Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Might be adding a small sub spindle mounted right next to my main spindle at 90 degrees so I can machine into the face of parts on 4th axis. Getting that spindle to operate at the correct time will be a whole different can of worms, but for now im wondering about swapping my x and z axis so I can still generate code in fusion cam for machining on the face of 4th axis parts with the horizontal sub spindle. My x axis has B slaved to it for dual motor, dual ballscrew. If I use the standard swap axis call for x and z, is slave B going to follow as it should? Or is this going to complicate things?
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
A lot of times when I do strange stuff that Fusion won't do directly, I post separate operations that generate the tool path that I want, then manually merge the G code. Sometimes this requires manually editing or writing the G code. Fusion will handle 5 axis operations, but may require modifying a post processor to get what you want. How's your Javascript programming skills? :)
Depends on what controller you are using to run your machine. You should be able to slave the B axis to the X (or any other axis) if your controller will handle it.
Sounds like you really need a full on horizontal machining center :)
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
This is giving me a headache :) I think you will have to assign the B axis as a slave to the Z to get what you want. You may be able to do this with a macro. I'm no expert in Mach3, in fact, I avoid it whenever possible.
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Quote:
My x axis has B slaved to it for dual motor, dual ballscrew. If I use the standard swap axis call for x and z, is slave B going to follow as it should?
If I had to guess, I would say that no, it won't work.
And I just looked at the manual, and it doesn't look like you can slave/unslave through macros.
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
After some more thinking, it would really save a lot of headache if I could just parallel the 2 step/dir pins to the 2 x stepper drivers. That works fine right? Not running 2 steppers on one drive, wiring 2 drives on the same step/dir pins. Any problem with this? Makes the swap axis just as simple as any and also frees up my b axis which I might want to use someday.
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Why can't you just do a search/replace on the g-code?
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Can you not do the axis swap and then use G18 (XZ), G19 (YZ) for arcs? You can swap the axes around in Fusion and basically assign any axis as a rotary axis. Many times I post different operations separately and merge the G code to do things that I would not normally be able to do, especially using live tooling in the lathe. Fusion can generate 5 axis tool paths.
This is kind of what we did here to make a couple of these parts, the CNC lathe was busy and we didn't want to do these on the manual lathe. I can't recall if we used turning or 3D milling for this operation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqcw0Digets
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Fusion turn posts only output radius mode. There is a setting for that in the menu, but the only option is radius. I believe it would be an issue if you output the code in mill mode, you would remove 2x the material. Maybe there is an option in Mach3 to select radius or diameter? I don't use Mach3 so have no idea about that.
Re: Will swap axis work properly with an axis that has a slave?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
QuinnSjoblom
At least the swap axis part is simple. Switching control between spindles is gonna be a whole different puzzle. Don't even know where to start for that.
I use M133 (Run Forward), M134 (Run Reverse), M135 (Stop) for my live tooling. These are Haas live tool control M codes as I recall. I'm pretty sure Mach3 would support these codes with a macro. You just need to assign the aux spindle as an axis or maybe an aux spindle. Not totally sure how that works in Mach3, I have the live tooling as an axis on my lathe. So the line of G code would read: P2000 M133 (Run Forward at 2000 RPM)