This is a 6mm key. Half round and half square. I have the 6mm keyway stock so the challenge is to round the 6mm top. Understand I could do it with a bull nose, but can you do this in a 4th axis rotary?
Thanks
This is a 6mm key. Half round and half square. I have the 6mm keyway stock so the challenge is to round the 6mm top. Understand I could do it with a bull nose, but can you do this in a 4th axis rotary?
Thanks
It could be done on a 4th axis, but I would just use a corner rounding cutter.
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA
I would also do it as Jim suggested.
4ax zig-zag is also possible although would require a great deal of support/stabilization for that long part. Think custom fixture, and/or additional features like center drilled hole to accommodate a tailstock/live center. By the time you are done your hourly-rate cost +20x the price of the cutter required for that job.
Just easier to clamp it onto a 3ax vise and running two finish passes with a brand new/sharp R3 corner rounding cutter.
I agree with all the other posters, such a job would be easiest done with a simple contour and a rounding cutter, just pop it in a vise and a couple of rough and finish passes and job done.
Yes it can certainly be done in a 4th axis but the fixturing required would take time and money to make.
However if you are determined to use a 4th axis then have a look at the attached Fusion file I have done and if it is of some use as a pointer then go for it
JFYI When I opened your file it was 60mm square and 700 mm long, some key that
Regards
Rob
Here ya go... first prize.. lol. Although I think I've convinced myself it's not the way to do it!
https://youtu.be/wCJ9Fp8QGTc