achieving 5 axie

[xclr82xtc]

so ive got a design in my head, but i dont think it would work quite right. i see different machines that acheive 5 axis in different ways, is one "better" than the other?

right now my plan is to only have the x axis on the table, (to prevent forward, and aft movement when using the lathe function), and to build the y and z axis into the gantry. the question is about the 5th axis does it matter (from a CAM viewpoint) weather you rotate the spindle, or spin the part? is one method easier to program than the other??

i was also thinking of making the spindle head rotate for and aft, and spinning the part on the 4th axis... (easier to build for me) but i didnt know how that would work out from a cam point of view


any advice on how i should proceed? ive got about 3 different design floating around in my head and i dont know which to start seriously working on.

last thing..anyone got a link to the ATC that ive been reading about for DIYer's?

[xclr82xtc]

btw...the design im thinking of, kind of inherently gives way to a 6th axis (another left/right axis, but on the gantry instead of the table). is that nessecarily a bad thing? lol. would that be useful at some point? (ie if you need to machine the side of a really big part you could move the table all the way to the left, and the gantry all the way to the right...)

[the4thseal]

how about a pic or a drawing?

[Superman]

so ive got a design in my head, but i dont think it would work quite right.
right now my plan is to only have the x axis on the table, (to prevent forward, and aft movement when using the lathe function), and to build the y and z axis into the gantry. the question is about the 5th axis does it matter (from a CAM viewpoint) weather you rotate the spindle, or spin the part? is one method easier to program than the other??

Try working it out going backwards
--what maximum weight would you turn ?
light = table rotate (like videos), heavy = head rotate or nutating head (*** not the same ***) .
-----Turning-- spin the part and have the tool fixed ( this would be C-axis, rotating around Z )
----tool orientation capable to use an ID boring bar on an OD operation
----head or table rotating 90° to enable the above tool do a facing operation
----to enable the above -- that plane the spindle axis rotates thru would be the diameter turning axis ( ØX in turning mode )

We have this M/C ( I know the guy who progammed this part )
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VYYIc8EFec"]YouTube - OKUMA MU500-VAL

Another -- a bit long ( good ideas at the beginning )
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4vLqfIx8X8&feature=related"]YouTube - STAMA 5-AXIS MILLING and TURNING TECHNOLOGY

Don't worry --- there plenty of other designs to choose from as well.

[xclr82xtc]

how about a pic or a drawing?

im working on it, im gonna do it in solidworks, just havent figured out exactly what i want to do.

Try working it out going backwards
--what maximum weight would you turn ?
light = table rotate (like videos), heavy = head rotate or nutating head (*** not the same ***) .
-----Turning-- spin the part and have the tool fixed ( this would be C-axis, rotating around Z )
----tool orientation capable to use an ID boring bar on an OD operation
----head or table rotating 90° to enable the above tool do a facing operation
----to enable the above -- that plane the spindle axis rotates thru would be the diameter turning axis ( ØX in turning mode )

We have this M/C ( I know the guy who progammed this part )


Another -- a bit long ( good ideas at the beginning )


Don't worry --- there plenty of other designs to choose from as well.thanks for all that! i notice there is a ton of designs and differnt ways to acheive it. Im NOT looking to do a design like the videos...thats just way to complicated for my home build.

ok picture this, a table, that only slides left and right (X1). an attachment for the table the will rotate the part (i think you called it the c axis) at the end of the table will be rails that will allow the gantry to move forward and back. (y axis)..

the z axis will be built into the gantry. now the plan is, to use two square billets on the ends, with 4 tool steel rods to allow the spindle to also travel left to right (x2) (for heavier or oversize parts) what im planning on doing is have the entire assembly...the two square billets, the tool steel roods, and the spindle....all be able to rotate for and aft together (would this be a B axis???)

i guess its kind of complicated to imagine, ill draw a quick sketch later and then maybe do some cad.