Email I sent to Madcam. Thought I would ask here as well.

[Fixittt]

This is a trimmed down version of the email.
Any user insight on if madCam is a viable solution?
Attached are some files (if they upload) of some sample parts I have to proof.

We have a project right now that I am doing research for. We have a client 5 axis machines with the cad/cam software to write gcode.

Their primary goal is to create jewelry items and some research on other smaller wax and aluminum/softer alloy projects.

What I need to do, is proof of concept machining to prove that the machine/software combo will suit their needs.

The issues that I am encountering are
Working straight from STL files.
Using very small tapered endmills 10 degree .005 thou. tips and smaller.
Trunion table setup with A offsets higher then the center rotation of A
Ease of post processor modification to suite differences in machines.
mach 3 Gcode output.

[svenakela]

I don't see a reason why any of your requirements wouldn't pass.
File formats in Rhino. I do STL's sometimes. There are a lot of post processors already and they are easy to edit. A Trunnion table is just another simultaneous 4th axis setup. As long as Mach 3 can manage that it will work fine.

Why don't you download a Rhino Demo and MadCAM Evaluation and try it out?

[Fixittt]

I did, and cannot get the sim. 5 axis to work.... beat on it for more then a handfull of hours.

I havent seen a tutorial on how to setup SIM 5 Axis jobs. Im thinking it has to do with the Cplane setups. but am not sure. I can get top down toolpath.

[svenakela]

Originally Posted by Fixittt I did, and cannot get the sim. 5 axis to work.... beat on it for more then a handfull of hours. I havent seen a tutorial on how to setup SIM 5 Axis jobs. Im thinking it has to do with the Cplane setups. but am not sure. I can get top down toolpath.

I think you're trying to make an indexed 5-axis.
First of all, open the settings dialog and choose (and configure )the setup of the 5-axis machine. Make two polylines in the model where you want the center of rotation for the 4th and 5th axis.
Then you use the mid-icon in the Axis Mode-toolbar and select the rotational axises for the machine. Select the polylines you created. Now try to make a roughing.

Regards,
Sven

[Fixittt]

Sven, thank you for the reply, I have been playing around with it a bit, and I am a little confused on setting up the machine. I thought I had it right, but the simulation was doing some funny things. A axis always seemed to go vertical. Anyway I can sweet talk you into doing a couple screen shots of the process?

If we can get this working, the company I contract for is wanting to become a reseller for the software. They are actually excited about it, madcam looks to be a bit easier to use then visualmill which is what we are currently offering.

[svenakela]

What is the machine configuration?

[Fixittt]

Here is a picture of the trunnion table as I was building it.

it goes on a small desktop cnc mill. The offset from the 5th to the 4th axis is roughly 70 mm`s from the top of the 4 jaw chuck to the center line of A.

being able to adjust this offset in MadCam on the fly is a must, due to the fact that not every setup is going to be exactly the same.

The table is capable of rotating A axis more then 90 degrees in both directions.

[svenakela]

You can have as much offset you'd like and by moving the toolpath in Rhino you also change the offset.
I think you'll get info from MadCAM any day, they are busy as usual and it's summer vacations everywhere here now.

[Fixittt]

still no info from madcam, guess I will start looking for alternative toolpathing software..... anyone know whats going on with them?

[Dan B]

Hang in there. Joakim is back to work now after some time off with his family. He caught up with my e-mails this morning, so your questions will probably be addressed soon.

Dan

[JOM]

Attached are the files with some sample 5-axis toolpaths.
I think the standard trunnion machine that you can select from madCAM options will work, but we will also help you to change the settings if needed.

Joakim