Yes, it helps tremendously. Exactly the explanation I was wanting. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I will study the documentation some more as well as look at that math section you mentioned and see if I can locate the issue.

Here is what my current configuration looks like in the 5 axis section of the post: 5 Axis Rotary Settings# --------------------------------------------------------------------------#Assign axis addressstr_pri_axis : "B"str_sec_axis : "C"str_dum_axis : "A"#Toolplane mapped to top angle position stringsstr_n_a_axis : "B"str_n_b_axis : "C"str_n_c_axis : "A"#Machine rotary routine settingsmtype : 0 #Machine type (Define base and rotation plane below) #0 = Table/Table #1 = Tilt Head/Table #2 = Head/Head #3 = Nutator Table/Table #4 = Nutator Tilt Head/Table #5 = Nutator Head/Headhead_is_sec : 1 #Set with mtype 1 and 4 to indicate head is on secondary#Preferred setup is pri. zero matches sec. zero/direction#Zero machine and determine the planes perp. to axis rotations#These plane combinations are valid:#Primary plane XY XZ YZ#Secondary or XZ XY XY#Secondary YZ YZ XZ#Primary axis angle description (in machine base terms)#With nutating (mtype 3-5) the nutating axis must be the XY planerotaxis1$ = vecz #Zero rotdir1$ = vecx #Direction #Secondary axis angle description (in machine base terms)#With nutating (mtype 3-5) the nutating axis and this plane normal#are aligned to calculate the secondary angle rotaxis2$ = vecz #Zero rotdir2$ = vecy #Direction #NOTE: Use of 'top_map' requires the dealer match the# above settings below. These must match initial settings!!!p_nut_restore #Postblock, restores original axis settings result = updgbl(rotaxis1$, "vecy")#Zero result = updgbl(rotdir1$, "vecx")#Direction result = updgbl(rotaxis2$, "vecz")#Zero result = updgbl(rotdir2$, "vecx")#Direction#Nutating machine (mtype 3-5) describe the plane that the nutated axis#lays in, this is the plane perpendicular to the primary axis and#secondary axis nut_ang_pri$ : -45 #Nutating head secondary axis angle from machine Z positive #Tool length, typically for head/head machine, both set to zero disables#Applied to the tool length, RA applies this along the tooldrluseclr : 0 #Use Drill Clearance Plane at start/end - #Read from toolpath parametersuse_tlength : 0 #Use tool length, read from tool overall length #0=Use 'toollength' var, 1=Mastercam OAL, 2=Prompttoollength : 0 #Tool length if not read from overall lengthshift_z_pvt : 0 #Shift Z by tool length, head/head program to pivot (Z axis only) #0=Pivot, 1=Pivot-Z, 2=Tool Tip Programming (without zero length) #Option 2, So we can still take advantage of brk_mv_head featureadd_tl_to_lim : 0 #Add tool length after intersecting limit, always #on if limit from stockuse_g45 : 1 #Use G45 offset with right angle head (RA)g45_of_add : 30 #Add this number to tool length no. for G45 offset number#Axis shift shft_misc_r : 0 #Read the axis shifts from the misc. reals#Part programmed where machine zero location is WCS origin-#Applied to spindle direction, independent of RA#Table/Table -#Offset of tables to secondary axis relative to machine base.#Tilt Head/Table - Head/Head -#Part programmed at machine zero location-#Offset in head based on secondary axis relative to machine base.#Normally use the tool length for the offset in the tool directionsaxisx : 0 #The axis offset direction?saxisy : 0 #The axis offset direction?saxisz : 0 #The axis offset direction?r_intersect : 0 #Rotary axis intersect on their center of rotations #Determines if the zero point shifts relative to zero #or rotation with axis offset.#Nutating axis shift, used when calculations are based on mtype 3 or greater#'top_map' and toolplane tool paths use the axis shifts above, 5 axis use thesen_saxisx : 0 #The axis offset direction?n_saxisy : 0 #The axis offset direction?n_saxisz : 0 #The axis offset direction?n_r_intrsct : 0 #Rotary axis intersection with nutating (normally zero)#Force rotary axis reset at toolchange and other optionsfrc_cinit : 1typ3_brk_evn : 0 #Windup limit, use even revolution break position #Primary and/or secondarybrk_mv_head : 0 #Break the 5 axis moves to remove gougebrk_max_ang : 0 #'brk_mv_head' maximum angle move, applied if chordal #calculation angles moves are greater (negative disables) skp_rdnt_ck : 0 #Skip 'brk_max_ang' redundant angle check top_type : 4 #With 'top_map' select the top toolplane output #0 = Post selects G7 rotation axis #1 to 4, user selected G7 rotation axis #1 = Primary C : Y zero, Secondary A #2 = Primary C : -X zero, Secondary B #3 = Primary C : -Y zero, Secondary A #4 = Primary C : X zero, Secondary B #5 = Custom settings, ptop_type_ax and ptop_type_lim#Secondary shift (determines position and angle calculation)#plane correction 90 degree shift case (plus or minus)#used when secondary plane is defined perp to primary zero#EX. P - vecx, vecy S - vecz, vecyshift_90_s : 1 #Shift pos.=1, neg.=-1#Rotary axis limitsadj2sec : 1 #Attempt to adjust the primary axis from secondary? #Allows primary axis to flip 180 to satisfy secondary #0 = Off #1 = Use method when secondary is out of limit #Use with pri_limtyp = one to keep secondary as controlling #limit when limit tripped #Use with pri_limtyp = two to allow 180 degree reposition#When the tool repositions, an intersection is made to the limits and the#tool is driven around the limits to the reposition point as required.#Z upper limit is used as the safe transition boundary #Linear limits relative to machine base coordinates / part originuse_stck_typ : 0 #0=Off, 1=Stock def., 2=Limitsup_x_lin_lim : 250. #X axis limit in positive directionup_y_lin_lim : 250. #Y axis limit in positive directionup_z_lin_lim : 250. #Z axis limit in positive directionlw_x_lin_lim : -250. #X axis limit in negative directionlw_y_lin_lim : -250. #Y axis limit in negative directionlw_z_lin_lim : -5. #Z axis limit in negative directionclear_stck : 0. #Add inc. offset to stock definition for transition boundaryretract_on_rpd : 1 #This control allows retract on rapids too (don't assume rapid is safe)#Set pri_limtyp and sec_limtyp on following conditions#0 = Less than 180 degrees#1 = Equal or greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees#2 = Soft limit at 0-360 degrees with hard limits slightly beyond #Set limhi-limlo to hard limits, inthi-intlo to 360 degrees total #limhi-limlo are expected equal amount from inthi-intlo#3 = Greater than 360 degreesauto_set_lim : 1 #Set the type from the angle limit settings (ignore these)pri_limtyp$ : 0sec_limtyp$ : 0#Rotary axis travel limits, always in terms of normal angle output#Set the absolute angles for axis travel on primarypri_limlo$ : -180pri_limhi$ : 0#Set intermediate angle, in limits, for post to reposition machinepri_intlo$ : -9999pri_inthi$ : 9999#Set the absolute angles for axis travel on secondarysec_limlo$ : -9999sec_limhi$ : 9999#Set intermediate angle, in limits, for post to reposition machinesec_intlo$ : -9999sec_inthi$ : 9999bias_null : 0 #mi4 and mi5 bias are applied at null toolchangesuse_clamp : 1 #Use the automatic clamp Mcode #Table/Table spindle axis alignment. (Typically Z+. Always Z+ with nutating machine types!)# Choose the axis that is parallel to the spindle with all rotaries at their zero positions.spind_align : 3 #1=(X+), 2=(Y+), 3=(Z+), -1=(X-), -2=(Y-), -3=(Z-) #Machine base matrix (Base matrix to map positions into)matb1$ : 1matb2$ : 0matb3$ : 0matb4$ : 0matb5$ : 0matb6$ : 1matb7$ : 0matb8$ : -1matb9$ : 0#Tolerance settings for wind upp_tol_ang : 210 #Primary angle move to exceed for direction changes_tol_ang : 210 #Secondary angle move to exceed for direction changed_tol_ang : 210 #Dummy angle move to exceed for direction change#pri_limtyp = 1, tolerance to validate tripping limit# reset the p_frc_adj_sec flag when back to normal range#pri_limtyp = 2, angle move >= to trigger reposition on primary and# angle move >= with rev5 or 180 reposition to validate tripping limitp_rsoft_tol : 45#sec_limtyp = 2, Angle move >= for reposition s_soft_tol : 270adj_lim_trp : 90 #Angle move in p_pri_rot180 to trip reposition#pri_limtyp = 3 and sec_limtyp = 3 control valuesp_rsoft_tol3 : 90 #Angle move >= with rev5 or 180 reposition

True, my first question was pretty broad I guess. The machine is built on an HMC platform with no pallet changer. Instead it has a rotary axis mounted to the table, so there is still 0-180 degrees in "B" as well as the additional 360 degrees in "C" axis. I am setting up a simple, square shaped part with a plan to reach 5 sides of the part with just 5 axis positioning. This is my first attempt with a 5 axis machine, but I have done a fair amount of work with 4 axis setups on a VMC. Currently the post is working, however, to get to the last side of the square, it rotates -180 in B, 90 in C. It would work better if it would just move another 90 degrees in C. Thanks.

I have the MP documentation, as well I have a post that is working except for this one aspect of axis rotation. I was just hoping for some clarification on the matter. Thanks anyway though.

I have a question about a 5 axis post I'm trying to edit to "fit" a machine we have here. The problem I'm having is getting the rotaxis1$, rotdir1$,rotaxis2$,rotdir2$ settings set correctly. Can someone offer an explanation as to how the vectors work in determining this setting? Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.