Boltcirc program input/output

[JMI]

In the past I used a rotary table to locate the bolt holes in a bolt circle. Have decided to try the Boltcirc program by Marv Klotz. Have a small problem with the output, which probably means my input is bad. Garbage In/Garbage Out.

If I have an equally spaced 6 hole bolt circle with the first hole to be drilled at 12 o’clock and I enter the “Angular Offset of first hole” as 0 (degrees) and the “x” and “y” offset of bolt circle center both as 0 degrees I get good numbers but the labeling of the X & Y COORD appear to be reversed.

See below as output in boltcirc.dat:

[FONT=&quot]Boltcircle specification:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Radius of bolt circle = 0.3750[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bolt hole diameter = 0.0960[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spacing between hole edges = 0.2790[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Angular offset of first hole = 0.0000 deg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]X offset of bolt circle center = 0.0000[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Y offset of bolt circle center = 0.0000[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HOLE / ANGLE / X-COORD / Y-COORD[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] 1 / 0.0000 / 0.3750 / 0.0000[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 2 / 60.0000 / 0.1875 / 0.3248[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 3 / 120.0000 / -0.1875 / 0.3248[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 4 / 180.0000 / -0.3750 / -0.0000[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 5 / 240.0000 / -0.1875 / -0.3248[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 6 / 300.0000 / 0.1875 / -0.3248[/FONT]


I would like the #1 hole to be at 12 o’clock. The X is horizontal and the Y is vertical, yes? What is wrong with my input? Does the "Angular Offset" input allow me to select location of the first hole?


This must be something very simple but I don't see it :wall:.



TIA


Jim

 

[techonehundred]

Simplest solution here. use 270 degrees for the start angle. It looks like the program uses the x axis for the 0 degree start point.
It could be that Marv likes to stand sideways when he mills.:hDe:

 

[kvom]

The normal position of 0 degrees is on the X axis. So just specify first hole offset as 90 degrees.

 

[MachineTom]

The bolt circle programs l''ve used started first hole at 3 o'clock.

 

[TimTaylor]

What KVOM & Machine Tom said: I have worked with a half a dozen different bolt circle calculators and they all designate 3 o'clock as the zero position (angular) for bolt #1. If you want bolt #1 to be at 12 o'clock, you will need to specify the angular offset as 270 deg as Techonehundred stated

 

[JMI]

Thanks for the replies. I knew it had to be staring me in the face !

Jim

 

[Jasonb]

Set the first hole at 30Deg , last will come at 330Deg and the 5th hole will end up at 12 o'clock.

Or run the prog for 12 holes and only drill alternate ones