I already asked my questions in the geraman part of the forum. But I guess there will be a bigger community in the english vrsion, so maybe someone can help me.
for eht ereason that I switched my cnc machine to a 4th axis (6040), I would like to use the 4th axis to do some engravement with FreeCAD.
is there a way to use greeCAD with a 4th axis?
can I use X or Y axis for controlling 4th axis?
are there any solutions or examples, as I didn’t found anything expect one 9 second vid from sliptonics which doesen’t answer any question
My help will probably be no real help. First I did not learn German despite having German speaking (bilingual) parents. I was a stupid child and now a now a stupid senior Also the cnc machine configuration will determine how things are defined in the FreeCAD operation.
and I hope a German speaker spots this post
is there a way to use greeCAD with a 4th axis?
Yes. In English it is the ‘AxisMap Dressup’
can I use X or Y axis for controlling 4th axis?
X or Y from the g-code can be “wrapped” around a cylinder. The rotary axis turning that cylinder may be “A” or some other name.
are there any solutions or examples,
If time allows I may post a YouTube video and link it here. No promises.
Sorry, no YouTube video so far. Only a FreeCAD file.
4th axis center-line is parallel to X axis.
Y axis wraps around the rotary.
FreeCAD reports some warning that seems safe to ignore.
btw this dress-up still scales wrong in imperial measurement.
axis_wrap.png
axis_wrap.FCStd
First of all, I wann say sorry for non reaction, there where some healthy problems first (( Also, I completely refined the 3040 CNC. new ball-bearings, new CNC controller from Planet CNC, new ITX-Case, RemoteJog … so now it’s ready for work I hope
MANY THANKS for your help and Support.
I tried your Freecad-file. Looks nice and shows exactly what what I was searching nearly everywhere for. So, whith the right setting it’s a charme. But, does the Radius input at axis map dressup need the final radius, or the Radius of the blank workpiece?
Heey, thx for your reply.
I have tryed to build up a simple example, maybe I missed the point, but, … i do’t get it working and I do not want to use another Prgramm as I like freecad for its technical background (which I might missunderstand sometifmes).
If you could please have a look at my attachament (3axis_test)? This would be very great as I still stuck
But I like your example. Looks very great.
At the end, and actually, I just want to mill out a honey spoon for my childs mother The shaft will be stabilized Wood (by vacuum), the pyramid itself won’t get in touch with anything else than honey <3
The first thing to do is to rotate the model so that what you want to machine is under the Z-Axis.
The easy way to do this is with the Job Model after the Job is created.
:- Make the original model invisible
:- In the Job: Make the Job Model visible and rotate it to lie along the axis of the 4th-axis ( X = A or Y = B ) Use the Data → Property → Base → Placement → Angle and Axis to rotate 90 degrees
:- If the face to be machined is not pointing to Z-Axis,; In the Job → Setup dialogue, Select the face and in the Set section, Select Z-Axis button.
---- the job should rotate to have the face up under the Z-Axis.
:- Select Refresh in the Stock section so the stock is again in line with the job. (do this anytime setting changes are made )
Then the Operations should create successfully, but 3D Pocket seems to not work as expected because it will not allow setting to cut full depth. A standard Pocket operation works on your model case.
Have attached a modified version of your file as examples
I do not know your exact FreeCAD version but I have used one of the last versions before the refactor which accepts your file.
The Honey Spoon looks like and interesting project that will require a few operations.
Do I have to rotate this also if my machine is using z-axis as (normal) and y(a) as rotation axis?
CHECK
Ok, so as I can use a CAM software, which I normally do not want because it’s charming, doing this within one Tool. In case of my “honey spoon”, which I think I will mill out with a 5-degree carving endmill, what is your suggestion for an freecad-path-action to fullfill this?
In my preferred tool “DeskProto” (which is working really nicely, big honor to the author and prgrrammer Lex at this point), it will look like my attachement (in which I use a 3mm mill for a better view). So I thought, this must be possible in FreeCAD too, when you post your example above (which is also really nice!!).
I am using FreeCAD 0.20.2 Win64Bit. Which version you are using, and do you have installed any addons to run your statue job in a rotary job?
Do, you mean, the version i am runnin is a bit improved at the path workbench? As I get loads of error when I open your file, maybe I just run a version ehich is not able to do the rotary job?
Yeah it’s nice and stable if I use beech or some kind of hardwood. Will post a picture if i finnished it.
In my preferred tool “DeskProto” (which is working really nicely, big honor to the author and prgrrammer Lex at this point), it will look like my attachement (in which I use a 3mm mill for a better view). So I thought, this must be possible in FreeCAD too
FreeCAD is very similar, more selections are made to do the same things.
.
Do I have to rotate this also if my machine is using z-axis as (normal) and y(a) as rotation axis?
Just the same as the tutorial “Bottle”. it is standing upright, and it must be made to lie down along the Y-Axis.
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I am using FreeCAD 0.20.2 Win64Bit. Which version you are using, and do you have installed any addons to run your statue job in a rotary job?
If you go to this page https://wiki.freecad.org/Path_Surface
and check the items under “Note:” are setup it should work. ( OpenCamLib should be setup in Windows, you will get a warning if it is not )
The link to Experimental Features explains how to set Note 2.
Then check Note 3.
.
I did not see a tutorial on the Rotary job settings for “DeskProto”, but the operation in FreeCAD is 3D Surface.
Set up the operation according to the link above.
So, many many thanks for your help until now. I think I will have enough input to dive into for a while.
Thank you very much, it helped me really gooing forward and of course, I guess the biggest problem is to get the OCL running on win 11 :)
I will get back to you hopefully with success Showing up a finnished honeyspoon
Have a nice wednesday, or nearly thursday down under
Ok, so at least, I figured it out. I started with an very complex Model, which wasn’t maybe the best idea as it take it’s time to get it rendered or calculated (which leads to an software crash as the mesh was interrupted).
Now I tried with an simple Model so that it should be correct if I am right. Please let me know if I missunderstand something.
I have to built my Sketch under YZ-Plane. Which is confusing me as the Job itself, shows another main axis (Z). Maybe I am wrong at this point?
But at least and without real testing, this should run I guess?
Is there anything wrong about the placement inside YZ plane? and why is it that my raw part shows up in XY-plane direction?
cheers to everybody, niiiiice Software. I will donet the money I don’t invest in CAM to this project!!
Can you attach your .FCStd file ?
If it says the file is too large : delete any CutMaterial in the directory tree, de-activate the 3D Surface operations and resave. Then try to attach the file.
In the screen shot the stock looks wrong for a good result. In the job setup is the Stock listed as Create Cylinder? Does Refresh put it along the rotation axis ?
The origin in the centre of the disc looks correct.
The direction of the cutting is set by the Drop Cutter Dir selection. X will give travel along the X-Axis, Y will give travel around the rotational axis (for fourth axis on A-Axis (X) )
The stock should be aligned with the rotation axis also to give a good tool path.
Create Cylinder is not and ideal situation. (as below )
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Create_Cylinder.png
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Better options are Extend Model’s Bound Box (1) or Create Box (2)
(as below)
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Model_Bound_Box.png
.
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To save time travelling back to the origin while cutting the ZigZag cut pattern can be used.
Selection requires Show All to be turned on as it is not normally visible. ( in Data tab )
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select_show_all_options.png
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This results in a faster path.
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tool_path_zigzag.png
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For the final path a smaller diameter tool bit would be required for a proper result of course.
The honey spoon will benefit from zigzag as a time saving.
The honey spoon job will also take a long, long time to process, it may appear that the program has stalled and will say it is Not Responding, but it will still be working. You can see this in the CPU monitor ( I think it is called in Windows, Resource Monitor in Linux )
Yes, check.
You now what: You gave me the most important an most useful hint I really ever get using software: The “show all” right click on data-tab. I was searching for it everywhereas I mentioned that it HAS to be possible, using x or y axis AND zig zag at least I clicked everywhere, but not at the data-tab and, bang there it is.thx, made my day
True that. As I hardly tried to get the Stock-Model along the correct axis (which is not a big deal in general if you know how - what I do now). But It alway turns me the cylinder-stock … maybe it is just under construction. I tried to swap the model placement around 90 degrees on x0y1z0 which brings up the correct position… on screen, however, I dind’t get it running from a cylinderic stock. Does it run as shown under https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaJJHgOH4cc ?
Therefor, and for anothere question, I attached to this post
When I switch to zig zag in BaseBoundBox-mode, it always made some laborous and slow workpaths, much bigger than neccessary as I think.
Is there any psosibility to get this z-raising totally removed as it can do zig zag layer forsurebecause it doesn’t make any difference going up 20, then move so degrees and diving into full stock. So why not just sty on z and just follwo the zig zag?
1.png
Is this possible by any setting combination for the reason of saving time and doing a effective job I tried to set this by using clearance and save height (as it is described in the manual … I really read it) without noticed any effect. Maybe there is also a combination working?
Also, If I switch to multi pass and BB stock, the workpaths showing up some serious behaviour as you can see on the red path in the attached image.Running this on machine will mill along the correct (green) working path, then It crashes on red working path into the stock:
Check, see my attached file “nofretest”
Yes, I used to finnish with an 5degree carving bit which makes a really nice stock skin
Really nice exmplained and I hope it will help further users understanding the 3d-surface in FreeCAD .)
Thank you very much and kind regards to down under
It looks like you mean this line.
’
nefertiti_path.png
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I was able to rotate the job to eliminate that rapid path.
Also managed to rotate cylinder stock.
File attached.
The “Nerfertiti 001(Solid)” and "Cylinder stock visualisation " are only set up aids and can be hidden.
3D Surface does not have "Keep tool down " which would stop the retracts.
There is another problem with the retract height which will require another Topic to be created.
The Safe and Clearance heights are not being honoured during the rotary incrementation. A higher value is being used and the cutter must feed down from this position ?
Start Depth and Final Depth are ignored … can even be zero. (as saved)
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edit: added version for this file. ( pre refactor)
(( Also, I completely refined the 3040 CNC. new ball-bearings, new CNC controller from Planet CNC, new ITX-Case, RemoteJog … so now it’s ready for work I hope 