Multiaxis Toolpaths, which are suitable for 4 axis machining

[MatthewMachinist]

Hi,

I work a 3 axis mill with 4 years experience with Mastercam. I sometimes get to use our 4 axis rotary table, I have so far just used the 2d and 3d toolpaths with a lot of transform rotates.

However I am interest in the multiaxis toolpaths, which I know NOTHING about. My question is which of these toolpaths can be used on a 4 axis machine? It seems like a simple question but I have been having trouble finding an answer... I am probably looking in the wrong places. I was considering doing a course on improving my 4 axis skills but it seems every course includes 5 axis as well, which could have its benefits I guess providing the toolpaths also work on a 4 axis machine.

Thanks,

Matt.

[Simon Kausch]

Most of them can be limited to 4 axis and sometimes even 3 axis

[Aaron Eberhard]

Good question.   I generally depends on their use cases.

Most of the modern ones (Unified, Swarf Milling, Deburr, Triangular Mesh) can be used 3/4/5 like Simon Says.  Curve can also be used this way.

Rotary only toolpaths like Rotary Advanced and Rotary can only be used in 4 axis.

A lot of the older toolpaths such as Flow, Swarf, Multisurf, can only be used 4 or 5 axis.

The specialty toolpaths Port Expert and Blade Expert can only be used in 5 axis mode.

Multiaxis Linking is a neat case, though, although the motion can only be chosen to be in 4 or 5 axis mode, if you link 3 axis toolpaths (on the same plane) together, you'll still get 3 axis motion.

8 hours ago, MatthewMachinist said:

 I was considering doing a course on improving my 4 axis skills but it seems every course includes 5 axis as well, which could have its benefits I guess providing the toolpaths also work on a 4 axis machine.

Absolutely.   Once you get the hang of using Unified, you'll find yourself using it for everything.  Can't get one of the 3 axis paths to give you a good blend?  Unified.   Can't get a decent undercut toolpath on your 3 axis part?  Unified.

It's like Frank's Red Hot.  I put that on EVERYTHING.

[Jake L]

31 minutes ago, Aaron Eberhard said:

Absolutely.   Once you get the hang of using Unified, you'll find yourself using it for everything.  Can't get one of the 3 axis paths to give you a good blend?  Unified.   Can't get a decent undercut toolpath on your 3 axis part?  Unified.

It's like Frank's Red Hot.  I put that on EVERYTHING.

This.

100% THIS.

I cannot believe how versatile Unified is. 

[MatthewMachinist]

OK, thanks for the fantastic answers guys, that also explains why the training courses lump 4 and 5 axis stuff together. I think I will forge ahead and do the Mastercam Multiaxis course to get a head start with this. 

Matt.