new to 5 axis

[PeterM]

I am seeking a little advise here. We just bought a dual axis indexer for our HAAS VF-4, so I have now got a full 5 axis mill, whoo hoo! I am not going to need to use this for true 5 axis work yet, we are simply going to offload the smaller index and mill work from our horizontals.

As you all know on a horizontal the primary construction view is the front, and if I am say, slotting the face of a part at B90. my cut would be along the Y axis. The dual axis indexer on the other hand is in line with the X axis, and making a similar slot would have the cut along the X axis.

How should I approach the construction and posting of parts for this new 5 axis mill. I played around with this a little, but ended up rotating my part to a real word orientation, changing the world coordinate didn't give me good code, but I will admit, that I never use the world coordinate so I may have done something wrong there. I am also considering tweaking a post to give me the altered orientation from a part constructed as usual, but there is always an element of danger in that kind of approach. Any tips would be appreciated.

[gcode]

Your post is probably written

with the origin at the interection

of the 2 rotary axis.

Normally you would have

Top as your WCS and make tool planes

to control the rotary stuff.

[bogusmill]

We just did this with a VF-4, HRT310 for A axis, and a HRT210 for B the vertical axis. From what I read on this forum you can get into trouble fast using WCS with multiaxis machines so I don't use it. X axis line is C/L of A axis, Z axis line is C/L of B axis and the part needs to be located in MC at the same location as on machine. So far I've had no problems this way. Backplot in 4 ax is right but in 5 ax what you see in MC is nothing like what the machine actually does so I disable simulate rotary axis.

 

[Josh T™]

Nice looking Trunnion Bogus! We've got 2 HRT160s here...

 

Hmmm....

 

[bogusmill]

I want to buy a HRT160 and make a similar trunnion uing the 210 for A and the 160 for B ax. Maybe use aluminum for the fixture. We have used 5 ax mostly for small parts and the current setup weighs over 1000Lbs. and won't fit on our VF-2.

[PeterM]

Thanks for the feedback so far. What posts are you using? Is the generic 5 ax a good starting point for me or should I be looking at Emastercam or another 3rd party post.

[gcode]

There is a Haas Trunion Machine Def

and post in the default X3 install

C:McamX3cnc_machinesGENERIC HAAS VF-TR_SERIES 5X MILL.MMD

[MLS]

We use a 3rd party post software, but Mastercam posts are certainly competant. Regardless, you would have to learn the mastercam post language or a 3rd party language to get the EXACT code you want. The primary reason we use a 3rd party post is because it supports many different CAM systems. The other benefits of 3rd part would probably not justify the cost IMO.

[Steve Biehl - Cimquest Inc]

Peter, the generic Haas 5 axis is very good. If you need any adjustments to it just give me a call.

[PeterM]

Steve, I'm going to take a stab at it when I come back from Christmas vacation. If I get stuck I'll give you a shout. Thanks