Just lost 3 days fighting a bad CAM simulation - wasted $600 in material

I was running a new part on our Haas VF-2 and trusted the CAM preview without double checking my tool library. Ended up with a cutter that was 0.020" bigger than what the program expected, and it gouged the entire face of a $200 aluminum blank. By the time I caught it, I had already scrapped 3 pieces. Anyone else have a tool library sync issue that cost them big?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicebarnes18d ago

Nah, that's on you for not double checking feeds and speeds.

-1

the_caleb18d ago

Honestly, @alicebarnes you're mostly right but I gotta push back a little. Double checking feeds and speeds is definitely on the operator, no argument there. But a lot of newer guys get thrown off because the recommended numbers on the tool packaging are sometimes way too aggressive for the actual machine they're running. Plus if the material has any variance, like cheap aluminum or wood with hidden knots, those numbers go out the window fast. Ngl, I've seen experienced guys burn through bits because a manufacturer's chart lied to them, not because they skipped checking. So I'd say it's a mix of both the operator's due diligence and knowing when to trust the tool specs.