Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Bill_O on July 11, 2024, 04:24:19 PM
-
I tried to do a search but it will not let me search for "5 axis".
Is anyone using Mach4 to run a 5 axis machine?
Will Hobby work or do I need Industrial?
What CAM software are you using to make the files?
Not sure we will make one but thinking about it.
-
Hobby will do 5 axis, most CAM systems can do 5 axis but you have to pay for the option to be turned on.
-
yes we did 5 axiss big cnc for woodworking ,actyaly we use 7 axiss
because its have circle big magazine and also one axiss we use for the dust hood
we also add drill head and it was load unload system i can send some video if intersting
the rtcp i did direct in my cabinet software
thanks
-
Thank you Graham and Katz
-
The only issue I see with Mach4 right now is the lack of kinematics. So you will need to be sure your centers of rotations in CAM match that of the mill you are using.
I did read some of the changelog a year or so ago that kinematics work was mentioned. So hopefully it will be implemented in the future.
There is someone on here that made their own Kinematics macro to update positions based on rotational position.
https://www.youtube.com/@stevenguevara3252
-
Kinematic it's not the issues, because this should solve on software side so it's not mach problem
But there some other point
For example the homing
The b c angel axis homing is absolute so you must think how read value from servo drive
In mach there issues of accl deccl when the values from each axis are different,in 5 axis it's more complex to solve
-
https://youtu.be/vEyZQ76fi3g?feature=shared
-
Hi,
I've built a trunnion fourth and platter fifth axis and use it no trouble.
Mach4 can handle six coordinated axes without difficulty.
Homing a rotary axis, be it four or five, requires something like 10ar second accuracy, so using the servo to home is advantageous, but not actually required.
I home my axes with a probing jig and homing script and can home both the trunnion and the platter to with 10 arc second in about 30 seconds to a minute, without
relying on index homing.
What Mach4 does not have is reverse kinematics (RK) which in turn means you must set the stock material is the exact same location as the CAM generated the code.
Its a little bit of a pain, but it works fine.
If Mach4Hobby had kinematics then you can place the stock material anywhere with the envelope and the kinematics will adjust the tool path in such a manner to correct the
difference between the 'assumed machine center, as seen by CAM' and the actual machine center.
Craig
-
Thanks for the information Craig, Katz and Chad