RAH in generic post

[jlw™]

All,

 

I have a situation where I need to run a 90deg angle head in one of my 3 axis Mazak verticals.  None of my 3x posts seem to support an aggregate head.  I have built an angle head in the mach def but I still can't get the proper output.

 

I guess my starting point is this, do any of the provided generic posts support aggregate angle heads?  I have contacted my reseller but I need this by tomorrow morning so if some one could point at a generic post I can tweak please let me know which one will work.

 

Thanks all,

 

JLW

[mkd]

been ten years since i messed with a working mill post.

 I read people answering here, that the router posts have it built in.

[jlw™]

Thanks, I'll check that!

[civiceg]

[jlw™]

Great! I'll start there bright and early!

 

Thank you!

[jlw™]

Well, apparently my SIM will not allow me to use router machine definitions.

[crazy^millman]

Well, apparently my SIM will not allow me to use router machine definitions.

 

No, but you can use a router post in your mill MD/CD.

[jlw™]

ooh, thanks for the tip. I'm on it!

[Colin Gilchrist]

3 Axis Machines support Fixed RAH. So as long as the RAH doesn't need to rotate about Z, you can just use your normal 3 Axis post, with the Machine Definition.

 

To do this, you need to define the RAH in the Machine Definition. Then when you are programming, you right-click in the Tools List, and use "Get angled head".

 

There is a check box in the MD for "translate machine view with aggregate". Make sure that is enabled.

 

The settings in the RAH Station define the offset from spindle centerline to tool tip.

[crazy^millman]

3 Axis Machines support Fixed RAH. So as long as the RAH doesn't need to rotate about Z, you can just use your normal 3 Axis post, with the Machine Definition.

 

To do this, you need to define the RAH in the Machine Definition. Then when you are programming, you right-click in the Tools List, and use "Get angled head".

 

There is a check box in the MD for "translate machine view with aggregate". Make sure that is enabled.

 

The settings in the RAH Station define the offset from spindle centerline to tool tip.

 

Be glad when Generic 4 Axis and 5 Axis posts support RAH as well.

[jlw™]

There is a check box in the MD for "translate machine view with aggregate". Make sure that is enabled.

 

 

 

Colin, would you snap a screen shot of this... I can't find it.

[jlw™]

Found it!  Thank you!  That got it working properly.

 

It's actually in the control def:

 

[jlw™]

Colin, when I check this box I get proper output but the tool "appears" wrong inside of mcam.  When I uncheck it, I get proper appearance but output relative to the t/c plane.

 

I have defined an aggregate in the mach def, it is a 90deg rah and is 90deg about Z so that the tool spindle is running along y axis and the business end is away from you if you are standing at the hmi looking in.

 

Is this how it should be?  It will appear wrong because of the translate check box but it will output correctly?

 

TIA

[Colin Gilchrist]

Thought I'd clear up a couple things:

 

3 and 4 Axis - supports "Fixed Aggregate" heads

 

For both 3X and 4X Posts, any "Fixed" aggregate head is supported through the Machine Definition, by turning on the checkbox in the Control Definition.

 

There is a Translation made from the Tip of the tool, back to the spindle center line.

 

When you use "get angled head" in the Tool path, the Aggregate "station and tool" get loaded, and the NCI Data is modified for output to reflect the offset to the tip of the tool.

 

• 3X and 4X Mill Post Processors are setup to use "Fixed Angle Heads" by "default".
• Offset is enabled in the Control Definition with the checkbox.
• Tool Plane is set "normal to feature", but output is translated back to "Top".
• This will work for doing 4X Rotary work, but display in Backplot can sometimes be "not right", even though the code is good.
• This will support using a RAH with a Rotary Table, as long as the RAH is a "Fixed angle head".

 

If you have a Programmable 4X Angled Head, where the RAH in the spindle is "positioned" with a Rotary Code in the NC File, then the default 3X and 4X Posts do not support this.

 

For a Programmable Rotary that is mounted to the spindle, you need to use a 4 Axis Router Post.

 

• For "programmable" RAH setups, use a Router Post, and convert it into a Mill Post. (There is documentation on how to do this, in the "Post Documentation Portfolio PDF File.) Basically, you change the Post Header line to "trick" Mastercam into thinking that is a Mill Post.
• Only a single Rotary Axis is supported for 4X Machine/Post combinations. So you can only use the "Spindle Rotary" axis with a Router Post. You cannot drive both a Rotary Table and a Rotary Attachment on the spindle.
• Do not enable the button in the Control Definition! All offsets are handled inside the Post itself.

 

For 5 Axis machining, the Generic Fanuc 5X Mill Post supports limited use of a Right Angle Head only. (No compound angle)

 

• Do not use the "get angled head" feature with the 5X Post. Do not enable the "Translate NCI with aggregate" button.
• Only the Secondary rotary axis may be rotated. This is a + or - 90 degree move. So if your Secondary Axis is setup to rotate about "X", as an "A Axis", then you would only be able to use the RAH pointing in the + or - Y direction. You could not have the RAH face +-X.
• RAH output is enabled with Misc Real Number 2. Set MR2 to +90 or -90 to activate.
• Offset to spindle center line is set by OAL Tool Length, and uses 'mr10$' for the Spindle Offset (typically Z), for the RAH attachment.