offset, and enter the radius into the tool table as normal. Just apply the cycle to your contour, setting chamfer size and what they call the 'ejection stroke'. This bit is useful to reposition your cutter to avoid pocket walls/floors/corners - or simply to use a fresh part of the cutter.
I'm not sure if this is relevant to all control models (have also had a look at our Puma with an 0i control and there are subtle differences), but on our horizontal mill with 31i, 3D simulation is not possible while running program - only while editing. Menu-driven Measuring cycles are also available but I don't have that option. I'm not sure if this is relevant to all control models (have also had a look at our Puma with an 0i control and there are subtle differences), but on our horizontal mill with 31i, 3D simulation is not possible while running program - only while editing.I believe this is the case with all controls having MGi. The problem is the amount of system resources required to run the 3D view. The machine is just not capable of handling the 3D simulation and the machine control at the same time. That said, you can run toolpath simulation during cutting, which is really all you need anyway, since 3D detail is very limited if you are viewing reasonable size parts. Another problem I have found with the resource issue is when you have a PMC controlled device, such as a tool changer, and you change to/from the MGi screen during operation of this device.
If the machine is doing a tool change, and you change to/from the MGi screen, the tool sequence can get messed up. In some cases, this has resulted in incorrect tool offset data being used, and the result is not pleasant. Operator beware.