4th Axis Eliminated Entire Toolpath - Choose an axis not parallel to toolpath

[RandleXX]

Anytime I use a Surface as Tool axis control I get this error.. what gives?

Does not matter what rotary axis I use.. Also tried multiple machine def setups with both FRONT and TOP horizontal setups.. Even created a 5 axis set-up and tried limiting to 4 axis.. get same error.

The only way to use this toolpath is to use POINTS/LINES, Using a surface or solid face does not work at all, even with very basic geometry.

 

I can do it with Verisurf's hole axis, projecting points and a lot of geometry editing and trimming, but this is ridiculous..

 

Mastercam's 4 and 5 axis toolpaths are still a joke.. and they dont seem to be getting ANY better.

[gcode]

is this an horizontal or vertical machine def?

 

 

If its a 4 axis horizontal, put a "Four Outlet Right Angle Aggregate" on the end of your spindle

in the Machine Def Manager

 

never mind... didn't read the orignal post carefully

[RandleXX]

is this an horizontal or vertical machine def?

 

 

If its a 4 axis horizontal, put a "Four Outlet Right Angle Aggregate" on the end of your spindle

in the Machine Def Manager

 

 

Yes it is a Horizontal.

 

Aww Yes.., I seem to remember this "Four Outlet Right Angle Aggregate" work around before on another job.

 

After some more testing it looks like this fix still will not work when using surfaces as tool axis control. Geometry modification still looks the best solution.

 

Thanks for the help!!

[gcode]

I tried this with a 3X VMC machine def..

I picked a point on a solid model I'm working on.

I could not pick the solid face for a tool axis surface

I created a surface from the solid face but still could not select the surface

I untrimmed the surface and I was able to select it.

I think this was because the point I picked was the center of a hole

in the surface and there was no intersection between the

point and the trimmed surface.

I selected the Z axis as the backplot axis and got the

"4th axis eliminates the entire toolpath alarm"

so I choose the X axis.

The toolpath regened and posted properly

 

Lessons learned..

the surface and selected point must have an interesection

the center of a hole in a trimmed surface won't work

 

Choose a backplot axis that is not parallel

with the spindle (this doesn't make any sense to me)

[RandleXX]

I tried this with a 3X VMC machine def..

I picked a point on a solid model I'm working on.

I could not pick the solid face for a tool axis surface

I created a surface from the solid face but still could not select the surface

I untrimmed the surface and I was able to select it.

I think this was because the point I picked was the center of a hole

in the surface and there was no intersection between the

point and the trimmed surface.

I selected the Z axis as the backplot axis and got the

"4th axis eliminates the entire toolpath alarm"

so I choose the X axis.

The toolpath regened and posted properly

 

Lessons learned..

the surface and selected point must have an interesection

the center of a hole in a trimmed surface won't work

 

Choose a backplot axis that is not parallel

with the spindle (this doesn't make any sense to me)

 

 

Thanks for looking into this Gcode.

 

This was my quick fix

I used Verisurf's hole axis to create points and axis lines, projected the points onto an untrimmed surface, trimmed the axis lines to the projected points and then used Point/Lines in the operation under "cut pattern". I picked the new points and I got the desired results..

[gcode]

I used Verisurf's hole axis to create points and axis lines, projected the points onto an untrimmed surface, trimmed the axis lines to the projected points and then used Point/Lines in the operation under "cut pattern". I picked the new points and I got the desired results..

 

you can do all of this in one click with the Verisurf command " Pierce Point"

[RandleXX]

you can do all of this in one click with the Verisurf command " Pierce Point"

 

Of course.. just after I finished doing it the long way!!

Thanks for the tip. I will try it on the next parts.

[gcode]

Of course.. just after I finished doing it the long way!!

 

that's why they call it the school of hard knocks