X8 rotary facing/contouring

[jlw™]

Need help!

 

This is the first time I've had to rotary face and contour against C axis with Mcam.  Esprit has a Rotary pocket and Rotary contour that works beautifully but we're getting away from that and I need to learn to do it in Mcam.

 

I can get the backplot/verify to show exactly what I want but when I post I get XYCZ moves.  Ultimately the Y moves soft limit (I need to polar mill because the part is too big).  The machine is a 5 axis Vortex (table/head) machine.  I have created toolpaths and attempted to use axis substitution.  Again, backplot looks perfect.  How can I make it output polar coords or either only Z,XC?

 

I have also tried a few 5 axis paths but nothing seems to work.  I have everything they offer so anything that works is game.

 

Thanks in advance!  Sorry, can't post file but if some one wants to post sample I'd be grateful!

[Chris Bloedorn]

Try switch it to '3 axis' in the rotary axis control...

 

Use 3-axis to rotate the part while the tool axis stays parallel to the axis of rotation. Also called polar conversion, this replaces linear motion in X, Y, or Z with rotary motion. For example, if this is enabled about the Y axis, instead of the tool moving linearly in Y, the part will rotate to the Y-axis position. This is typically used to machine a toolpath on a face of a part.

[jlw™]

I can't get it to output polar coords but i don't care if it's polar or against c.  however, i think i have it setup correctly and it is still outputting y moves.

 

pic is axis sub screen

[JMahon]

Morph between two curves

[JMahon]

I always lean to this toolpath other toolpaths don't behave like I want them to

[jlw™]

Thanks, I'll try it. I think it is post related.

 

Waiting to hear back from CCS now.

[Mike-T]

in most lathe posts Mi4 sets the path to polar.  

[kool]

Please update when you find the solution for this problem. I been trying to do the same thing on a 5 axis  machine but no luck. 

[jlw™]

Sorry for no response.

 

It was a post issue.  As soon as I got the post back it worked on the first attempt.