advanced 3d carving on 4th axis rotary

[magicniner]

You can use an indexed 4th strategy rather than a rotary one, this will let you machine with the work fixed at multiple index angle intervals and access the entire part.
You can do this on a 3-axis system by having multiple copies of your part rotated in CAD to the required index angles and generating a path for each, paste the code together and manually add your index angles between blocks of code.
Ensure your clearance plane takes into account the rotating stock, it's easy to bust a cutter if the stock rotates and you haven't allowed for the corner height as it sweeps past! ;-)

[reefy86]

never knew this was possible thank you,

[magicniner]

You do need to get your part on-axis in CAD so you can rotate it in CAD in a way which will match your stock rotation on your 4th axis, if you hit any walls give me a shout! ;-)

[phill05]

You can use an indexed 4th strategy rather than a rotary one, this will let you machine with the work fixed at multiple index angle intervals and access the entire part.
You can do this on a 3-axis system by having multiple copies of your part rotated in CAD to the required index angles and generating a path for each, paste the code together and manually add your index angles between blocks of code.
Ensure your clearance plane takes into account the rotating stock, it's easy to bust a cutter if the stock rotates and you haven't allowed for the corner height as it sweeps past! ;-)

This is really interesting as I am looking to do the 4th axis indexing as well using Aspire V9, I have just built an indexer and constructed a stand alone control for it to be able to move from cnc to miller when needed.
I am not looking to carve a hand but how you would construct the full code would be very interesting.

Phill

[reefy86]

i will keep posted for anyone else interested because if i can figure it out then anyone can as i have no experience at all but i do love a challenge.

[reefy86]

is it possible to preview a gcode made from deskproto?

[phill05]

is it possible to preview a gcode made from deskproto?

Hi Reefy, I have been running with a demo of DeskProto today and it is producing a good Tap file but very large, so I have not got the tool-paths right yet some more testing required, I think it will do what you want and it's not too bad to learn.
Download a copy put an STL into it and watch the video for the settings you need.

Phill

[magicniner]

Hi Reefy, I have been running with a demo of DeskProto today and it is producing a good Tap file but very large, so I have not got the tool-paths right yet some more testing required, I think it will do what you want and it's not too bad to learn.
Download a copy put an STL into it and watch the video for the settings you need.

Phill

The use of STL models for CNC path creation could be part of your file size issue, the paths will be following the polygons which form the surface and there will be many of them ;-)

[phill05]

The use of STL models for CNC path creation could be part of your file size issue, the paths will be following the polygons which form the surface and there will be many of them ;-)

Nick I don't want to high-jack Reefy's thread but looks like we are both thinking along the same lines here, what would you say would be the best format to use to produce either a hand or in my case a car if not an stl.

Phill