Using my A-axis rotary as a C-axis

[Mic6]

Hey Guys, I want to stand my HA5C up on end and use is as a C-Axis to hold some tight TP on a bolt circle.  Basically want to make 1 "X" move, then just use the rotary motion to position all the holes.  What would be the best way to do this?  

     In my drilling OP, I activated Rotary Axis Control and chose Rotary Axis Positioning>Rotate around "Z" axis.  I got no change.   Thanks!

[ScottBro4]

If you create a separate plane rotating your WCS for each hole and it will rotate your A axis. Any other questions feel free to ask.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Keep in mind that the any of the 4 Axis Mill Posts are only setup to rotate about X or Y. They are not setup to support rotation about the Z axis.

 

Honestly, if you do a lot of this work, I'd recommend taking a Router post, and modifying it to work with the Mill Product. There is a document available from your Reseller (they may not even know about it!) that explains the process of taking a Router post, and configuring it to work with Mill instead...

[Mic6]

Colin- Even though I'm outputting A-axis moves, won't  standing it up basically turn it into a C axis?  I used a transform toolpath, "Tool Plane Method" and got this: 

 

 

1 work offset with all the rotations look good to me!

O1112( 8606788-001-3 )
( T10 |  NO. 13 DRILL | H10 | DIA: .185 )
G20
G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
G91 G28 Z0 ( ROTARY X-FORM )
T10 M6 (  NO. 13 DRILL | T: 10 | D: 10 | H: 10 | DIA: .185 )
G0 G90 G55 X0. Y1.75 S2581 M3
G43 H10 Z.1
/M8
G98 G81 Z-.9583 A-40. R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-80.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-120.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-160.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-200.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-240.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-280.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-320.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
A-360.
G98 G81 Z-.9583 R-.395 F10.324
G80
M9
M5
G91 G28 Z0.
G0 G90 G154 P99 X0. Y0.
T10 M6
M30
%

[ScottBro4]

Mic6, that would work. I just replicated it myself. Didn't know you could do it that way. Much easier.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

If you create a separate plane rotating your WCS for each hole and it will rotate your A axis. Any other questions feel free to ask.

 

I do this on our live tool lathe with C and Y.  The Y travel is pretty limited, as is the X-, so I rotate the C to get the hole aligned with Y+, then drill and mill.

[Rocketmachinist]

Your getting a g80 on the same line as a g81. That won't work. You can probably call the g81 and then just put in the c moves you need.

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

 

[Mic6]

Your getting a g80 on the same line as a g81. That won't work. You can probably call the g81 and then just put in the c moves you need. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

G80 is on the following line.  Cancels the canned cycle every move, just the way I'm set-up. I suppose it could be a canned cycle, but I'm not going to bother.  

[Rocketmachinist]

Sorry it read differently on my phone.

[Mic6]

Actually, that A positioning move needs to happen sooner.

[Rocketmachinist]

Yep, I'm sure it won't like drilling and rotating at the same time.