Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Can you use a mill CAM to run a lathe?

mszollar wrote:

> I think this is possible but someone who knows more please help..
>
> I am able to modify my post processor to scale the Y axis (to adjust
> for diameter vs radius. If I made this change, and plugged the
> motors into X/Y would I be able to properly drive a lathe or an I
> asking for trouble?

This should work fine for most applications. But, there is one extra thing that
lathes really need, that is considered a 'high-end' feature for milling, and that
is threading. On a mill, that would usually be used for rigid tapping, and a
tapping head can allow you to tap without a spindle encoder. But, there's no
way to single-point thread on a lathe without a spindle encoder. Many mill
software packages don't have this feature.

As for the X axis, you can just change the counts/inch to make the program
read in diameter. But, most CNC programs work in radius, and the display
may display diameter for you.

Jon