CAM: Lathe Spindle Direction

[Kasey7]

I'm starting to get into CAM and I've hit a bit of a wall.
I'll be using a conventional lathe (chuck on the left), as well as right hand tools as they would appear in the real lathe (insert position underside).
The post is using the spindle direction correctly (M03 = CLW when viewed from the "rear" of the spindle).
However, in NX the within Operation, Path Settings, Speeds and Feeds, the default direction (under Spindle Speed) is CCLW.
When I first started learning CAM that seemed correct since I always thought the spindle direction was the way I see it when standing at the machine in front of the spindle. But as I mentioned earlier, the manuals define the spindle direction from when viewed from "behind" the spindle. Fine. But then why is NX automatically choosing CCLW (and consequently giving my posted NC program M04 codes) when I'm using right hand tools?
Also, sort of a related question, why do CAM programs (not just NX) always show tools insert side up, or left hand tools? Aren't right hand OD cutters the norm for conventional NC lathes?

 

[shags72]

If you are using automatic this is backwards. Either select your direction or you will have to develop code to fix this issue.

 

[Kasey7]

I gathered it was "backwards" according to convention, but I was curious why this still the case; especially since there is so much emphasis today to create accurate, virtual machining environments in our computers.
So to get correct code, I have to use a left hand tool in the computer, when I'll be using a right hand tool at the machine.

How do people handle their CAM output using 3D models from vendors such as Sandvik? Do they use left hand tools in CAM as well?
What about people who are using CAM in a full-blown Virtual Machine environment, posting out to a Sinumerik controller?

Again, I'm just curious.

 

[shags72]

Well there are a lot of posts out there that have been coded to fix this issue and if the problem got fixed then that would break so many posts. Not sure that is the reason but I know where I got my code to do this was from Siemens.