That's some good information, right in the last 2 posts, thanks james and ron I have been using 5 ax curve for EVERYTHING and it's not only a pain in the @$$ to program, but the feed rates are wierd, ( entry / exit and retract are now feedrates? ) I am happy to find out you can use 2d curves and paths in 5 ax machining. I have been using strictly 3+2 so far with no simul 5 ax moves, so this is big for me thanks guys ! Another question that may be off topic, but why do machine tool manufacturers ALWAYS cut an impeller as a demo on a 5 ax machine ? It seems that 75% or more of 5 ax machining is 3+2. I dont know much about blisks, impellers, etc. are they just incredibly complex with angles, etc.?

That makes sense, so can you use a 2d contour on a 5 ax machine, just select the proper tplane ? I have been using 5 ax curve for everything. I guess maybe you would have to use either a 5 ax curve, or 2d and a bunch of point toolpaths, right?

Hi again, I think i may have gotten it figured out,ron. I switched to a different tplane. How, and when do you know when to use different tplanes ? I thought you stayed in top always and used MC to deicde where it needs to move to.

I am trying to use the circle mill toolpath in top plane, straight off the toolpath, no point path before, yes I am able to drill the hole no problem just when I go to thread it, it's not quite right...

Hey guys how do I setup to run a threadmill on on a hole that's not normal to the "z" ? I tried some things and I cant get it to work, it always tries to do it in the top plane, when I want it in front.

I stand corrected... FTP is back up. Thanks CADCAM ! I have tried to modify the "standard" WCS, but it is pretty much impossible, even after talking to mastercam, there is no way to do it. Thanks a lot, CNC Software !! I put that rotary WCS on FTP in mcx files/rotaryWCS. How to import - click on WCS button on bottom right of screen in MCX, / view manager/right click in the views box/ import/select the file and you're golden. I would prefer this method rather than modifying or creating a new one every time you are working a 4th axis, because you already have used it, and it's proven. EXCEPTION _ if you are using a funny angle (12.223) then it would be easier to use c/t/plane by entity *edit* Grammar / Lingo corrections

I came across this exact problem a little while ago... solution is to rotate axes on back and bottom planes to reflect the actual orientation of the axes on the machine when you rotate. Save the new coordinates as "rotate back" or something like that. If you are going to be doing this type of work a lot, open a new MCX, or create a cube with 45' chamfers on corners that rotate about x, create new planes, then simply import them into your MCX file that you are going to be working with. I have a sample rotate WCS file if you would like I can e mail it to you while FTP is down...

yeah we have 2 or 3 wire seats and like 5 lathe seats, and a handful of solid, I was just wondering if there was any super cool features that are generally locked up ? No?

For a while at least, our NEThasp crapped out today, and the local reseller said that he would bring by his spare until we get a new NEThasp (next week early) any cool features that I should check out while we have this unique opportunity ? We usually have mill 3 + multiaxis + 5ax verify. I have heard cool things about ART

what do you use the notepad feature for, thad ? I can think of a few things (custon tool notes, offsets, etc. ) just wondering what you are using it for

That makes sense, I see a lot of guys afraid of even trying it, and I am always left in a stupor of why. Has anyone been able to help you with your post yet ? Have you checked your filter settings? Sounds suspiciously like a filter problem to me

Thanks for that program link, James, I didn't know about it, and I can see how it would be VERY helpful. I was going to ask if/how/why you would use this over surface vectoring, however Michael beat me to it, also good information, I didn't even ask the question and I feel like I got a lot out of this thread.

I dont mean to be rude, if anything, ignorance is a key factor in my reply, but I am convinced tapping is old technology. Threadmills are faster, more accurate to hold a depth, easier to tap "tougher" materials in, all around a better way to machine threads. Simple question, again not being an xxxx, but why are you tapping ?

I am a NOOB as well here but I dont think you have to draw lines for the vectoring, it comes off your control surface doesn't it?

So, as I am working with Module Works, trying to set up our machine on it, is being a huge PITA. I can see how it would be pretty nice to get verification on code, but I guess I am not running a "typical" setup here. We are running a Haas T5c, basically a 4th axis with another 4th axis bolted to the front of it. I cant figure out how to define the machine to have the COR over on the right side of the table to be more representative of the setup on the machine. I know that it can be done, because on the Hurco machine it is setup like that but the trunion is running paralell to Y. I also am having a hard time with the post, when I "use current machine def" , it comes up with about 10 error messages saying some current settings have been changed to reflect the active machine def. Is Module Works a good simulation, I did a search and didn't come up with much information, especially wether it was worth the stress or not. Thanks Jesse

I didn't know that- it could come in handy, other than you have to draw every tool and holder, right ?

how did you save, then reference the tools to go and get that holder, and axis when you were backplotting, or did you draw the head, etc in mastercam, and merge the created tool geometry ? [ 06-02-2008, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: HEED ]

That's what I was afraid of... I want to define them to backplot some 5ax paths, looks like there is not a way to do it ? I am waiting on my Mcam reseller to get us the moduleworks simulation, until then, I guess it's one finger on the O'Shi button ? *edit * Is that one of the many updates that we can expect in the much hyped X3?

Hi, how can I create "stock" toolholder files to import and define for my tool setup in x2? I have looked around and the only menu that I can find is in the collision detection, which doesn't help me much. Thanks

+ 1 for freezing we have even sprayed it with liquid nitrogen prior to machining. With uber soft rubber you have to cut it frozen. Maybe a kool-mist hooked up to it??

Thanks, James I knew that it had to be in the misc integers, but I didnt know which one to change, I was playing with the initial primary and secondary, it didnt' seem to change much. What do the initial primary and secondary change?

yeah that's what I am seeing just now, looking at the code and etc. how do you ever know where your tool is in relation to g54, it all seems like arbitrary numbers to me so far

Yep, that's the baby... I just made my first 5 ax cut ! I have questions though. I am cutting a simple square, then cutting chanfers on the top, with the tool normal to the vector on the chanfer how do I tell MCX to start and keep the a on 45 rather than -45 ?

I could get some I didnt' think of it yet... I know that 5 ax is the bomb diggity as far as machining goes I have been doing this for only about 6 years, but it has been my goal to someday get into it. It is sure daunting now that I am here and feel clueless, but I know a lot more about it than I think I do, it's all just moves and axes , etc. Just a new learning curve ! I look foreward to it actually I am really excited about it, I am just also frustrated that there isn't much support from the companies on it. Is there not very many 5 ax shops around? Not very many programmers ? It seems that 5ax programmers are few and far between and they like to squander information Thanks for the comments so far I absolutely love this webiste for this reason.

Thanks for the replies fellas Yes we purchased the unit new from HAAS and it is sure sounding like they dont offer / dont want to train on it. My MCX dealer said he would come and show a little on MCX and get the post working ETC., but as of right now the unit is on my mill, just hangin out. I am just having a really hard time finding anyone that knows / will train on 5x stuff. Especially anyone that is not across the country. I am not dumb I am sure I can figure most of it out, but I cant help but think that someone from HAAS or MC would speed the process along. My MCX reseller gave me the generic post, and sounds willing to help me out with post edits , etc. As far as full 5x work, I am sure that we will get into 5ax work eventually that's the plan, but as for the first little while, it will be 3+2 work, at least until we can get operations down.