4 axis surfacing ?!?

[Janos]

Hey all,
We just got a HA5C Indexer on our mini mill and I'm trying to get mastercam to follow a curved surface with a lollypop mill (similar to an intake port on a engine) thru a piece of delrin. Using it as a positioner to do flats or drilling odd angles it works great but getting the extra simultanious motion in there too gets a bit hairy. Any pointers to get this figured out is great!!

Thanks Janos

[Steve Arteman]

What feed rate are you using? if you go into the machine def. and then control def there is an area for feed rate for rotary axis. you may have to adjust your settings in this area.
Steve
www.cad2cam.net
www.cad2cam.blogspot.com

[Janos]

My problem doesn't lie with a feedrate prob. but getting the correct toolpath selection. (example: 4 ax. rotary, 5 ax. swarf, 5 ax. curve, 5 ax. flow) and getting the proper increments plugged in. I did have a mastercam book which was quite helpfull but I somehow lost it when I moved to a new house. Does your CD's have 3-D surfacing as well as 4 and 5 axis wisdom? If so I just might be inclined in purchasing some of your wares. They have schools in my area that teach MC9-10 but.... WHEW!! Hold on to your wallet!!!

[Steve Arteman]

Janos,
Send me your part I will see what I can do as far as letting you know what you are missing. The videos have 4 axis index and rotary.
steve@cad2cam.net
www.cad2cam.blogspot.com

[cadcam]

So you are trying to do some what porting, Are you using multi surfaces or do you have it broken down to a single surface?

if so start with the Flow 5 axis but you do not have a 5axis but 4 axis so there will be some limmits.
When doing the Flow 5 set the axis to 4 so it will limmit some of the motion.

PS it would help to see a file if you can.