Mastercam 4 Axis

[Reuquen Boyett]

5Axis Curve Machining helps you make better use of the capabilities that 5-axis machines provide. Your multiaxis machine is capable of precise trimming along a complexly curved edge while maintaining proper tool angle and contact.

Tool axis control is what separates multiaxis toolpaths from normal surface, chain, and point toolpaths. The ability to manipulate the angle of the tool, relative to the cut pattern, puts a greater amount of control in your hands. The cut speed, finish quality, and tool life can all be improved with tool axis control.

Multiaxis toolpaths are also very useful for advanced control on 3-axis machines. With Mastercam, you have complete control over three crucial elements of multiaxis machining: cut pattern, tool axis control, and collision avoidance.

Hello to everybody here. I am new to Mastercam and i would like to ask something. I have designed a mold in CAD (CATIA if this makes any sense) and i want to generate the codes for CNC turning. I attach a link of a CAD image to let you understand the geometry of the model.

The geometry is quite easy and it's really straightforward to just write the codes manually on the CNC machine rather than getting the codes from CAM software, but i really want to compare my program with Mastercam's "opinion".

In Mastercam the axis the part should be in to get XZ lathe output is in the 'Top' plane. Which is really the XY plane of MC. So your lathe Z is MC X and lathe X is MC Y. You then can put MC in a D+Z+ plane to get the right axis display.

I'm trying to do something very simple and getting nowhere. I want to put a constant radius on the edge of a hole that goes through a piece of round stock. I've done things like this with 3D models, but can't find a solution with this simple sketch up. Should just be able to sub the Y axis and get what I want, but it isn't cutting a smooth line. Instead it appears to be piecing together a bunch of straight lines instead of arcs, and it looks like junk. How can I get a smooth rad on that edge?? Do I have some settings wrong? Any help welcome. File attached.

Create a curve on the edge you are trying to put the rad on. Use contour without axis substitution, it should recognize the 3D curve if not change the contour type to 3D. You might have to offset the curve to suit your rad mill. I am assuming you are using a 3 axis mill going by your file.

Instead of chaining a flat arc, you need to chain the intersection (solid geo) then check unroll geometry with a tight tolerance in the operation axis sub parameters. Doing it this way gives a much finer motion for the axis sub. Otherwise, the way you had it, will default to the tolerances in the post I think to break up the arc into an axis sub situation. With my method its all point to point and the post will only map the coordinates, it won't be breaking it up. Mind you, you should be close to tangent on the top edge, but the inside won't be tangent. No way to get both with that tool. if you want a good tangent fillet, you will want to use a ball end and surface it.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. When I was playing with UNROLL it put the toolpath out in space. Didn't think it was the right setting to make it work, so I didn't bother toying with it much. Tightening it up really helped. Now I know. Thanks.

Exactly in that fact you are not looking for a correctly machined feature? Backplot and Verify the toolpath and you will see the tool doesn't keep the radius exactly perfect. Want to see what I am talking about put a .0625R on the edge and then backplot the toolpath. If you are shooting for a perfect .0625R at that edge doing what your trying will not accomplish a perfect part. It will be good at 2 points, but then fade away at the other 2 point furthest away from the tangent intersection. Can be done with this tool, but would really need to be done with Curve 5 axis like in this example, but not perfect.

I had that as a problem before with a 5 axis post and using axis sub toolpaths. Never found out what the solution was as I didn't own the post and was locked out of most of it. I will dig into it when I get a chance.

Yes you must have a post for your machine that works with your 5 Axis toolpaths. If you do then the post should work if you don't then you will need a 5 Axis post or will need to work out one of the generic posts to give you the output your needing. You have a great dealer in your area might be surprised what reaching out to them will give you for help and support.

There are some cases where I think sub would be faster for the same result, like milling a chamfer around a cylinder from the side. Could just be that I need more training on the live 5 operations though.

I don't know how many paths you need to do this way but you can also use Polar Cordinate Interpolation if your machine has it. G12.1/G13.1 in my Mazaks. Position Y to COR and then turn it on, program as normal.

I'm not sure you are looking for axis substitution. axis substitution is for when your tool is perpendicular to the rotary axis. Is that what you are looking for? Axis substitution is not typically supported by 5 axis posts but can be implemented.

if you are looking for your tool to be parallel with the axis of rotation Mastercam has this function on the rotary axis tab that will use the C axis. this functionality may be supported by your 5 axis posts, if not it can be implemented.

Here I threw this example together to show how you can use Multiaxis roughing to get the output code being asked for here. Axis Sub is nice because the code is much smaller, but this method should run on any 4 Axis machine with no issue.

I have a round part with some internal features that were milled on a VMC and now I have to add a port hole to match up with the inside. There are also many other holes on the OD of the part so I am using the 4th axis. So when I made my Setup Sheet I said to indicate a given surface flat and set that to A0. Which makes the first hole directly on top of the part (from Top View). Problem is when I post that first whole that is directly on top posts as A-180. I hadn't noticed this with my 4th axis post here before because I wasn't matching up previous ops. Correct me if I am wrong but shouldn't A0. be the "top" and not require rotation. Please help me fix this I'm guessing the Machine Component Manager-Rotary Axis page is where to fix it but I am not sure as what to do?

Correct me if I am wrong but shouldn't A0. be the "top" and not require rotation. Please help me fix this I'm guessing the Machine Component Manager-Rotary Axis page is where to fix it but I am not sure as what to do?

Depends how you have set up your system...You can theoretically have your A0 n any plane but MC prefers to be on Mastercam origin (this is especially true with multiaxis), it is less fussy about which way is up or left etc....

Also The 4th axis is sitting on the right(x+) side of the machine with the chuck facing the x- direction. I am guessing I just need to change the direction to X- on the Component Manager but I am not sure never had this be an issue before?

Not sure the version you are using, but if above 2019 then you set the operation to 4th Axis and call it a day. If not then you drill one and then use Transform Rotate. Never in my years of doing it have even thought to try to use Axis Sub to accomplish what our doing. Might work, but seeing how you just said it was a 180 off tells me not like you hoped it would.

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