Turning Center Fast Start

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to set up and execute a turning operation using a CNC machine. The instructor walks through the entire process, from initial setup to the final steps, ensuring that participants can confidently engage in turning projects. The main steps covered include:

Introduction to the turning project and materials needed (fluted turning piece).
Downloading the necessary G-code from customer support files.
Preparing the workpiece by cutting it to size (1.5″ x 1.5″ x 14″).
Setting up the four-jaw chuck and revolving center to secure the workpiece.
Marking the center of the workpiece for accurate alignment.
Accessing the turning workstation and checking the checklist.
Ensuring the smart tool is activated before initiating the program.
Loading the G-code program into the machine.
Starting the cutting process using the cycle start function.
Observing the machine’s operation while ensuring safety and cleanliness.
Reviewing the entire setup and execution process for clarity and ease of understanding.

Main purpose: To provide a clear, step-by-step tutorial for beginners on how to set up and operate a CNC machine for turning, emphasizing simplicity and confidence in executing the project.

Key takeaways:

Importance of initial setup and securing the workpiece properly
Utilizing available resources like G-code files and checklists
Ensuring the smart tool feature is active for accurate cutting
Simple steps to load programs and begin operations
Emphasis on safety and cleanliness during the machining process
Overview of the ease of turning operations for beginners

This guide ensures that newcomers to CNC turning feel supported and equipped to undertake their first project with confidence.

Video Summary

Remember This Checklist:

Understand the basics of fluted turning
Download and prepare the G-Code for the project
Properly install the blank into the machine
Ensure smart tool is activated before cutting
Follow the checklist for a smooth operation

Introduction to Fluted Turning (0:00-1:20)

0:00-0:05 – Welcome message and introduction to the workshop session
0:05-0:30 – Overview of the fluted turning project and its simplicity for beginners
0:30-0:45 – Explanation of the project dimensions and materials needed (1.5″x1.5″x14″)
0:45-1:20 – Instructions on locating the customer support files for project setup

Preparing the Project (1:20-3:15)

1:20-1:50 – Guidance on downloading the Delta fast start files for the project
1:50-2:15 – Instruction on cutting the blank from a 2×4 piece of wood
2:15-2:35 – Demonstration of installing the part into the four jaw chuck and revolving center
2:35-3:15 – Explanation of centering the part using a marking technique for accuracy

Setting Up the Turning Machine (3:15-5:20)

3:15-3:45 – Introduction to the turning workstation and accessing the checklist
3:45-4:05 – Instructions on downloading the checklist from customer support files
4:05-4:40 – Opening the G-Code program for the fluted turning project
4:40-5:20 – Ensuring the smart tool is activated and ready for the cutting process

Running the Turning Process (5:20-7:40)

5:20-5:50 – Steps to initiate the cutting process by hitting cycle start
5:50-6:30 – Visual demonstration of the machine picking up the tool and beginning the cut
6:30-7:00 – Explanation of the cutting process and its simplicity for beginners
7:00-7:40 – Observations on the dust management during the cutting session

Conclusion and Recap (7:40-9:01)

7:40-8:10 – Showcase of the completed part and review of successful code loading
8:10-8:30 – Quick recap of the steps: starting the machine, warming up, and loading the program
8:30-9:01 – Final instructions emphasizing ease of operation and encouraging practice with fluted turning

Vertical Table Fast Start

Fast Start 3-axis

Full Video Transcript

Transcript

Introduction to Fluted Turning (0:00-1:20)

0:03-1:05: “Beautiful. Welcome, everybody. Glad you could make it to our workshops night. Tonight’s class is it’s it’s a basic level and it words just for the very beginner. It is a fast start series on turning. So we have done one on the horizontal that we did a sign. We did one, Chris did one on the vertical of vice and now I’m going to do one on the turning and that’ll wrap up this absolute fast start class Series. This is the The part we’re going to cut tonight. It’s a fluted turning. It’s very simple. It’s a great practice piece and I would suggest that you follow this one. If you’re brand-new, just getting started and have done any turning yet and we’ll explain that as we go through. So the blink size is going to be inch and a half by inch and a half by 14 to the by 12 and we’ll set up and cut that. So the first thing that we’ll want to do. And if we go into the customer support files.”

1:08-1:20: “I have put in here under the Delta section that Delta fast start files so you can simply download this and run this G-Code as your very first project mixing.”

Preparing the Project (1:20-3:15)

1:17-2:14: “your very first project mixing. After you’ve downloaded these files. We’re going to again, cut the blank. 14 inches instead of 12 inches. And I take a 2×4 and rip it in half by an inch and a half 14 inches long. Okay, so, depending on which machine you have, it’s already been set up specifically for this operation. So you if you’re brand-new again, you don’t have to do much other than run the program. All right. So once we’ve got it like this, we’re going to go ahead and install the part. So let me turn on my other camera real quickly. You can see how that’s done. Okay. So here we go. That is the four jaw Chuck and right down here is the revolving Centre. And so we’re going to go ahead and install the part in here. So you can see that.”

2:29-3:15: “Okay, so you can see that’s pretty simple. I I just inserted the four jaw Chuck and and I didn’t find it down here. I brought the tail stock up and it’s locked down in place. And then I just Advance the revolving Centre in there. I marked the center of the end. Well, I didn’t on this one, but I actually Mark the center right here and I use an awl to put a hole there, so that when I put the tail stock and it goes right to that location centers it for me. So, the next thing we’re going to do is we’re going to go to our turning. It’s our workstation for turning and if we were to take and download the checklist. And you have this that’s great. If you have if you don’t have it yet. You can go to the customer support files”

Setting Up the Turning Machine (3:15-5:20)

3:12-4:41: “have if you don’t have it yet. You can go to the customer support files and there will be a checklist up here Legacy CNC checklist for the Delta. And if you have a mock you with download that one and then you can open this file. And if course it’s going to have the instructions on what you do. So this is dead simple because all we got to do is click on the turning and I’ve downloaded the program from the customer support files and I have opened it up in here so I can click on the program. I can click on open right here and then we can select the file. All right, and I placed it right here. So we’re going to click on fast, start turning and I called it G Codes, you know exactly what was and we’ll open that and then it’s it in the checklist. Again. It said, make sure that the smart pool is on and there’s actually an indication right down here on the screen. It will be green if the smart clothes on. So smart clothes on, you can always click on the smart tool menu here and you’ll see the big bar at the top says, Smart Tool. And it is green. That means it’s on So you can see either one of those in know if it’s on and on and this is on, that’s all you have to do is just make sure smart clothes on and then we’re going to hit the cycle start and it’s going to start cutting. So I’m just going to hit cycle start and start going.”

4:45-4:50: “Well, maybe I can show you real quick. If I get out of the way. It’s going to pick up the tool here.”

4:54-5:17: “Okay, so it’s got the tool now. It’s going to come up here because smart tool is turned on. It is going to touch off and set it and then we’ll switch over and it’ll turn this part. So, again, this class is on setting up, which is dead simple and running apart where the program is already created.”

Running the Turning Process (5:20-7:40)

6:26-6:40: “Now, the other thing is we’re making a mess here because I have taken the dust manifold off this machine, because if I put it on, you can’t see the cut, what’s going on without it. Of course, we’re throwing sawdust everywhere. So I apologize for that. But this way you can see it cut.”

Conclusion and Recap (7:40-9:01)

8:32-9:01: “Okay, so there’s our part. We kept beforehand, this time. I loaded the proper code. So we’re good to go. All right. So, let me just kind of walk through that step or those steps real quickly again, because this is much easier than most people anticipate. You look at the checklist and you start the machine home at warm it up and simply choose your turning make sure smart tool is on load your program and hit cycle start. That’s all there is to it when it comes to turning.”