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C-axis - How to 3D a radius around the OD and face of a cylinder


mayu
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In theory, arcs can be created with the X and Z axis on a lathe with live tooling. We should, also in theory, be able to combine this concept with the rotation of the C-axis to generate 3D contours. How can we put a radius around the OD and face of a cylinder using a ball end mill with a live tooling head? On a mill, for example, we can generate a 'scrubbing' type tool path, but Mastercam's C-axis features do not appear to offer such an option.

Ideally, the ball end mill should stay in place while the C-axis rotates 360 degrees. After each pass, the ball end mill steps up (or down) in X and Z until the radius is complete. As the C-axis rotates the Z axis is moving in-and-out.

It appears that 'face contouring' is the only option. It actually generates a toolpath, but there is really no step-over options (scrubbing) as you would find in 3D milling toolpaths. As shown in the photo, I have to take arbitrary guesses with the multi-pass roughing and finishing options. We won't even talk about the cutter-comp yet.

Any thoughts on this? Please let me know how I can improve this post. Thank you.

PS - the cut out on the face makes the part look like an eclipse, but it is not - it's a circle if you look directly at the face.

 

cylinder-radius-0.jpg

cylinder-radius-1.jpg

cylinder-radius-2.jpg

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On 5/6/2020 at 2:01 PM, #Rekd™ said:

Post a Mastercam file if you want to get the best solution to this.

Okay I’ll do that from now on. Thanks.

On 5/6/2020 at 3:58 PM, 5th Axis CGI said:

Like so? Review the file and let's see how much you gleem from the work. More than one way to accomplish something in Mastercam.  

image.thumb.png.9c8064af4cdead48c5a6e1511202ddd6.png

image.thumb.png.fe627b62942419d28ebc9fe235681d79.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hw3rgajdltezswo/5TH AXIS C MILLING RADIUS.mcam?dl=0

 

Thank you so much - this is really helpful. I’ll try to post a video of the machining. Take care.

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12 hours ago, mayu said:

 

Okay I’ll do that from now on. Thanks.

Thank you so much - this is really helpful. I’ll try to post a video of the machining. Take care.

Feed a man a fish and you feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. Teach others to fish is all I ask.

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