4th Axis post problem

[CCbenz]

We are having a 4th axis post problem. It doesn't generate the 90 degree axis movement in the code. No matter what direction rotated the x and y directions are inverted meaning x+ turns to x- and so on. The values are correct.

[d00d]

Could you give a couple of more specifics? Maybe the conbtrol? what toolpath you are using? 4 axis,some type of 5 axis, roll die , or contour indexing program?

[CCbenz]

fanuc control. toolpath doesn't matter if it is drill, contour, etc. the 4th axis is used only for position. we currently only have mill lev 1.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Is "rot_ccw_pos" in your post set to "1" If not, It needs to be.

 

HTH

[CCbenz]

We tried both 1 and 0 and there was no change in program results.

[Tim Johnson]

code:

---

# Typical Vertical

#srotary "A" #Rotary axis prefix

#vmc : 1 #0 = Horizontal Machine, 1 = Vertical Mill

#rot_on_x : 1 #Default Rotary Axis Orientation, See ques. 164.

#0 = Off, 1 = About X, 2 = About Y, 3 = About Z

# Typical Horizontal

srotary "B" #Rotary axis prefix

vmc : 0 #0 = Horizontal Machine, 1 = Vertical Mill

rot_on_x : 3 #Default Rotary Axis Orientation, See ques. 164.

# #0 = Off, 1 = About X, 2 = About Y, 3 = About Z

rot_ccw_pos : 0 #Axis signed dir, 0 = CW positive, 1 = CCW positive

ret_on_indx : 0 #Machine home retract on rotary index moves, (0 = no, 1 = yes)

index : 0 #Use index positioning, 0 = Full Rotary, 1 = Index only

ctable : 5 #Degrees for each index step with indexing spindle

one_rev : 1 #Limit rotary indexing between 0 and 360? (0 = No, 1 = Yes)

lock_codes : 0 #Use rotary axis unlock/lock M-Codes? (0 = No, 1 = Yes)

use_frinv : 0 #Use Inverse Time Feedrates in 4 Axis, (0 = no, 1 = yes)

rot_feed : 1 #Use calculated rotary feed values, (0 = no, 1 = yes)

maxfrdeg : 2000 #Limit for feed in deg/min

maxfrinv : 999.99#Limit for feed inverse time

frc_cinit : 1 #Force C axis reset at toolchange

ctol : 225 #Tolerance in deg. before rev flag changes

ixtol : .01 #Tolerance in deg. for index error

frdegstp : 10 #Step limit for rotary feed in deg/min

---

check "rot_on_x" to make sure it's not turned off

[Brendan P]

Are you using the MPMaster post?

If not,you should be.

[crazy^millman]

Do you have question 164 set to Y?

[CCbenz]

Not sure what MPMaster post is. How do i know if i am using it or not?

[Brendan P]

cc

The mpmaster post is great to start out when using 4th axis.

You can download it here:

mpmaster

[CCbenz]

Thanks, We will try that and let you know how we do.

[CCbenz]

Well, it didn't work. we ended up with the same result. Not sure what to try next.

[CCbenz]

Here is a stupid question. Since we don't do a lot of 4th axis machining maybe somebody can enlighten us on all the parameters that are for 4th axis. Even the back plot looks right. The code is what is wrong.

[Brendan P]

can you put your file on the ftp so maybe we can see what it is.

[crazy^millman]

ccbenz did you look in the post for question 164? This question if set to N will not allow any post with that question to output 4th axis code.

 

Did you look at question 164 in the post looks like this:

code:

---

164. Enable Rotary Axis button? y  

---

And from the post:

code:

---

#Additional Notes:

# 1) Disable 4 axis by setting the numbered question 164. to 'n'.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Rotary Axis Settings

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Typical Vertical

srotary "A" #Rotary axis prefix

vmc : 1 #0 = Horizontal Machine, 1 = Vertical Mill

rot_on_x : 1 #Default Rotary Axis Orientation, See ques. 164.

#0 = Off, 1 = About X, 2 = About Y, 3 = About Z

# Typical Horizontal

#srotary "B" #Rotary axis prefix

#vmc : 0 #0 = Horizontal Machine, 1 = Vertical Mill

#rot_on_x : 2 #Default Rotary Axis Orientation, See ques. 164.

# #0 = Off, 1 = About X, 2 = About Y, 3 = About Z

---

Do you see how both of these section refer to that question 164 what does yours have sir?

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

I'd be tempted to guess that his planes are set wrong...

 

JM2C

[CCbenz]

Not exactly. It is a customer generated model and there are those pesky copywright notes on the drawing. We may be able to generate an example of the 4th axis things and put it out there. This problem is not just limited to this file. It is all of the 4th axis programs we have tried. I am sure we are doing something wrong or something is setup wrong. Just not sure what it is.

[CCbenz]

Millman Crazy, We have looked at the post and everything in the post is as shown above.

 

The programmer uses t planes and sets the planes all equal to that current plane. However, he does not use the wcs.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

I typically use the WCS to set the top plane, then rotate about the Y axis. SOme prefer to use front for B0 and then you can use side for B90. Guess I'm just Old School That way. ANyway, once you define Top/Front Plane as a WCS then you can do your T/C PLane stuff and get the corresct output. There is a Horizontal example on the FTP I believe. I created one a while back as an example to show how to do it. Look there for horizontal example or something like that. Follow that example and you should be set.

 

James teh Rotary is my life...

[crazy^millman]

Ok loook at the file OCTOGON TRANSFORM in the MC9 folder on the FTP try posting that file if it does not then you need ot talk to your dealer about getting a good post. It also a good example of doing basic 4th machining and also transform operations suing the 4th axis also.

 

HTH

[cadcam]

CCbenz,I was able to take the transformed paths and post with rotation with no changes to your file.

 

I am going ask if you can send a copy of you post files to look at and try to see if the issue is there. Please use email and ZIP the files.

 

Thanks Jay

[crazy^millman]

Bump

 

Did you get this problem fixed?

[CCbenz]

No not yet. I am just waiting for our programmer to sit down for a minute and do some of these suggestions you guys have. I wish i knew more about it myself but i am the middle man here. I will let you know soon.

[mayday]

Where ya from CC ?

[CCbenz]

MayDay

 

Ludington, and you?