4th Axis Direction Question

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Ok. One more try. Do you suppose that "axis motion" as it relates to rotary axes actually refer to the motion of the workpiece, or the tool relative to the workpiece?

I fell into the trap of using axis and workpiece motion interchangeably in my own posts, but It's not really clear that they are the same. In fact, they might be interpreted as being quite the opposite.

I've never seen a rotary axis described in terms of tool movement. That would only make sense if there were rotary machines where the work was stationary, and the tool orbited around it, which I've never seen. The tool/machine distinction is necessary for linear axes, as there are just as many machine which move the table around the tool, as there are that move the tool around the table, so one configuration or the other HAD to be defined as the standard frame of reference.

Regards,
Ray L.

[flick]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHRk3_WQe2Q]4th Axis Indexing Spindle - YouTube

I've never seen a rotary axis described in terms of tool movement. That would only make sense if there were rotary machines where the work was stationary, and the tool orbited around it, which I've never seen. The tool/machine distinction is necessary for linear axes, as there are just as many machine which move the table around the tool, as there are that move the tool around the table, so one configuration or the other HAD to be defined as the standard frame of reference.

Regards,
Ray L.