HSMAdvisor v0.1 is now available.

(newest version is 0.101)

A decision has been made that updates containing new features will increment by 0.1 each time

Bug fix updates and improvement updates will increment by 0.01

This should be a hint that first fully commercial release is in sight. (you still have another 6 months or so of free updates).

There is only one major feature

• Machinery with gear boxes is now supported- users can enter a list of RPM machine can have set and FSWizard will force all calculations to stick to those pre-defined numbers.
  There is a sample machine called "Manual Lathe" that demonstrates this feature. You can use "Import" function in Machine Definitions dialog to load that machine and see how it works

Several bugs have been fixed

• Manually entered RPM for lathe tools have been fixed
• Minimum RPM entered in Machine Definitions dialog now actually forces FSWizard to not go below that value and generate a warning.

How Sticky RPM works:

• Create new machine in Machine Definitions by clicking Add button and giving it a name you would recoginze.
• Fill up all of the input boxes including Min and Max RPM, Horse Power and Torque.
• Enter list of RPM values your machine supports into the Power Curve table.
  (Note RPM values HAVE to be in incremental order)
• Against each RPM row enter the max Horesepower your machine has (because its a gear-box, machine HP value is constant at any spindle speed)
  Tip: if Max torque was unknown, now you can enter the highest value you see in Torque row.
• Check Calculations Stick to pre-defined RPM only check box (Yes i know the picture shows that box unchecked, but you have to CHECK it)
• Check Use Horse Power Curve Compensation check box

Thats it!

Now FSWizard will force calculated RPM to match the closest RPM value from the table.

Sticky RPM

This release is a major step forward.
We are starting to wander away from just Speeds and Feeds calculator part of the project.

Version 0.022 was a little buggy.

All reported and known bugs have been fixed.

New update version is 0.023

New features:

• Threads page: You can now get thread cutting and tapping data for most popular threads in north America (UNC/UNF/ISO).
  The list of supported threads and features will grow according to necessity and user feedback.
• Machine Profiles now have 2 new buttons: Clone and Import.
  Clone button simply copies selected machine definition with a different name.
  Import button is needed to be able to update/add machine definitions from default machine list. As users modify and customize their Machine List, thay are now able to add machine definitions hassle-free from default_machines.xml file that is supplied with every update.

Bugs Fixed:

• Sticky Ball nose check box

• Max HP improperly rounded

Additions:

• Thanks to Greg Jackson and Matt Doeppers from Tormach i was able to create Horse Power/RPM curves for Tormach PCNC770 and PCNC1100 models (if you install over previous version, you can use import function to add those machines to the list)

Threading Machine Definition Import

I recently had to machine an aluminum mold cavity.

7 inches deep. With 5 degree wall draft and a 60 thou radius going all the way down. Roughing was not an issue, but for semi-finishing and finishing i had to manufacture these two extension holders.

Both tools have runout of less than 0.001

The one for bigger 3/8 tapered ballnose cutter is shrink fit- i mounted it using torch.

The smaller tool is a 3/32 tapered ballnose cutter from Harvey Tool.
I could not bore to correct size, and had to ream right on.
The tool is mounted with a set-screw from both sides to prevent deflection caused by unequal clamping pressure.

13640634846051.jpg

New things: None.

Well not really.

First of all alot of small bugs has been fixed.

Second of all i added a neat picture to Drilling operation.

It now shows what each drill specific field means

Also. Unfortunately all current license key holder will have to get new license keys.

If you currently have a license key, please e-mail me your new Computer-ID
And i will send you a new license key.

NOTE:

If you are installing over previous version of HSMAdvisor, you are encouraged to perform complete uninstall of the old version.

Othervise what happens is old settings file is not compatible with the new one.

This will cause Default Tool Type, Tool material and Coating presets to get lost and you end up with a funny looking FSWizard page.

Correcting this is extremely easy:

You need to select some tool type (IE: End Mill), select some Tool Material (IE. HSS) and finally select some Coating (IE. NONE)

This will fix the problem.

Attached below is a screenshot of what it looks like when settings mismatch happens, not a pretty sight i agree, but there is no need to panic.

(Note to self: add version check for every file)

Drilling Settings version mismatch

We have alot of stuff coming.

First of all HSMAdvusor is being particially rebuilt to fix one current issue and provide easier frature implementation in the future. I will try to push update this weekend.

FSWizard:Online has not seen alot of updates in quite some time. A decision has been made to persue mobile web application with bacend running on the server. Currently i am exploring options, modifying mobile version to work with google's jQuery mobile framework to allow seamless deployment across al platforms.

Below is a screenshot of the mobile web app being developed right now.

2013-03-15_22-43-54.png 2013-03-15_22-46-05.png 2013-03-15_22-46-18.png 2013-03-15_22-46-26.png 2013-03-15_22-46-31.png

An attachment like this is sure to save you some time and money running your lathe unattended

And here is a sketch that i used to make it

drawing Side view Front view

Some time ago an unknown colleague had borrowed an end mill from me.

Have i had been there i would have stressed that it was aluminum specific cutter and that it should not be used on steel.
Unfortunately i was not and it did not occur to him to ask somebody who would have known better.

Next time i look into my drawer i see this.(first picture)

Now we have a tool and cutter grinder to sharpen the OD of an end mill, but chips were so big, i would have to grind off maybe 20 thou of the diameter on order to get rid of them.

Our TC grinder does not allow to re-flute end mills, so i had to do it holding end mill in my hands.

First i picked up correct angle, and then i slide end mill upwards, turning it at the same rate as to follow flutes.

It came out better than i thought.
I was not planing to use it for finishing anyway.

And it lost only 5 thou in diameter after this hack-regrinding.

Before during after

Over the weekend a new feature was added to support forums!

Now registered users can upload multiple (SMALL!!) files.

Please use with caution and dont abuse this feature.

It was done in order to allow people upload their screenshots,pictures and library files.

Make sure you resize and compress large files before posting.

Here is how it looks:

tool Random picture

Things new in this version:

• Added Lead Angle/Taper Angle/Tip Angle switch that allows to specify the angle of the cutting edge.
• Added V-Bit engraving cutters.
• Added wood materials
• Stainless steels from Medium and Easy groups have been revised.

Tool library changes:

• Tools no longer carry any information about material or engagement- all that extra data is now saved with Cuts
• Fixed a small bug with copy/move function.

HSMAdvisor 0.018 is avilable for download.

First of all we have a new feature.
It is Machine Profiles now users can maintain their own machine types.

Inside machine profiles users can specify machine power curve that allows to warn user if power required to make the cut is outside machine power curve.

Because of added new features version 0.018 now requires .NET 4.0 or later

Also several bugs have been fixed:

• Serial Key bug that caused some keys to malfunction and not recornise by the program.
• Comma/Dot decimal point in some locales have been fixed