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Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: sawdustman18 on January 28, 2009, 09:00:36 PM

Title: 4 axis in inches
Post by: sawdustman18 on January 28, 2009, 09:00:36 PM

Is there some way to have the 4th or A axis take inches insted of degrees?  I have 2 programs that I used V-carve to design and Bobcad-cam to convert to A but all it does is change the Y to A but the value is still in inches needless to say that does not get the job done.

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: RICH on January 29, 2009, 07:00:08 AM

Do a search under fourth axis or rotary table as the there are  posts worth reading. They provide specific info for manny different set ups.

Got to go,
RICH

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: olf20 on January 29, 2009, 07:36:20 AM

Here is one discussion.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,5281.0.html
Hope this helps!
olf20

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: 30VER on February 01, 2009, 04:07:02 PM

Hi
Same thing block pops up, no shuttle or buttons
Dan

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: Chip on February 01, 2009, 05:47:13 PM

Hi, Sawdustman

Post some of your code, Dxf & G-code.

Hears a Test 4 th Axis done in BobCad ver. 23, It has A axis in Deg.'s, The Y axis is 3.1416 tall and "A axis setting"  is set to 1 inch.

Still fooling around with it Hear, Would like to look at your work, What ver of BobCad are you using.

Chip

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: olf20 on February 02, 2009, 07:01:20 AM

Hi all,
Here is a thread over at Vectric's forum.
Some very interesting stuff.

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=656

Hope this helps!!
olf20

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: ger21 on February 02, 2009, 11:21:59 AM

Quote from: sawdustman18 on January 28, 2009, 09:00:36 PM

Is there some way to have the 4th or A axis take inches insted of degrees?  I have 2 programs that I used V-carve to design and Bobcad-cam to convert to A but all it does is change the Y to A but the value is still in inches needless to say that does not get the job done.

Can't you just set the axis up as linear? I guess it would depend on how the code is written, but it may work.

Title: Re: 4 axis in inches
Post by: adprinter on July 27, 2011, 01:38:42 AM

You have to "do the math", but CNC Wrapper does a good job. What I mean by doing the math, is to first create a toolpath for your given project, such as a MeshCAM 3D carving, and open it into Mach3. Navigate to the toolpath window, and READ the Y Extents of the open G code. Next, close the G code file, and import it into CNC Wrapper. The surface circumference of the desired stock must be equal to the Y Extents you just read in Mach3's toolpath window. Follow the instructions in CNC Wrapper on how to do this, but the G code file it outputs can the be loaded into Mach3 and (once you have everything set up in Mach3 for a 4th axis machine) will carve the file onto a cylinder loaded into the 4th axis chuck. Works for me, but I am still learning....