4 Axis Machining

[Mick]

Does anyone here have experience with 4 Axis machining in Mastercam. We have a Nikken rotary axis for our Okuma MX55VB, and I'd really like to use it

Does anyone have any examples, especially simultaneous axis examples, as Mastercam have very little information about it. I tried using the axis substitution command, but no matter what value I put in for the rotary axis diameter, the toolpath was always incorrect, and out of position radially.

Any help would be truly appreciated.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Here's a good place to start(after you've exhausted your Mastercam Reseller). Get this book. Follow the examples, try different things.

4/5 Axis Reference Material

For me personally, here's how I don things in a nutshell without writing a novel in here. Draw the part as is sits/will sit in the machine. If my machine set up with an "A" axis (meaning axis of rotation is about X Axis) Y origin would be the CL of Rotation and my Z origin would be set from the CL of rotation like a lathe part and X axis would be the face of the part. Do it that way and your angles should be correct (they always have been for me anyways). There's more to it than that but that shoudl get you started in the right direction. "How Do I Do 4 Axis Toolpaths" really should be dealt with by your dealer so that they can take into account your particular application.

JM2C

[Reece L Gibson]

If you have a E-mail address I can send you a couple of examples you can follow along with.

[cadcam]

What kind of forth axis are we talking about were you lock out an axis or full 4th all at one time.

being one diffrence of being able to lay out a flat 2d pattern and program it to forth lock out say "Y" .

Or doing say 5 Axis swarf locked out to a 4th axis program,and the geoometry being true 3D.

The last one being rotary 4ax.

I have done all three..

Should i put some thing on the FTP?

What is you are looking for.

May be you can share what you have and some of us can help you with what is happening with it.

Thanks J

[Chips Ahoy]

We generate cams for rotary solenoids and the best thing I did was set up a 1/2 day class at my reseller and it helped alot. It even helped the reseller learn something new!

[Mick]

cadcam:

All three. hehe....Well, we have several types of work we want to accomplish, and I'd also personally like to spend more time with the 4th axis, because its something I've never mastered.

Any examples you have would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,

Mick

[MetalMarvels]

The shark was an interesting 4th axis challenge - once I managed to avoid cutting his tail off....

[cadcam]

MetalMarvels,

you do know that sharks don,t like you to play with there tails right.

[MetalMarvels]

He DID seem to stenuously object to having his tail chopped off!

[MetalMarvels]

gahhhhh - try strenuously..........

[cadcam]

When you did the shark, did you do positioning and multi surface or did you do multi 4ax as much as possible?

J

[MetalMarvels]

I used 4ax as much as possible - and scaled the original down to 6 inches to use some drop-offs that were in the scrap pile. Mostly rough contoured the majority of the waste stock away. Finally settled on Rotary4ax - Axial Cut for the finish pass. Rotary4ax - Rotary Cut produced the tail-removal moves when finishing the underneath sides of the fins.

[MetalMarvels]

Using ColourSurf also helped alot to keep track of the myriad surfaces.

[cadcam]

Thank you sir for your answers.

[MetalMarvels]

NP. I really learned alot trying to do that shark on my off-hours. The Mastercam 4&5 Axis Mill Training Tutorials V8 also provided some useful information and tips.

[cadcam]

Well i was thinking about the shark.

I dont beleave you made it,I think to prove it I will need three of them on for me and two for my kids.

Oh and did i say FREE. J/K ( well not really i would really like one)

I know i am bad.

[MetalMarvels]

Hehe. You and half the folks around here. It finally did walk off... (swim off?). I knew I should have made the 3-foot version - with a chain and padlock through the tail.

[cadcam]

NO WAY!!!!

Someone took it.

Now that just sucks big time.

[Zero]

are you saying that it it,s gone from the ftp?if it is I've got a copy of that file here I'll put it back on the site.

[MetalMarvels]

I believe that the artwork is still on the ftp site. It is just that the 6-inch shark that I machined from that file took a hike. Some folks can't just admire an object and leave it behind for others to see!

[Mick]

hehe...Ok, so whats this Shark everyone keeps talking about...I wouldn't mind catching it

[MetalMarvels]

Hello, Mick. Follow the link at the top of the topics list in Mastercam Forum (FTP Upload Instructions) to find the web site. Follow the directions posted there. The shark is in MC8 files as Shark.zip

[Phil Orenstein]

How did you guys create this shark? It's absolutely fab! Was it done in MC Design using lofted surfaces or some such, or in Rhino, etc? I'd be interested, since I am looking into a good organic surface modeller.

Thanks,

Phil Orenstein

[Zero]

I believe it was created in rhino.

[CycleTimeCharles]

It was done when rhino was just a gleam in Mcneel's eye. V6 MC