4th axis question

[saabaero]

Has anyone tried to do 3 dimensional cutting using the 4th axis? Allow me to explain. I have a thin wall part that is not a true cylindrical shape that I want to mount to my 4th axis and trim to a contoured shape along the “X” axis as the part rotates. That means that as the rotary axis was turning there would be movement of the cutter along the X and Z axes. I want to post code for that tool path in either Fusion 360 or Sprutcam.

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[CadRhino]

Hard to know with the little info provided but it sounds doable. Give it a try on scrap first.
You may want to see if RapidTurn is a better axis to use.


QUOTE=saabaero;2089006]Has anyone tried to do 3 dimensional cutting using the 4th axis? Allow me to explain. I have a thin wall part that is not a true cylindrical shape that I want to mount to my 4th axis and trim to a contoured shape along the “X” axis as the part rotates. That means that as the rotary axis was turning there would be movement of the cutter along the X and Z axes. I want to post code for that tool path in either Fusion 360 or Sprutcam.[/QUOTE]

[saabaero]

Hard to know with the little info provided but it sounds doable. Give it a try on scrap first.
You may want to see if RapidTurn is a better axis to use.


QUOTE=saabaero;2089006]Has anyone tried to do 3 dimensional cutting using the 4th axis? Allow me to explain. I have a thin wall part that is not a true cylindrical shape that I want to mount to my 4th axis and trim to a contoured shape along the “X” axis as the part rotates. That means that as the rotary axis was turning there would be movement of the cutter along the X and Z axes. I want to post code for that tool path in either Fusion 360 or Sprutcam.

[/QUOTE]

What I have to machine are objects that are the shape of a deep bowl. But instead of the upper edge being circular it is more oval in shape. I need to trim the upper edge to an irregular shape instead of being flat. Once I cut it I need to cut a chamfer into the outside edge that I trimmed so I need for the cutter to follow the edge in the X and Z axes as the object rotates. I know what the shape of the bowl is and have it modeled in CAD.

I know that I can program the PCNC 1100 to engrave on a cylinder with a constant Z depth and with the X axis synchronized to the rotational axis. But what I'm asking is if anyone has tried that with something that isn't round where the Z axis also has to be synchronized to the rotation. I know that the machine should be able to do this with using small 3d straight line segment moves but I'm trying to find out if there is the capability in either Fusion 360 or Sprutcam to create the toolpath. In a sense what I am trying to do is similar to engraving on an object that isn't perfectly round but has more of an oval shape about the rotary axis.

Hope that makes more sense!

[Gerry Kmack]

I believe that I understand what are wanting to do.

It's frustrating, because the Tormach mills, when equipped with a 4th axis setup are fully capable of moving simultaneously in all 4 axes. Your mill can do what you need it to do.

The limitation - at the moment - is in the Fusion 360 CAM software.

Currently, F360 CAM has only basic simultaneous 4th axis support. Support for indexed 4th axis work is pretty good, but some significant upgrades are needed for the kind of work that you described.

FWIW, I have created a post in Autodesk's Fusion 360 Ideastation, asking them to upgrade their simultaneous 4th axis capabilities to support projects like yours.

If you want to show your support for these upgrades please "like" my Ideastation post:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusio.../idi-p/7306512

Thanks & good luck with your project. It sounds pretty interesting.

Gerry Kmack
Cave Creek Woodworks
Pagosa Springs CO

[daniellyall]

O well cj caned it

[daniellyall]

saabaero do you wont something like this

[saabaero]

Gerry Kmack,
Thank you for your response. I agree that even though Fusion 360 has come a long way it still has a ways to go before it can be considered industrial strength. There are some things that I am used to in Inventor that would seem to be easy to incorporate but are still missing. For example it is frustrating for me to have to look up hole dimensions for flat head and socket head screw holes and to not have 'hole notes' in drawings that intelligently dimensions a countersunk or counterbored hole.

I wonder if Sprutcam has the ability to do what I need.

I will definitely go to the Ideastation and 'like' your post.

[saabaero]

saabaero do you wont something like this

Yes, that is the kind of contour I want to make except that the part I am machining isn't cylindrical but is somewhat of an oval around the axis. That means that the Z axis will have to move simultaneously.