Maybe I can help a little on this subject. In 5-axis machining the 4th and 5th axes are controlled in coordinated moves with the x, y, and z axes. For both configurations, tilting and rotating spindle or tilting and rotating tables, the CAM program must create the correct GCODE for all the axes in each block to control the position of the tool tip as well as its orientation. In that way the tool can, for instance, be kept normal to the surface you are cutting with a flat end mill, or it can be guided into the spaces between the blades of a turbo impeller if you are cutting with a ball nose cutter. Some CAM programs create a position and orientation vector for each block, and the post-processor then converts into GCODE appropriate for your 5-axis machine setup, head or table. Others create it directly based on the machine type you select.
If the A and C axes are preset or indexed and then x, y and z axes are moved, then trivkins can be used in a milling machine fitted with two extra axes on the head or the table. For fully coordinated moves to cut general surfaces you need 5-axis kinematics. For robots with rotational joints kinematics are always needed to go from joint to world coordinates. Rudy du Preez ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, SlashDot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
