CNC Programming Left Hand Right Hand

drawoh · Oct 5, 2023

If I prepare a machining drawing tabulated left hand and right hand, can a CNC programmer take advangtage of this, or do they have to write two programs?

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JHG

BrianE22 · Oct 5, 2023

Fanucs have a mirror function about the x and/or y axis. I suspect most VMC controllers have this.

3DDave · Oct 5, 2023

I wonder if it applies to generated threads. I always looked forward to someone putting LH threads in the opposite hand part.

SwinnyGG · Oct 6, 2023

drawoh said:
can a CNC programmer take advantage of this

Every machine controller I've ever touched has had mirror functions, and so has every CAD program. I've done this a bunch and never had an issue with having to rework things for a left hand part.

3DDave said:
I wonder if it applies to generated threads

It can - smart programmers will set up generated threads as a subroutine anyway, in which case they would not be mirrored.

3DDave · Oct 6, 2023

Inspectors should fail parts until engineers put an explicit note "OPPOSITE EXCEPT SCREW THREADS."

Time to start that revolution!

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CNC Programming Left Hand Right Hand

drawoh

Mechanical

BrianE22

Specifier/Regulator

3DDave

Aerospace

SwinnyGG

Mechanical

3DDave

Aerospace

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