[Adaware]

I have never used more than three axis and now i need to utilitise the A-axis as i'm going to machine a camshaft from blank. So, how to i proceed with this?
Step by step or critical hints and tips greatly appreciated

Can i use one of the standard post prosessors or do i need a custom one?
I will only use the cordinates anyway, the rest i will take care of...

[tstom]

Does your machine support continous 4th axis machining or just indexing?
It is probably possible to make the part either way
What post are you using?

[Adaware]

It supports continous 4th axis i belive, have never tried really. Can test it tomorrow.

Normally i use a Okuma post but i don't think it covers all four axes. Is it possible to use a different post?

[alrassoul]

congratulations, you haver been using 3 axis a while, for me all my knowledge is purely theoretica&l as I am novice in the domain.

But, concerning MACH3, you have to deal with 2 things, first of all, declare AXIS A in the configuration of the // port for example and the limits an homing switches.
second, you have to specify which axis is a lave of which, that is for example axis A as slave of Y or Z axis.
that's all !

[tstom]

yes it is usually possible to use some other post or I think you can cut and paste the 4 axis sections out of a 4 axis post

I'm not a post expert so maybe some one else will help out

Then post your crankshaft file and we can help you

[Mike Mattera]

Do you realize that cutting this with the bottom of an end mill might cause some "dishing" on the lobe of the cam.

What version of Mastercam do you have?

Mike Mattera

[tstom]

Mike,
What I've seen done is to rough the journals with the end mill the finish grid the bearing journals
Tom

[Adaware]

Do you realize that cutting this with the bottom of an end mill might cause some "dishing" on the lobe of the cam.

What version of Mastercam do you have?

Mike Mattera

Yes i know that, it will be grinded afterwards but first i need to get the 4th axis going

I have the latest version.

Will try some more today, i did manage to take a 5-axis post and lock it to 4-axes but when i was going to choose the surface i wanted to machine i did not find any even if it was a solid model in the workspace. Maybe i did something wrong in the cut menus..

[the thrill]

I've done lobe machining on a mill/turn type lathe with a 45 degree face mill and the B axis tilted at 45 degrees... worked out quite well

[Superman]

I've done lobe machining on a mill/turn type lathe with a 45 degree face mill and the B axis tilted at 45 degrees... worked out quite well

There is sample toolpaths, I think in the multi-axis directory for this type of application using the cutter at 45° also using the 4th axis as a "turn axis"

You need to have a wide face cutter ie "base OD" and "base ID" that effectively covers the journal as it turn up into the base of the cutter ( this face generates the diameter as it "turns".

here is another method
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQwq5zxNMk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQwq5zxNMk[/ame]

[Adaware]

Can't get this 4-axis thing to work, i have tested the machine and it supports simultaneous 4-axis machining. Can anyone help me with a step by step procedure on how i can do this?
Mastercam support in Norway is crap by the way....
To tilt 45 degrees is no option, i want the A-axis parallel with the machine table.

[tobyaxis]

Can't get this 4-axis thing to work, i have tested the machine and it supports simultaneous 4-axis machining. Can anyone help me with a step by step procedure on how i can do this?
Mastercam support in Norway is crap by the way....
To tilt 45 degrees is no option, i want the A-axis parallel with the machine table.

I pretty much know squat about using MCX3 to do 4 axis programming but the basics of 4 axis are pretty simple.

First, what machine are you using and what CNC Control?

Second, how is your 4th axis mounted to the machine, parallel to the X or the Y axis? If it's X then it should be an "A" axis. If it's Y then it would be a "B" axis.

Third, Do you have a Picture or Drawing of your Machine? This will give everyone an idea of how to instruct you.

There are a few other things I need to ask but the above are the most important.

This photo is a 4th axis that is parallel to the X Axis.

[Adaware]

Okuma Space Center 3-axis with optional A axis, Okuma cnc control.

It's the same setup that you posted a picture of.

[tobyaxis]

Have you tried to move the A Axis in MDI Mode. I am not too familiar with the Okuma Control. MDI is Manual Data Input.

Try to program

G90G0A45.0
G91G28A0

This should rotate the axis to 45 degrees then return it to zero.

[Adaware]

I have done that many times, the correct code on this machine would be;
G00 A45
A0

You posted many other G codes there (fanuc control?), what do they do?

I can move all four axes at the same time in MDI mode and in a program.

[tobyaxis]

I have done that many times, the correct code on this machine would be;
G00 A45
A0

You posted many other G codes there (fanuc control?), what do they do?

I can move all four axes at the same time in MDI mode and in a program.

G90 absolute positioning
G91 incremental positioning
G28 Return to Home position

[Superman]

Two senarios to look at
- that you machine will run from a posted file
- mastercam will output suitable code

Is your machine parameters set for shortest and/or signed direction ?
MDI
A10 ( goes CW to A10 )
A0 ( back 10 degrees to A0)
A-10 ( goes CCW to A350 )
A180 ( goes 190 degees CW to A180)
( machine is ready if it can do this )

or do you have to use M15/M16 to force rotate direction ?

Mastercam-basics
Can you create a toolpath where the tool stays on Y0 but rotates around the part ? ( try it on a circle arond the axis first, then move on to a cylinder)

Now make the tool stay still and rotate the part around the axis.
( you will need to use "rotart axis" settings in Mastercam )

Master this then the next step should be to replace the simple geometry with your desired form.

[cob]

Can't get this 4-axis thing to work, i have tested the machine and it supports simultaneous 4-axis machining. Can anyone help me with a step by step procedure on how i can do this?
Mastercam support in Norway is crap by the way....
To tilt 45 degrees is no option, i want the A-axis parallel with the machine table.

HEY ADAWARE
try this g-code program on your machine ,

N110 T1 M6
N112 G0 G90 X.3535 Y-.1089 A0. S1426 M3
N114 G43 H0 Z2.
N116 Z.9011
N118 G1 Z.5871 F6.33
N120 X1.6465
N122 Y.1089
N124 X.3535
N126 Z.6871
N128 G0 Z2.
N130 X1.654 Y.119
N132 Z.9011
N134 G1 Z.5871
N136 X.346
N138 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N140 G1 Y-.1165
N142 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N144 G1 X1.654
N146 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N148 G1 Y.1165
N150 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N152 G1 Z.6871
N154 G0 Z2.
N156 A-60.
N158 X.3535 Y-.1089
N160 Z.9011
N162 G1 Z.5871
N164 X1.6465
N166 Y.1089
N168 X.3535
N170 Z.6871
N172 G0 Z2.
N174 X1.654 Y.119
N176 Z.9011
N178 G1 Z.5871
N180 X.346
N182 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N184 G1 Y-.1165
N186 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N188 G1 X1.654
N190 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N192 G1 Y.1165
N194 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N196 G1 Z.6871
N198 G0 Z2.
N200 A-120.
N202 X.3535 Y-.1089
N204 Z.9011
N206 G1 Z.5871
N208 X1.6465
N210 Y.1089
N212 X.3535
N214 Z.6871
N216 G0 Z2.
N218 X1.654 Y.119
N220 Z.9011
N222 G1 Z.5871
N224 X.346
N226 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N228 G1 Y-.1165
N230 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N232 G1 X1.654
N234 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N236 G1 Y.1165
N238 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N240 G1 Z.6871
N242 G0 Z2.
N244 A-180.
N246 X.3535 Y-.1089
N248 Z.9011
N250 G1 Z.5871
N252 X1.6465
N254 Y.1089
N256 X.3535
N258 Z.6871
N260 G0 Z2.
N262 X1.654 Y.119
N264 Z.9011
N266 G1 Z.5871
N268 X.346
N270 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N272 G1 Y-.1165
N274 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N276 G1 X1.654
N278 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N280 G1 Y.1165
N282 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N284 G1 Z.6871
N286 G0 Z2.
N288 A-240.
N290 X.3535 Y-.1089
N292 Z.9011
N294 G1 Z.5871
N296 X1.6465
N298 Y.1089
N300 X.3535
N302 Z.6871
N304 G0 Z2.
N306 X1.654 Y.119
N308 Z.9011
N310 G1 Z.5871
N312 X.346
N314 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N316 G1 Y-.1165
N318 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N320 G1 X1.654
N322 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N324 G1 Y.1165
N326 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N328 G1 Z.6871
N330 G0 Z2.
N332 A-300.
N334 X.3535 Y-.1089
N336 Z.9011
N338 G1 Z.5871
N340 X1.6465
N342 Y.1089
N344 X.3535
N346 Z.6871
N348 G0 Z2.
N350 X1.654 Y.119
N352 Z.9011
N354 G1 Z.5871
N356 X.346
N358 G3 X.3435 Y.1165 R.0025
N360 G1 Y-.1165
N362 G3 X.346 Y-.119 R.0025
N364 G1 X1.654
N366 G3 X1.6565 Y-.1165 R.0025
N368 G1 Y.1165
N370 G3 X1.654 Y.119 R.0025
N372 G1 Z.6871
N374 G0 Z2.
N376 M5
N378 G91 G28 Z0.
N380 G28 X0. Y0. A0.
N382 M30
%

[Superman]

N110 T1 M6
N112 G0 G90 X.3535 Y-.1089 A0. S1426 M3
N114 G43 H0 Z2.

Hey cob, "H0", won't that put the spndle nose 2" away from his origin ?

Adaware, I suggest altering line N114 to G43 H1 Z2.

H0 sets any tool length to zero, you cannot put a length in H0

[Adaware]

Hey cob, "H0", won't that put the spindle nose 2" away from his origin ?

Adaware, I suggest altering line N114 to G43 H1 Z2.

H0 sets any tool length to zero, you cannot put a length in H0

I did notice that

HEY ADAWARE
try this g-code program on your machine ,

N110 T1 M6
N112 G0 G90 X.3535 Y-.1089 A0. S1426 M3
.........
%

I can try it even though i use the metric system but the program should work anyway, i have found out that i can use all four axes at the same time.

Two senarios to look at
- that you machine will run from a posted file
- mastercam will output suitable code

Is your machine parameters set for shortest and/or signed direction ?
MDI
A10 ( goes CW to A10 )
A0 ( back 10 degrees to A0)
A-10 ( goes CCW to A350 )
A180 ( goes 190 degees CW to A180)
( machine is ready if it can do this )

or do you have to use M15/M16 to force rotate direction ?

Mastercam-basics
Can you create a toolpath where the tool stays on Y0 but rotates around the part ? ( try it on a circle arond the axis first, then move on to a cylinder)

Now make the tool stay still and rotate the part around the axis.
( you will need to use "rotart axis" settings in Mastercam )

Master this then the next step should be to replace the simple geometry with your desired form.

It goes the shortest way, have never tried the M16/M17 command. First of all i don't know which postprosessor to use because i don't know if any of them will work. The Cam don't seem to understand that i want to rotate the toolpath in the A-axis, i need a step to step process guide to fin my way around the Cam and to be surtain i choose the right parameters. I'm not trying to be difficult here but i can't get anywhere if the parameters are not right.
Does anyone now of any tutorials for this?
Have anyone here done this on a okuma post before that can help me?

G90 absolute positioning
G91 incremental positioning
G28 Return to Home position

I can't remember to have used these commands before....


I truly appreciate your help guys, you should have been in the service team for Mastercam in Norway, maybe they could have learned some tricks