Need Help!- A axis sub?

[sdeering]

Hi all first question hear, I usually can find the right help by searching but cant find anything.

I am basically drafting a sign wave looking line and would like to cut this design along a 1.2" barrel 6 flutes along the barrels length. With AX and Z axis.

For tool path I'm using contour, subing the Y axis to A Dia 1.2" etc. -.01 DOC
First question is.
Im having a problem getting my head around why MC wants to set the center of the A axis as 0. Top of the stock (home) at .60. Well maybe not why but how to change it so the (home) top od stock is Z0.
Any ideas?

Also the feed rate is stop and go about every .100 along the X axis, does'nt make for a nice looking cut.
This is a coppy of the first flute.
I don't know how to post the drawing or tool path.
Im using Mach 3
It seems every time the feed speed changes there is a slight pause.
I have tried convert to arcs Chook,no joy.
MC9
Am I missing something ?

Thanks for any help.
Stephen

[jeffrey001]

Hi, did you draw your part as a flat design.


Normally, for this kind of machining with a 4th axis, I draw my part as a flat layout.


Take a look at the zipped file, I saved it as a Mastercam V9 file.

Jeff

[sdeering]

I have tried it both ways flat and flat and flat then xform-rolled. I didn't get a chance to look at you file this morning I will have a look tonight.
Thanks for the help.

Stephen

[jeffrey001]

If you post a drawing of your part or upload it somewhere so we could take a look at it, it would be easier to see exactly what you want to do.


If you draw as flat layout, zero will always be at zero but all measurement must be set to incremental in your parameter.

I don't know why they're F word at each line in your code, goes from F9.0 to F470.0 .

Jeff

[sdeering]

OK I will give it a go tonight.

[sdeering]

Lets see if this works.
Hey there it is.
Let me know if it works.

[jeffrey001]

Hi, here is the file.

Jeff

[sdeering]

Hey thanks alot Jeff. I will give that try.

Stephen

[sdeering]

I have had some luck but if I program a lead in with the same program I still get different feedrate for every move.

Any ideas fellas.

Hers the first trials.

[jeffrey001]

Hi, instead of programming a lead in/out, just draw your line a little bit longer.

Jeff

BTW, you did a very nice job.

Did you made the canon yourself or it is the original one, hope you were not too nervous prior hitting cycle start.

[sdeering]

I was looking for the thinning affect as the flute ends mostly. Yes even after doing a couple of dry runs with a small marker in the quill its still quite nerve racking when you hit the go button. .050 cut with a 1/2 carbide end mill one pass.
I'm still thinking it is something in the post processor that is causing the feed rate issue. I have looked but nothing seems to pop out at me.
I put the rifle together, its a 6mmBR I have a new barrel for it this was a used one I am just playing with.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by sdeering I was looking for the thinning affect as the flute ends mostly. Yes even after doing a couple of dry runs with a small marker in the quill its still quite nerve racking when you hit the go button. .050 cut with a 1/2 carbide end mill one pass. I'm still thinking it is something in the post processor that is causing the feed rate issue. I have looked but nothing seems to pop out at me. I put the rifle together, its a 6mmBR I have a new barrel for it this was a used one I am just playing with.

I assume you are doing this as 2D_Contour , comps OFF and Rotary Axis On around the X axis.

If you are, then to get the thinning effect, change the contour type to 3D and alter the end point depths to get the tool to rise away front the A-axis centre ( arc may have to be changed to splines to have a gradual lift). The distance the entites are from Z-zero would be replicated by the toolpath
ie 3 straight lines from X0Y0Z1 to X1Y0Z0.9 to X2Y0Z0.9 to X3Y0Z1 would be OK to put a lead in/out on a 2" diameter shaft

The feedrate varying is a cross between feed per minute (linear) and degees per minute (rotary), you may find some sort of reference under inverse feed (minutes per degree ), rotary feedrate or cutting, or something similar along those lines in the programming manual for your machine. They could also be in a "Special Functions" manual if your machine is supplied with them