Tool normal during 5 axis milling on lathe

[wham58]

You guys have been very helpful in the past so here goes.

I've got a pretty good tool path on a lathe part I'm doing 5 axis mill on. (I'm actually posting 4 axes).

I can't seem to figure out how to get my tool "normal" (at a right angle) to the part.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Bill

[John Summers]

CURVE5AX will also produce 4-axis toolpaths, but you have to make a cylinder, so that there's a surface to be normal to.

[crazy^millman]

Also when making your C-plane and T-plane use the rotate toolplane option or the C view option to make the planes for the toolpath. I find when doing the 5 axis toolpaths on the lathe it really depends on how the post is made to handle the planes as to which way to start from.

 

The cylinder is something I use all the time.

 

 

HTH

[wham58]

I'm using swarf mill to pick up a wall with tip control on surfaces.

I've been looking for the window that allows me to select what the part rotates around. The c view dialog box? I can't find it.

[crazy^millman]

When you are in lathe go the mill toolpaths and at the top in X there is the C view utlity. The roatation x azis is the C axis in which parts on a lathe rotate. Now if you are using a Y axis on your lathe then you need to make sure you keep all toolpath within the limits of the Y travel. On the Machine I am programming now I have a huge envelope and set-up more like a mill than a lathe for turning and milling which is very cool. Also read the post but I think all 5 axis toolpaths start in Top and in your machine def you have the X axis as your rotation.

[wham58]

Thanks for the tips thus far. I keep coming back trying different things with the same result.I have a 5 axiscurve that runs correctly (the tool is normal to the part). I believe the problem I'm having has something to do with the way M/C is comping the tool to the surface. It xxxx the end mill to the side, so rather than the end mill bottom running square to the part it xxxx it over what looks like 45 degrees.

[gcode]

In the upper left corner of the geometry page of 5Xswarf there is a choice between 4 and 5 axis.

The 4 axis box opens to let you choose an

axis to rotate about.

Have you tried choosing 4 axis rotaing about Z

??

[wham58]

Turns out that where I start my chain affects how the tool orients to the part. By starting the chain on a surface the mill has to be normal to it works just fine.

[crazy^millman]

Correct and I always make sure that my lines if using them are normal to the surface or the axis when using them to drive the tol around the part when using Curve 5 axis.

 

Glad you got it.