TURNING EXAMPLE DOOR KNOB

TUTORIAL No. 7 - TURNING A DOOR KNOB - PAGE 1

Overview

This document describes the step-by-step process of designing, and machining a Turned part
with Dolphin PartMaster Turning software (Version 7,0,0,2 or greater). Units of measure are
Inches and component sizes are designed to make this an ideal exercise for use with Small
hobbyist CNC Lathes such as Taig or Sherline.

The component to be turned is as follows Door Knob Inchscale.dra

The above diagram shows the component with relevant dimensions, the next section will show
how to draw the component shape within the PartMaster CAD module using the Geometry
solving tools available within that module.

Drawing Stages

Experience shows the most common difficulty encountered by novice CAD users is where to
start. When presented with a component to draw the novice will often attempt to draw the
complete component mentally prior to placing geometry on the screen. This makes the drawing
process seem more complicated than it actually is and can cause difficulty to the inexperienced
user, a better approach is to segment the Drawing Task into manageable portions which the
user can then attempt one at a time.

The advice to novice users is always to follow this procedure:

a. Briefly, study drawing.

In this way the component is drawn in logical steps.

1
The Door Knob component can be drawn in the four stages shown in the sketch below:

Associated Files

These files can be found in the Program Files folder under

CAD system Files

• Door Knob.dra
• Doorknob Inchscale.dra
• Doorknob Overview.dra
• Door knob Stage1
• Door Knob Stage2.dra
• Door Knob Stage3.dra
• Door Knob Inch.dra
• Door Knob Inch2.dra
• Door Knob Inch3.dra

CAM system Files

• Door Knob.cnc
• Door Knob Inch.cnc
• Door Knob Stage3.cnc

Material used

Billet Size; Diameter 1", Length 1.2", Z 0.0625 -

2
Tooling

Standard turning tool

Button tool Diameter 0.25"

The next section of this tutorial will provide step-by-step instructions for completing each of the
above stages.

Stage 1: Create a new drawing

Initiate the Cad module by selecting the PartMaster Cad icon from the desktop. If the ‘Tip of the
Day’ dialogue is displayed, dismiss it. If the Cad system has automatically opened the last file
used, then from the top toolbar select File>Close All. If the Welcome dialog is displayed, select
"Start a new Template based drawing" otherwise From the top toolbar select File>New, this
defaults to the ‘Templates’ folder, highlight & click to open ‘A4 Blank.dra’ as follows:

At this point you should be viewing a Cad screen with 2 dotted lines representing the X & Y
Axes. The A4 Blank Template was selected in order to keep the exercise as simple as possible
for novice users; more experienced users may prefer to use an alternative Template.

The next task is to set the Units Of Measurement to INCH. From the top toolbar select
View>Properties, this displays the ‘Properties’ dialogue, Click to select the ‘Page Setup’ tab and
set units to inch, Paper to Landscape & Scale to 1 as shown. Click the OK button.

3
Drawing operations

To select a drawing tool, such as Draw Line, Draw Circle etc. click on the Draw menu to open it
up, and then Click on the desired tool name, OR, simply click the desired button on the Drawing
Options Toolbar (this toolbar may be located on the left or right hand edges of the PartMaster
CAD window, or on the top or bottom edges. It may even be floating somewhere in the drawing
area. Click and drag its title bar to relocate the toolbar. Dropping on the edge of the CAD
window will cause it to "Dock" in that position.

"Tool tips" will appear next to each button while the mouse is hovering over a button. A more
detailed explanatory text will also appear at the bottom of the screen.

Select the Circle tool and note that the drawing sub-option toolbar will change to the Circle tool
options: -

From top toolbar select Draw>Circle, then from the Drawing Sub-Options toolbar select >Normal
Circle button. Alternately press the mouse right hand button and a context sensitive menu will
appear, select "Normal".

Click the Properties button (which looks like a dialog page) or select "Properties" using the
context menu.

Set the Radius value to 0.15" and click OK to apply

4
At this point the User Information Bar (bottom left of screen) should read ‘Indicate Centre point
of the new circle’

Locate the Command line toolbar, it is usually on the bottom or top edges of the drawing
window, and looks like

or

At the base of the Cad screen, in the Command Line Toolbar click the "Zero" button to set the
‘Absolute’ units option and left click the Zero button.

Click the cursor in the input window (or just start typing), and use the keyboard to enter the
following circle centre XY coordinates:

• X-0.14Y0.05 <enter>
• X-0.35Y0.2 <enter>

Using the method described above reset the Circle Radius value to 0.23.

Use the command line to enter the circle centre XY coordinates:

X-0.72Y0.15

At this point 3 circles should be drawn as shown below:

5
Using the Cad zoom command (the magnifying glass button) magnify the view of the 3 circles.

From the Draw menu or Toolbar, select Line -> Angled Line. If necessary, select properties
Dialogue and set the Angle to zero.

From the Snap Menu or Icon set the Snap mode to ‘Quadrant Snap’.

At this point the Cad module is set to Draw a Horizontal Line through any of the four Quadrant
points of the Nearest Circle.

Point and click the Mouse at the Twelve O Clock position of the largest circle.

Select Properties dialogue and change Line Angle to 90 deg.

Change Snap Mode to ‘Near Snap’

Point and click the Mouse at Drawing datum position (X0Y0) in the centre of the screen.

Change Line drawing mode to PARALLEL.

At this point the User Information Bar should display ‘Indicate Line to which the new line is
Parallel’

Point and click the mouse at the Vertical Line previously drawn passing through X0Y0. If
selected correctly this line should now be highlighted and the Parallel dialogue displayed on the
screen.

6
Within the Parallel dialogue set the distance to 0.95, select the LEFT option and click on OK.
The 2nd vertical line should now be drawn.

To draw the 3rd vertical line, point and click the mouse at the Vertical line previously drawn at
the left hand side of the drawing. If selected correctly this line should now be highlighted and the
Parallel dialogue displayed on the screen. Within the Parallel dialogue set the distance to 0.42,
select the RIGHT option and click on OK. The 3rd vertical line should now be drawn.

Ensure Absolute is set and click on ZERO button

Select Draw -> Point

Enter coordinates:

X-1.3Y-0.5

Stage 1 should now be complete and the Cad screen should be as shown below. If your
drawing is not as shown below the advice is to repeat Stage 1 until successfully
completed. If continued difficulty is experienced please contact your Support service.

provider.

Stage 2: Drawing Operations

From the CAD Draw menu or Screen Icon select:

7
ARC -> 2 Point tangent

This allows the user to define an Arc of unknown centre and known radius where the Arc is
Tangential to two existing elements or passes through specified point(s). Select ARC
Properties, set:

Radius = 0.1 inch

Direction = AntiClockwise

At this point the User Information Bar should display ‘‘Indicate first Line, Arc or Circle to which
the new arc is tangent…‘

Point and click the mouse at tangent point A.

Point and click the mouse at tangent point B.

The ARC should now be drawn tangential to the two selected drawing elements.

Within the ARC Properties dialogue set:

• Radius = 0.2 Inch

Point and click the mouse at tangent point C.

Point and click the mouse at tangent point D.

The ARC should now be drawn tangential to the two selected drawing elements.

To draw the small Arc at point E it is advisable to use the Zoom facility to magnify the area at
this point, as shown below:

8
Within the ARC Properties dialogue set:

• Radius = 0.0625 Inch

Point and click the mouse at tangent point F.

Point and click the mouse at tangent point G.

The ARC should now be drawn tangential to the two selected drawing elements.

Stage 2 should now be complete and the CAD screen should be as illustrated below, using the
zoom\magnify facility:

Stage 2: Completed

If your drawing is not as shown above the advice is to repeat Stage 2 until successfully
completed. If continued difficulty is experienced please contact your relevant Support provider
for assistance.

Stage 3 Procedure

From the CAD Draw menu or Screen Icon select:

9
Intersection -> Clip Items

Auto 1-Hit – OFF

The intersection feature enables Trim, Extend and Split operations on drawing elements, if you
need further information on Intersection you should refer to Tutorial No 1, which is dedicated to
this feature

Here, the Intersection feature will be used to trim the Geometry drawn in Stages 1 and 2. At this
point the User Information Bar should display ‘Indicate first intersection Line, Arc or Circle’

Point mouse at position A on Line and click .

Point mouse at position B on Circle and click.

Vertical Line should now be trimmed

Point mouse at position B on Circle and click.

Point mouse at position C on Arc and click.

Circle should now be trimmed.

Point mouse at position C on Arc and click.

Point mouse at position D on Circle and click.

Point mouse at position D on Circle and click.

Point mouse at position E on Arc and click.

2nd Circle should now be trimmed.

Point mouse at position E on Arc and click.

Point mouse at position F on Line and click.

Lower portion of Line should be trimmed.

10
Prior to the next trimming operation you are advised to magnify the area above point F with the
Zoom facility.

Point mouse at position F on Line and click

Point mouse at position G on Arc and click

Vertical Line should now be trimmed

Point mouse at position G on Arc and clic.

Point mouse at position H on Circle and click

Point mouse at position H on Circle and click

Point mouse at position I on Line and click

Circle and Line should now be trimmed.

Point mouse at position I on Line and click

Point mouse at position J on Line and click

Both Lines should now be trimmed

The final trim operation is to trim both vertical lines

From the Draw menu item or screen Icon select:

DRAW>Line>Angled Line

Within the properties dialogue set the Angle to 0 degrees

Set the Snap mode to NEAR Snap.

Point the mouse at centre of screen (X0Y0) and click

A Horizontal line should now be drawn passing through the point X0Y0

11
Using the Intersection\Clip Items feature trim the two vertical Lines to meet the horizontal line
drawn.

Delete the horizontal line drawn

Stage 3 should now be complete and the CAD screen should be as shown below

If your drawing is not as shown below the advice is to repeat Stage 3 until successfully
completed. If continued difficulty is experienced please contact your relevant Support provider
for assistance.

Stage 3 completed

Stage 4 Procedure

The purpose of this stage is to draw the Geometry representing the Chuck, this is for viewing
purposes only and is not used by the PartMaster software.

From the Draw menu or screen Icon select, ‘Draw LINE>Normal Line’

Select Absolute Coordinate Mode

Select Zero button at base of screen to reset zero position.

Enter the coordinates X-1.3Y-0.5

Deselect Absolute Coordinate mode by pointing the mouse at the Absolute box and clicking.

Coordinates are now expected in Incremental units.

Point and Click in the Command Line Input Window, the entry cursor should now be flashing in
the panel.

Enter the following sequence of coordinate moves:

X0.3;Y-0.1;X-0.1;Y-0.1;X-0.2;Y0.3

Entering the above should cause the schematic representing the chuck to be drawn, the above
is a series of Line drawing commands separated by the semi-colon ‘;’ character.

12
This Tutorial is only concerned with drawing geometry for the purpose of passing to the
PartMaster Turning module; this has now been achieved.

Users requiring further information on entering co-ordinates via typed input in the Command
Line Input Window should refer to Tutorial No 2, which is dedicated to this feature and is located
on the PartMaster CD >cd drive<PartMstr>Tutorial

As a separate exercise it is recommended that the user should copy the drawing and complete
it to the standard shown at the beginning of this document with dimensions, mirrored profile etc.

For the moment we will proceed with creating a Turned part.

Creating NC Profiles

If you require further information on creating contours\profiles you should refer to Tutorial No 4,
which is dedicated to this feature

Select Menu Item Snap>Near point Button

Select Menu Item Machining>NC Contour Button

At this point a blue datum symbol should appear at the centre of the drawing.

Select Menu Item Machining>NC Profile Icon

The User Information Bar displays ‘Indicate the Start point of this Contour /Profile’

Point and click at the end of the Vertical line at point A.

At this point the Contour\Profile Dialogue is displayed.

13
Accept the default values & in NC Data Name enter ‘Partsurface’ then select OK.

The User Information Bar displays ‘Indicate the End point of this Contour/Profile’

Point and click at the end of the 2nd vertical line at point B.

If the Profile has been created successfully, the following is displayed:

Select OK to remove the dialogue.

The program remains in Create Profile mode; to create a profile for the chuck point and click at
point C.

The Profile Dialogue will be displayed again, this time in the General section set the option to
indicate that the shape is closed in this case. (i.e. Start and End points are co-incident). NC
Data Name enter ‘Chuck’

Select OK

The User Information Bar displays ‘Indicate the first Line or Arc of this Contour/Profile’

After selecting Point C as the start we must now select either the Horizontal line or Vertical line
as the start of the profile, this will indicate whether the profile is to be copied in a Clockwise or
Anticlockwise direction.

Select the Horizontal line

14
If the Profile has been created successfully, the following is displayed:

Select OK to remove the dialogue.

The Geometry has now been prepared for use by either the turning or milling modules, we will
now assign a Part Number and proceed to the Turning module.

From the top toolbar select View>Properties

The Properties Dialogue is displayed, select TITLE tab, and within the Drawing Number panel
enter ‘Door Knob Inch Tutorial’

Select OK on the Dialogue

From the top toolbar select ‘Machining>Turning Module’

This transfers the geometry prepared in CAD to the CAM Turning Module.

NC Turning Module

At this point the CAD module screen should be replaced by the Turning module screen. The
Machine Setup dialogue is displayed as follows:

15
If this is not the case it is recommended that the previous steps should be repeated. If problems
persist contact the local Dolphin support provider.

Step 1: Setup

In the ‘Machine Type’ tab select the following options (as displayed above)

Two or Four axes Lathe

INCHES

Radius Programming.

Select the ‘Program ID’ tab & note that the information previously entered in Cad
View>Properties>Title is displayed here.

Select the Tool Change tab & set the

Rear Turret Tool Change/Safe Home position to Z1.0" X1.5"

Set the Front Turret Tool change to same.

Set Spindle speed max to 3500rpm

Set Clearance distance in canned cycles to 0.1181"

16
Select Apply to set above values, then click OK to remove this dialogue.

From the Cam top toolbar select SETUP>Billet …

The Billet Size dialogue is now displayed allowing the user to define the dimensions of the Billet
being turned.

17
Set the Billet dialogue values as illustrated above:

Diameter 1.0 In

Length 1.2 In

Z Position 0.0625 In

This is the Z Axis position of the Billet Face.

Select the ‘View tool envelope’ icon

(approx under the word ‘Help’ on top toolbar).

Select the ‘Redraw’ icon ( next to zoom\magnify icons)

At this point the user should see the Billet drawn with the Profile geometry.

Step 2: TOOL DEFINITIONS

From the top toolbar select Tooling>Define Tool … or use the 2nd icon down on vertical toolbar
as follows:

This displays the ‘Define Turning tool’ dialogue; enter values as shown below:

18
In the Define Tool dialogue set the following options for tool No 1 as shown above

At this point the Geometry has been created, Machine Tool Setup Specified and Tools Defined.

Define tool no 2

Data entry field Data

Tool Type Button

Primary Angle 90 Deg.

Included Angle 0 Deg.

Tip Radius 0.125 In

Z Offset 0.125 In

X Offset 0.125 In

Width 0.25 In

Cutdepth 0.0625 In

Turret Z Offset 0 In

Turret X Offset 0 In

Turret Type Rear

19
 Tool Orientation Right Hand

Approach Rear

Description Button Tool

Tool number 2

Drawing Name

Step 3: PROGRAM OPERATIONS

This stage deals with the Part Program Operations; these operations may be selected via the
Tooling/Machining main menu items or via the Icon Toolbar on display. For the purpose of this
Tutorial the operations will be indicated by the main screen menu. Icons are displayed for the
user to select if preferred.

Operation 1 - Tool Selection

This operation selects the 1st tool from the predefined Tool List and sets up the Feed/Speeds to
get the Lathe ready for the first batch of operations.

Upon selection, the following dialogue is displayed:

Enter the following tool select settings as illustrated above

Operation 2 - Facing Operation

This operation cuts the Face of the Billet back to Z0.0 position.

Menu Item Machining/Face… Icon

20
Enter the settings as shown above:

Operation 3 - Turning

This is a rough turn operation for removing metal from Billet Diameter to designated profile
leaving a stock allowance in Z & X for subsequent removal with a finish profiling tool.

Menu Item Machining/Turn Icon

Enter the following settings:

Start Point Z 0.0 X 0.5

End Point Z-0.922 X 0.007

External

Turn

Finished Part Profile Partsurface

Stay Out Of Undercuts

Roll sharp corners

Finish Allowance Z 0.005 X 0.005

Cutdepth 0.04

21
At this point the Turning and Facing operations have removed much of the Stock material from
the Billet. Before proceeding with the next tool it is recommended that the user experiment by
modifying the Operation settings and re executing the part program. For explanations of any
item please refer to the Help system.

Operation 4 - Select Tool No. 2

Select Tool No 2 from predefined Tool List and set up the Feed/Speeds to get the Lathe ready
for the next operation (M6 icon on vertical toolbar).

Menu Item Tooling/Select Icon

This operation selects the button tool for clearing undercut and removing stock material in
finishing cut.

Settings

Tool 2 : Button type Turning Tool

Z Offset Register 2

X Offset Register 2

Spindle Control Constant Spindle Speed

500 rpm

CLW

Feed per rev 0.02 In/Rev

Switch Coolant ON

22
Operation 5 - Facing Cycle

Removes stock material from Undercut area with plunge feed motion. The profile ‘Partsurface’ is
named to constrain the limits of the cycle, this ensures the tool does not gouge the part. A finish
allowance of 0.005 is left in both Z and X axes; this will be removed in subsequent finish profile
cuts

Menu Item Machining/Face … Icon

Settings

Start Point Z-0.35 X0.36

End Point Z-0.5358 X0.0643

External

Face

Stay Out Of Undercuts

Finish Allowance Z0.005 X0.005

Cutdepth 0.04

Operation 6 - Re-position Tool

Positions tool at rapid feedrate for next operation.

Menu Item Machining/Goto Icon

Settings (as illustrated above)

Goto Specified coordinates.

Coordinates Z0.0 X0.1965

23
Rapid Feedrate

Use two axes move

Operation 7 - Profile Turn Operation

Follows specified section of Profile to remove finish allowance left by earlier Face and Turn
operations. Each Profile/contour consists of a number of Lines and/or Arcs, each one of these is
referred to as a SPAN. By naming individual Spans as Start/End points the program is able to
machine sections of a Profile/Contour in a forward or reverse motion.

The format used is as follows

Span 1, Position 0, Distance 0.0 This designates the start of the 1st Span.

Span 4, Position 0.5, Distance 0.0 This designates 50% along the length of Span.4

Span 5,Position 0.5, Distance 1.0 Designates 50% along the length of Span 5 then a another
two units further along.

To view spans select Menu Item View>Options

Geometry panel, select Draw geometry at worksurface plane, Draw geometry at the depth
plane, Show geometry names, Number Spans, show span directions, and then select OK.
When applied, the geometry is displayed as follows:

24
Menu Item Machining/Profile Turn Icon

Settings: Profile tab

Profile Name Partsurface

Finish allowance Z0.0 X0.0

Turn (external)

25
 Forward

Approach Arc 0.04

Runoff Arc 0.04

Options tab

Start Data Span 2 Position 0 Distance 0.0

End Data Span 4 Position 1 Distance 0.0

Rapid move from current position to

Roll tool around sharp corners

Stay out of undercuts

Operation 8 - Re-position Tool

Positions tool at feedrate for next operation.

Menu Item Machining/Goto Icon

Settings

Goto Specified coordinates.

Coordinates Z-0.4664 X0.4

Use two axes move

Operation 9 - Profile Turn Operation

Follows specified section of Profile to remove finish allowance left by earlier Face and Turn
operations.

Menu Item Machining/Profile Turn Icon

Settings: Profile tab

Profile Name Partsurface

Finish allowance Z0.0 X0.0

Turn (External)

26
 Reverse

Approach Arc 0.04

Runoff Arc 0.04

Options tab

Start Data Span 5 Position 0 Distance 0.0

End Data Span 9 Position 1 Distance 0.0

Rapid move from current position to

Roll tool around sharp corners

Stay out of undercuts

Operation 10 - Re-position Tool

Positions tool at rapid feedrate for next operation.

Menu Item Machining/Goto Icon

Settings

Goto Specified coordinates.

Coordinates Z-0.4664 X0.4

Use rapid federate

Use two axes move

Operation 11 - Re-position Tool

Positions tool at Home/Safe position.

Menu Item Machining/Goto Icon

Settings

Send tool to Home position

Use two axes move.

Step 4: Post Processing

27
Post Processing is the term given to the conversion of Program operation data from Dolphin
CAM format to a language understood by the CNC Controller on the target machine tool.
Dolphin is supplied with a number of Post Processors suitable for a wide range of CNC
Controllers. If the user requires any assistance in selecting the Post Processor most suited to
their machine tool they should contact their Dolphin supplier.

Menu Item Execute/Post Process Icon

Settings:

Post Processor Name Use downward arrow to select from list

Output NC file name A text file of the selected name is created for sending to the machine tool
controller.

File extension: this defaults to ‘pun’ (which historically is a reference to punched tape),
however, the field can be altered to suit individual controllers; simply type in required extension
in field.

Click OK to proceed, when complete the following is displayed; the post processed data is then
shown at the bottom of the Cam screen.

To find out in which folder the post processed file has been placed in the user should select the
menu item

VIEW -> Preferences -> Folders

28
When this exercise is completed, the finished part should look like this:

Step 5: Printed Material

For printing various aspects of the part program select menu item File>Print and then set the

relevant print parameters. Icon

29