Learn/Lathe/Simulation & output
Simulation, reports, and posts
Updated v2.6.1At a glance
- Run the posted program through the real JetFlight parser, planner, executor, and measured spindle model
- Scrub the Mill-style timeline with Mill's speed steps, hotkeys, 0× hold and reverse playback
- Stock removal keeps up with the tool at every speed, from 1× to 100×
- Select operations to show, simulate, or post just those operations, like Mill
- Holder turns red on contact and every collision is marked on the timeline
- Inspect rapid/holder/workholding contact, operation timing, remaining stock, target excess, and gouge comparison
- Post native JetFlight or stable LinuxCNC turning programs as .nc files
Press Simulate to run the setup's posted bytes through the same JetFlight parser, planner, and executor used for machine motion. Lathe does not substitute a separate nominal animation: the tool, DRO, stock removal, spindle phase, and highlighted source line follow the actual executed state.
The transport matches Mill exactly: play/pause/stop, the same speed steps including a 0× hold and reverse playback, -/= to change speed, Space to play or pause, Esc to stop, arrows to step lines and Shift+arrows to jump operations, a time ruler, scrubbing, and exact checkpoint restoration. You can show a section view, compare the current stock to the target profile, and inspect per-operation timing and removed volume.
Stock is removed one whole move at a time, so the cut follows the tool at every speed from 1× real time up to 100×. Scrubbing back is near-instant and the stock redraws nearest the tool first. Choose Coarse, Standard, or Fine quality from the simulator bar; the report shows the resolution that was used. Dynamic Orbit keeps working while the simulation runs and pivots on the live stock under the cursor.
Working one operation at a time
Operation selection works the way it does in Mill. Click an operation in the setup tree and only its toolpath is shown. With one or more operations selected, Simulate runs only those operations, starting from the stock the earlier operations leave behind, and Post writes a program containing only the selected operations. Clear the selection to simulate or post the whole setup.
Tools are drawn as they sit on the machine: the insert's real shape and nose radius on the programmed point, the shank running away from the part, boring and other internal tools on a bar, and face grooving tools turned to the face. Shank and holder contact are checked with those same shapes.
Stock and collision report
The cylindrical stock engine preserves bores, grooves, undercuts, interrupted stock, and helical thread form. It records rapid contact and cutting-tool, shank, holder, chuck, jaw, fixture, or tailstock contact while the simulation continues, matching the Mill reporting workflow. At the moment of contact the tool holder turns red, and each collision gets a mark on the simulation timeline so you can jump straight to it. Runtime/planner faults stay separate from geometric collision events and are never presented as a successful result.
Compare view classifies on-model stock, excess material, and gouges within the selected simulation resolution. Previous-setup stock and re-chuck transforms can be replayed from the saved project without rebuilding an imaginary round blank.
Native turning posts
- JetFlight Lathe emits explicit G18 X/Z motion, arcs, work offsets, fixed RPM or CSS with a required RPM cap, feed per minute or feed per revolution, and synchronized G33 passes.
- LinuxCNC Lathe emits the stable LinuxCNC turning dialect using the same generated operation paths and tool identities.
Both save as .nc. The beta acceptance programs passed the real JetFlight daemon; the LinuxCNC programs also passed a pinned stable LinuxCNC 2.9 standalone interpreter and explicit turning tool table. That is software/post qualification, not a claim of a physical cut.