locking of B and C axis in mastercam multaxis

[KenD]

I would like to machine along Z axis direction on a face of a model. Cannot get flowline 5 axis to lock head rotation and tilt of router head. Is there a better Toolpath to use. Can it be done with a 3d surface finish toolpaths.

[ajmer]

to a 3d toolpath on a plane

create the plane at the angles you want locked at and create the 3d flowline toolpath

this will lock the head at the angles and give you xyz motion only

[Oscar R.]

+1 ^^^^^

 

I do it that way pretty often if I want the axis locked.

[Mick]

Isn't there an option for min/max angles?

[Oscar R.]

Isn't there an option for min/max angles?

 

Mick, there is, but it's a lot easier to just build a plane and use a 3d Flowline surface toolpath IMO.

 

Also, using the min/max angle settings on the 5axis toolpaths has created some posting issues for me in the past.

You may get a "Vertical Tool Detected" warning if you use a plane or missing code if you use 0 angle in the limits.

[Mick]

Mick, there is, but it's a lot easier to just build a plane and use a 3d Flowline surface toolpath IMO.

 

Also, using the min/max angle settings on the 5axis toolpaths has created some posting issues for me in the past.

You may get a "Vertical Tool Detected" warning if you use a plane or missing code if you use 0 angle in the limits.

 

Thats true. Actually, in hindsight it makes a lot of sense to use a plane, and a 3 axis path.

 

We're getting our first 5 axis machine in under a month, so I am in for quite a lot of learning

[Chris Rizzo]

Every move in 5 axis toolpath is theoretically posting a new plane, (nci line type 11) therefore the axis will be unlocked, even if there really isn't a plane shift. Go 3 + 2 and you'll get clamp codes. Also arc G2/3 motion, which you won't get with 5x toolpaths.

[KenD]

Thanks for the info. I will create planes at the desired angles and check that out. Running on a 20' x 20' CMS Poseidon 5x router. An awesome and fun machine to work with.

[Jayson Kramer]

Ken I do it on my customers Thermwood 5axis router all the time. 3+2 mostly and use the true 5 axis when needed allot can be done with 3+2. you find allot of shops that have 5axis machines use them to do mostly 3+2 programming with them.

[KenD]

I ended up going to back to 5x flowline creating lines at 30 deg and rotating every 45 deg for a complete circle. Then picking tool axis control-lines and picking thoses lines at the angles needed for tool control. Looks good on backplot. Will run above tooling foam tomorrow.

[KenD]

Flowline 5x with angled lines for tool axis control worked well. It locked B and C.

[Jayson Kramer]

KenD gald it worked but do you know how to do the setup a plane sow you did not have to draw all the line perpendicular to the model surface?

[KenD]

No I have never tried setting planes for tool control. Always looking for other ways though.

[Jayson Kramer]

Ken are you ready to learn? have you used the WCS controls like Dynamic WCS for example?

[KenD]

Not that much