4th axis positioning

[Go Navy]

Good Afternoon all

 

I am trying to simply machine the same geometry on the top and bottom of a part using a rotary head to position my work. The problem I am having is everytime I select the bottom view for a construction and geometry plane MC outputs code that actually machines the mirror of what I would like about the Y axis. I spoke to my reseller and they suggested that I set my axis with my z plane in the down position to solve my problem. I tried that but I'm not sure I did it right. Anyone have any suggestions.

 

Thanks

Al

[Guest]

Go Navy,

 

You should not use the bottom or the back system planes. Create new planes at these locations and apply your tool paths using the new planes.

 

But you said you are machining the same geometry all the way around. I would only program the top view and then use transform rotate get the rest of the path.

[Brendan P]

A lot of times for 2D geometry I will draw all my features in the top and use transform/rotate.

Simple and easy.

[Go Navy]

John and Brendan

 

Transform rotate did the job THANKS!!

 

Could either of you give me a short course on how too set the planes so that I can rotate a part that has different geometry on the top and bottom or the front and back. I keep trying and just can't seem to get a hold of it...

 

thanks again for pulling me out of the hole I had dug for myself....

 

Enjoy your day

al

[Hardmill]

quote:

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Could either of you give me a short course on how too set the planes so that I can rotate a part that has different geometry on the top and bottom or the front and back. I keep trying and just can't seem to get a hold of it...

---

WCS

Theres one on the FTP site or you can download mine:

WCS_Tutorial

 

 

PEACE

[Guest]

and a damn fine tutorial that one is too.

 

Used it myself

[Brendan P]

Steve,

You are a 'slimeball'....

That wcs link bring you to your hardmilling site!!!!

 

Go navy,

It is a little difficult to explain but you need to create your toolpath,then I click on the T/C plane button/shut off working coordinate system,click on toolplane select button,(this opens up view manager)right click in view manager,create,then select menu,I then pick entity,only,(this will bring up a list of diff. geometry options to pick from)then I pick say a circle from the pc. of geometry I want to cut,then I save,give it a name in the view manager,click ok this will bring you back to the toolplane/const. box.

Now make sure that toolplane and construction planes match.

 

This is how I do it,and there could be many other maybe even easier ways others do it.

 

Mike Mattera (here on the forum) has a new great interactive cd rom which takes you through all the steps.

I have purchased it,and it is worth its weight in gold.

 

God Mike,if I only got a nickel for everytime I say this.....

[Hardmill]

quote:

---

Steve,

You are a 'slimeball'....

That wcs link bring you to your hardmilling site!!!!

---

You only say that cause you mean it

 

 

PEACE

[Henk]

quote:

---

Steve,

You are a 'slimeball'....

That wcs link bring you to your hardmilling site!!!!

---

It bring you also to a GREAT WCS-Tutorial

 

Hardmill, THANKS for sharing !!!

[Hardmill]

 

 

PEACE

[Mike Mattera - TFM]

If you just pick " WCS - Bottom " your Y axis is going the wrong direction for rotary. It's the same problem you have if you pick "Back". In that case the X and the Y are going the wrong way. I find that it's best to set you plane by geometry, selecting the two lines that represent your X & Y direction.

 

Brenden is right (thank's Brenden, your 5¢ is on the way ), all this, and a lot more, is covered in the Rotary Training CD. http://www.tipsformanufacturing.com/html/rotary_contour.html

 

Rotary in Mastercam is not hard. It's just that there are so many ways of doing things, depending on the Cad data you have to start with.

 

Mike Mattera

[Flycut]

Go Navy,

 

You should not use the bottom or the back system planes. Create new planes at these locations and apply your tool paths using the new planes.

 

 

Is there a way to create these new planes permanently as to not have to create them with every new job and maybe assign them to a toolbar icon?

[Guest]

Create a blank file with them in there, use that as a template, import your jobs into the existing file and do a Save As preserving the original template file

[Flycut]

That works. Thanks