Need help in 4 axis programming

[johan2008]

Hello all, my first post here.

I want to mill flats on a cylinder.
This is what I have done on MCX( level 3 mill) :
1 ) I draw a polygon on Y Z plane
2) Solid, Solid Extrude
3) Machine type Mill 4 Axis VMC
4) Machine definition VMC A axis
5) post processor generic Fanuc 4xmill
what to do next ?
what are check , drive surface ?

Thank you

[DanDiGi]

Drive surfaces (or "solid face") is the actual surface or "solid face" you want to cut. Sometimes during cutting of those surfaces or faces, the tool will cut beyond those drive surfaces and cut into a surrounding surface or solid face.

The surface or solid face you don't want to cut is called the check surface. if your tool is destroying the part by cutting into those surrounding check surfaces, then you need to go to your parameters and select those surfaces you don't want cut as check surfaces. Regenerate your tool path, verify and see if it's what you want.

[johan2008]

Thanks DanDiGi,

I attached a mcx file, please see if I did right drawing the solid, since I could not define any check surface.
And please do a 4 axis cut on the flats, and post the file for review.


PS: Please change the extension to .mcx

[cadcam]

this is a 2D cuts and just set tool planes to each face. this will prompt it for indexing.

[johan2008]

Yes, thanks cadcam . it works now

I just change the polygon to an oval, how to do the toolpath ?

It seems it is a little more complex . How to generate surface along an oval ?

[cadcam]

here is one fast thought and you must have Multiaxis option.

http://www.mastercam-cadcam.com/rota...rotary4th.html

[johan2008]

Cadcam: Thank you for the link, now it works as expected.
I had problem because I thought I must enter BOTH check and drive surface.

One more thing, above toolpath is done with an imported Inventor 9 file.
But how to (step by step) create solid ellips in MCX , because I get " Operation requires planar chain set " error message.

Johan

[cadcam]

Go to Gview and set for Right side. then go to "Create" then "ellipse" and fill the info out.
Then I went back to top and then set it for Iso. were I created a draft surface from that profile.

[johan2008]

Thank you cadcam, it was a great help