XYZB Conservation job.. and related info

[yohudi]

I mentioned a failrly complex XZYBC job performed using gmax / CNC_Toolkit a couple of weeks ago in this thread....

carving panel

Check out some video of the job cutting below... Machining was performed by Colin Doughty of DoughtyDrive Toolpathing was entirely performed using CNC_Toolkit, available for FREE at The CNC Toolkit - Creative Toolpath Control If you think you've seen a DIY CNC machine cut wood... take a look at this....

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLz9K9wcHsE"]YouTube - chatham carvings.wmv[/nomedia]


Some new spline-building techniques were employed in this job.. but in general, the toolpathing methods are as described in the current version of the ebook available, again for FREE, at cnc4free.org homepage

This job and a further XYZAC / BC job will be added to the ebook as concept-to-cut case studies in the near future. A cutting 'preview' of the type of toolpath for the planned XYZAC / BC case study is online below...

XYZAC / BC Roughing With CNC_Toolkit

Enjoy the show....

TTFN

Danny

[zool]

Danny, two items.

1. Colin's video is the cause of a ruined keyboard .. from me drooling watching his 5-axis CNC.

2. Colin appears to have created a lifetime's worth of wood chips!

W.

[yohudi]

Can see where you're coming from on both counts there.

Coilin's machine (and drives) are self-evidently above and beyond the call-of-duty for pretty much any work involving wood and light metals...

I abandoned any plans I had to design rotary drives for use on my own machine after I'd seen Colin's, and if I was building again .... I'd be very tempted to go with his machine design. I have been tempted to strip my machine and rebuild a 'Doughty-esque' version of it, around the existing componenets.... In the end I think I'll just add rotary drives... as a stripdown right now is out of the question... but if I ever move the machine.....

re: the wood chips.... I was so glad to be on the opposite side of the world to the clean-up associated with this job

ttfn

Danny

[ger21]

I'm a little curious about one thing. I've watched a lot of 5 axis videos on youtube, and the tool is always normal (perpendicular) to the surface being cut. But it's not in this video. Is that intentional, or just due to the way that CNC Toolkit works?

[louieatienza]

I'm a little curious about one thing. I've watched a lot of 5 axis videos on youtube, and the tool is always normal (perpendicular) to the surface being cut. But it's not in this video. Is that intentional, or just due to the way that CNC Toolkit works?

It does, if you watch a little farther...

Noticed in the video that the c axis was not utilized, not that it was needed. Nonetheless very impressive, and I wish I had 3ds max, because I'd be all over cnc toolkit...

[ger21]

I saw it at the very end, cutting the bottom edge, but during the majority of the video it wasn't.

[louieatienza]

I saw it at the very end, cutting the bottom edge, but during the majority of the video it wasn't.

I watched it again. It switches a few times. It looks like the roughing is done 3 axis, and the re-roughing and finishing done 4 axis... I would say 50-50 if not mre 4 axis footage?

[yohudi]

Hi There...

It's correct to say that the higher passes in the cut are XYZ motion only..... The original post.. which I did reference, does make this clear...

carving panel

Other images:
=============

These images illustrate the toolpathing templates created in gmax, using methods described in my ebook and processed to 3 and 5 axis gcode with CNC_Toolkit..........

It' was about 35% of the surface removed as XYZ paths to gain clearance... and also reduce the tool motion / processing... Just because there are 5 axes available doesn't mean they MUST all run if the cut can process just as well with 3.......

All of the video from 1min 20 seconds shows XYZB cutting, except for 1 clip at the 'second-end' point, I think. The majority of the cut was in fact XYZB... but obviously no-one wants to sit through the time required to run the whole cut...

To be honest no matter how many axes are running... it's still a benchmark as far as a self built machine is concerned... At least I'm not aware of any other self-designed/built 5 axis setup that removes stock at this rate.....

hope this helps

Danny

[yohudi]

....... I wish I had 3ds max, because I'd be all over cnc toolkit...

Hi There,

in that case you can be 'all over' the toolkit... because you DON'T need 3DSMAX....

gmax, essentially a FREE version of 3D Studio 4, is available via turbosquid.com... CNC_Toolkit functions are identical below gmax in all but 1 respect... and there is a fast workaround in place to resolve this single difference with file saving/export.

Anyone interested in work beyond 3 axes really should take a look at what you can do for free....

hope this helps

Danny

[yohudi]

I'm a little curious about one thing. I've watched a lot of 5 axis videos on youtube, and the tool is always normal (perpendicular) to the surface being cut. But it's not in this video. Is that intentional, or just due to the way that CNC Toolkit works?

Hi there,

this is an interesting point....

it's not so much a matter of how the toolkit works.. it's more a case of how the angle-generation is addressed / programmed...

There are options to remain perpendicular to the object face normals... but the individual faces on this mesh were so numerous and random with respect to angle-distribution that an alternative means was required.....

EDIT:

I've attached an images showing the mesh surface up close to make this a bit clearer... if you checkout all the tiny bumps and contours... B-Axis rotation did not need to be so busy as spline deformation in XY and Z axes carried the shape of all the little bumps.. allowing a more uniform rotation of the head through each pass.

Fortunately CNC_Toolkit has means to construct a less random set of angles for machining.... but, as was correctly noted... this can vary form a 'normals' based approach. As is evident from the video the result at the tooltip is much the same....

I learned a great deal about angle generation with gmax and the toolkit pathing this job... I came to a new appreciation of the power and functionality of the methods / principles that serve as the basis for Rab's angle processing.

Hope this helps

Danny

[zool]

Danny opined: "To be honest no matter how many axes are running... it's still a benchmark as far as a self built machine is concerned... At least I'm not aware of any other self-designed/built 5 axis setup that removes stock at this rate....."

This is a competent machine in my book: CNC machine - HYPEBOAT

I drool over this one just as much as Colin's and his inventions!!!

[yohudi]

Hi There...

took a look at that link and it's a pretty neat 5 axis setup also....

My 'benchmark' comment in respect of Colin's machine refers in particular to the depth of cut , feedrate and stock handling (Dimensions of 2m x .6m x .3 m and 300 Kg weight) capabilities... The stock in use is a medium to hardwood called macracarpa...

I've never seen any other self-built cnc machine to date rip medium to hardwood 1/2 inch deep at just on 200 inches-per-minute feedrate... that's the benchmark I was referring to... Take into account that it's moving a piece of stock that starts out at well over 600llbs.. with precision... I don't think I need say anymore really...

hope this helps

Danny