USING 5-AXIS TOOL PATH IN 3-AXIS POST

[Tinyfxds]

Is this even possible?  I have zero experience with Mastercam's 5-axis tool paths but I've been poking around in there and am curious if I can use these tool paths with a regular 3-axis post.  My reason for this would be machining undercuts on some of the parts we make.  I know you can use some of the legacy paths to machine undercuts but what about 5-axis tool paths?  If this is a silly question please forgive my ignorance

[Guest MTB Technical Services]

No.

 

If you want to use 5-Axis toolpaths you'll need a post that can output 5-axis NC code.

[Guest]

Actually, I was going to agree with Tim, I went into X8 to take a screen cap of the error message.

 

I just tried it in X8 with a 3 axis machine def and it let me choose a 5 axis curve but automagically locked it to 3 axis

 

Previous you could not even choose a path without a post that supported it

 

edit...hang on, let me set my hasp to Industrial

 

 

 

Tim is correct, I have a dealer hasp and didn't turn off the appropriate options to mimic an industrial seat

 

Although it "appears" that some of the wireframs based paths may be available

 

I would still use Surface Finish Contour or Surface Finish Flowline though, just been successful over the years

[EX-wccprogrammer]

JParis, on 30 Oct 2014 - 06:24 AM, said:

 it let me choose a 5 axis curve but automagically locked it to 3 axis

 

That sounds like a nice recipe for scrap.

[Tinyfxds]

Thanks for the responses everyone.  You have satisfied my curiosity:)

[SpacePilotPro]

_{We recently used "morph between 2 surfaces" in a 3 axis environment. It is a 5 axis toolpath that can be locked to 3 axis. It was actually an ideal solution for the feature we were cutting, much nicer than any of the 3 axis surfacing options.}