[AlanCase]

Hi,
I hope these few questions are not too ridiculous.
In Tormach speak what is the 4th axis?
Does it rotate in the xy plane or does it tilt?
I cannot see a use for a rotation axis but a tilt axis would be useful.
Also what would a 5th axis be.
I hope I explained the questions OK.
Regards Alan

[saabaero]

The 4th axis on the Tormach normally rotates in the ZY plane when the table is standing up. It can be laid flat and then it will rotate around the XY plane. The ZY plane rotation is more useful and is used for machining on cylindrical parts. It can also be used to create multiple fixtures for machining multiple parts as the table increments rotationally. It may also allow for machining of additional sides of flat sided parts.

Rotation along the XY axis can be used for machining circular features more accurately than using circular interpolation and can extend the reach along the X axis by positioning the table near the end of X travel (on one side of the table)

The 5th axis is normally mounted to the 4th axis when the 4th axis is mounted in the ZY plane. It is used to maintain cutter normality while machining 3 dimensional objects.

[bevinp]

Easiest way to understand 4th 5th axes is to google and watch some videos. Tormach have a few videos of 4th axis; eg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCrjBRDKLz4

[Steve Seebold]

This guy just doesn't make any sense. He is aligning a tilting 4th axis on the machine. After he gets the Y axis aligned, he checks the Z axis. Z is off .005, so instead if dialing it in from the tilting head, he shims it. HUH?

[tmarks11]

That is not the first time I have seen Mike Corliss (Tormach machinist) do something that wasn't completely logical. There is more than one way to do most things, but usually the simplest way is best...

In this case, maybe he was trying to make the video applicable to those who don't have a tilting 4th axis?

[mountaindew]

Does the tilting axis lock in this position? If so would you not want to set and indicate and shim it in the locked position? Then any movements of the "tilting" axis would be in relation to the preset locked 90 deg position that was indicated and shimmed. To crank the axis into alignment with indicator would be faster if you don't use the tilt axis in a program otherwise it would push all of those movements off. That's what I see anyway.

[sharpshooter90]

Kinda odd way of doing it- I would have first done the z axis alignment, because after he loosens his clamps to put the shim under, he'll have to redo his original work. I would have put a parallel across the face of the table too, so I could just travel across with the indicator in both axes.

Pet Peeve

AXIS- singular
AXES - plural
ACCESS- something altogether different