Help using MC X3 and A axis.

[btu44]

Hello,

I recently received my 8" RT and have a project for it but have not programmed MC3 in the 4th axis before.

I'll be cutting down a piece of 1.75" dia. 1018 low carbon round stock to a off-centered .51" shaft leaving a cam shape at the end of the shaft.

I'll use a Duality lathe to bring the shaft to the finish diameter but feel it can not hog out all this material with the Duality.

I would like to setup the RT in the mill and to rough out the shaft in a hexigon cross section. So I guess in Mastercam I would face a side of the hexigon, M0 in post to unlock table, rotate table 60 degrees (A60), M0 to lock table, face shaft...etc.


How would I program this operation in Mastercam?
I tried using Named Planes for each of the hexigon sides but didn't get the desired results.

Any ideas would be appreciated,
Thank you

[philbur]

I might be wrong but I don't think M0 locks the rotary table, it stops the program. Also I don't think it is possible to lock the rotary table with aprogrammed comand. The locking device is manual only.

Phil

Originally Posted by btu44 Hello, I recently received my 8" RT and have a project for it but have not programmed MC3 in the 4th axis before. I'll be cutting down a piece of 1.75" dia. 1018 low carbon round stock to a off-centered .51" shaft leaving a cam shape at the end of the shaft. I'll use a Duality lathe to bring the shaft to the finish diameter but feel it can not hog out all this material with the Duality. I would like to setup the RT in the mill and to rough out the shaft in a hexigon cross section. So I guess in Mastercam I would face a side of the hexigon, M0 in post to unlock table, rotate table 60 degrees (A60), M0 to lock table, face shaft...etc. How would I program this operation in Mastercam? I tried using Named Planes for each of the hexigon sides but didn't get the desired results. Any ideas would be appreciated, Thank you

[btu44]

Thanks for the replies.

I know I didn't make it clear but I had intended to hand edit the post with the M0 before and after a A axis rotation to manually lock and unlock the table.
I guess I'm really asking a Mastercam question not a Tormach...

Thanks again

[btu44]

I'm fairly new to Mastercam and this will be my first part using the A axis.

I have a 1.75" diameter 1018 round stock that I want to mill down to .6 hex cross section. I was thinking about facing down one side of the hex, then index the A axis 60 degrees and face a new side...repeat till finish.

I just don't know how to do this in Mastercam. I tried using Named Planes for each hex side but that didn't seem to work.

Thanks for the help

[cadcam]

Mill one side being the top flat then use Toolpath transform and rotate use the right side plane to rotate about and get the other planes done and out putted.

[Freddy Bastard]

You need to create a plane for each faces or... The best way would be to use top plane first program it, then use toolpath transform rotate.

Which post are you using?

[btu44]

That sounds easy enough, I'll give it a try.
Thanks

[cadcam]

By the way not all A axis rotary need a unlock and lock code. if it does you can use the toolpath Manual entry to help out put this.

[btu44]

Been able to spend some time on this and think I have found the source of my problems.
The first operation for this MC design was to drill an offset hole down down the length of the round stock and do some contouring. So in OP1 the Top and Bottom of the design is at the ends of the round stock.
For Operation 2, milling the hex with the A axis. I made a copy of the design and then did some Xform Rotates to get the part orientated almost correctly for the A axis.
I'm thinking this is the wrong way to do this.

Should I be able to use one design file for all operations?
Is there a better way to change the part orientation from being on its end to on its side?

It must have to do with the WCS and Planes but I'll admit i don't fully grasp the concept.

[cadcam]

BTU44, can you share your geo with me and I will set it up and give back to you.
or do you just want to see a sample of what I was talking about?

[btu44]

cadcam,

PM sent.

[cadcam]

you have email sir.