For as long as I have been doing 4th or rotary axis work on my router I have believed that Mach can
only represent A axis correctly in the toolpath window.  Not B.

It occurred to me that before I start advising others that this is the case, I had better check that I am not mistaken and just doing something stupid.

So my question to the experienced 4th axis users.  Can the toolpath window represent B axis toolpaths correctly or not?

Greg

For anybody who may have been interested Brian has confirmed what I thought,

that only A axis can be displayed correctly in toolpath window. Not B or C.

Greg

Hello,
This is an old post and I am a new user.

Is this still an issue with the Tool Path Display.

I have been having problems interpreting the Tool Path Display.
So I loaded this stupid simple hand written g-code to test movement directions and orientation.

The g-code results for XYZ movement result in a path that is what I expected, and is what I see the machine perform.
The g-code results of A and C rotations result in a path that is unexpected, yet the machine performs as expected.

If the Mach3 Tool Path Display is not adequate to display 5 axis movement, what viewer do you use?


~g-code~
(RS3 Basic code test of the PilotPro Orientation)
(No Spindle Test for Direction and Orientation of XYZAC)
G20
G40
G49
G80
G90

(Test of XY, 2 stair steps, 1 diagonal, return to x-1, y-1)
G54
G0 Z2.0 A0. C0.
G17
G0 X-1.0 Y0.0
G0 Y-1.0
G0 X-2.0
G0 Y-2.0
G0 X-3.0 Y-3.0
G0 X-1.0
G0 Y-1.0
G17
M6

(Test of XYZ, XY box with Z stepping upward)
G0 X-3.0 Y-1.0 Z3.0
G0 X-3.0 Y-3.0 Z4.0
G0 X-1.0 Y-3.0 Z5.0
G0 X-1.0 Y-1.0 Z6.0
M6

(Test of A HEAD, CW)
G0 A5.0
G0 A0.0
G0 A15.0
G0 A0.0

(Test of XYZA)
G0 A15.0
G0 X-3.0 Y-1.0 Z5.0 A45.0
G0 X-3.0 Y-3.0 Z4.0 A90.0
G0 X-1.0 Y-3.0 Z5.0 A45.0
G0 X-1.0 Y-1.0 Z6.0 A15.0
G0 A0.0
M6

(Test of C TABLE, CCW)
G0 C15.0
G0 C-15.0
G0 C90.0
G0 C-90.0
G0 C0.0
M6

(Test of XYZAC, XY moves to center of table, A points to C @90, C rotates 360)
G0 X-4.0 Y-4.0
G0 Z3.0 A90.0
G0 C360.0
G0 X-1.0 Y-1.0 Z6.0 A0.0