Countersinking in Raptor for Operation on Advantage-2

Raptor, from Peddinghaus, is the leading 3D CAD/CAM software helping fabricators program faster and more accurately than ever before. Setting up countersinking programs in Raptor for drill lines such as the Advantage-2 is easily acheived using the software interface.

Step one. Begin by creating a new part in Raptor and select the size of beam you will be processing. In this exercise we will be countersinking on a W18x175 beam. In this field, you can apply the part name. Hit ok. Also, make sure to choose the correct machine you will be operating. At the top of the list we are choosing the Advantage-2 also known as the PCDC.

Step two. Now that you’ve created a new part, we can add our tooling. Select the tooling icon shown here. The menu window opens with all the fields available for our tooling options. Select countersinking for the tool type. Raptor now allows us to input the fields that apply to countersinking. We can set the feeds and speeds, length of the countersink tool, holder length and holder diameter. For this exercise, I am setting the countersink head depth to one and a half inches. The head depth is how far into the material the countersink tool can proceed. Set the countersink angle to 41 degrees. The countersink angle refers to the angle of the beveled edge on the hole. Now set the minimum diameter to quarter inch and the maximum diameter to one and seven eigths inches. The minimum diameter is the smallest diameter hole the countersink tool will create. Maximum diameter is the largest diameter hole that the countersunk tool will create. We recommend using Peddinghaus tooling. Please contact the tooling department for the correct specifications, otherwise, contact your tooling supplier.

Now that the countersink is set up, we can add our drill tool. Input thirteen sixteenths for the diameter and select drill in the type menu. From here we can select the speeds and feeds, the length of the drill bit, the holder length and the holder diameter. Again, it is best to use Peddinghaus tooling. Please contact the tooling department for the correct specifications, otherwise, contact your tooling supplier. Click the x button to close the tooling options menu and return to the main screen.

As you noticed when we selected the Advantage-2 for our machine, Raptor revealed the three, five station tool changers at the bottom of the screen. Simply double click on the desired station and add your tooling. Select the drill row and click select tool. Raptor will place the thirteen sixteenths drill bit in the first station. Double click on the second station to reveal the tooling menu. Highlight the countersink tool row and click select tool. We now have the proper tooling to process countersinking on our beam.

Step three. We are now ready to program our countersunk hole. In the menu below your 3D render of the beam, select the holes single tab. In these fields we can specify all the parameters for our countersink which is based upon the tooling we just added a moment ago. Remember, you don’t need to program a pilot hole, Raptor will instruct the machine to drill that first without your direction. The tooling we have just set up is what helps accomplish this task.

Click the first row and select which surface of the beam you will be drilling. Here we select w for web. Raptor automatically selects the reference location. We need to apply the absolute x dimension, the y axis distance known as gage. The absolute x dimension and gage are the measurements to the center of the countersink hole. We are now ready to apply the parameters that we set for our tooling. Select countersink for the type, set the diameter to thirteen sixteenths, our countersink angle to 41 degrees and set the head depth, which is the depth of the countersink, to seven sixteenths. Hit ok.

You have now completed applying countersinking to a beam in Raptor. You can add more processes to your beam or create cnc and export to the machine. Always remember that setting up your program properly is important for successful machine operations. It saves time spent trouble shooting issues and speeds up production. If you have any other questions or concerns please contact our 24 hour customer support.