cnc wrappin images

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workinforwood

workinforwood

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Mar 1, 2007
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Eaton Rapids, Michigan, USA.
I'd like to unpack my 4th axis and try using it. I realize all software is different but I find most commands are similar. I generated solid rod 3" and 5/8 diameter or .313 radius. I have flat only design with all curves merged. I turned image 90 deg. I move image over solid rod. Now how to make it wrap the solid? I want to wrap flat then do my extruding.
 
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Jeff,

There is Software out there it is called Aspire http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/aspire/aspire_index.html it is kind of pricey ( $1994) but it does just that. I have it and it works great. You have talk to them about a post processor for your machine but all I can tell you is that it is easy to work with and with fantastic results.

I use it in combination with Rhino Cad, Rhino Cam and other.
 
Of all things..the command is "wrap curves over cylinder" ..the gall of these people! LOL

Thanks Constant..this software was in that price range, I think i best stick with it rather than learn two different programs. One is enough to melt my brain. I am having a great time after each time i contact customer service and learn what went wrong. I think I'm on their speed dial. I emailed them this morning and they didn't even reply, they just called me, hehe. I have a cylinder, i have an image, now i have to see about extruding it and then i just need a mop file! when i know what i'm doing it's pretty fun. I just learned not only how to wrap, but how to flip and move and enter the coardinates correctly. I deleted and repeated every step several times over and made a few notes to keep my brain on the right page.
 
DozerMite said:
Are you designing in 3D or iso?
Click to expand...

I don't know. I think 3D is what I do. but, I think with 4 axis pockets you can't do it in 3D maybe. Looks like you just wrap your image and then program the cutters, because I am not able to physically pocket a tube on the screen in front of me, and I can't trick it by making 3 tubes ..a skinny tube with 2 fatter ones on each side and then stick an extruded image in the center, if it's extruded it won't wrap. There's no flaws in the software, it just user error. It's a matter of understanding what to do to get the results you want, and not always what you see on the screen is how it will be. Looking at the 4 axis tutorials, i see the rod is flat on this ring, the design is pocket cut, so I have a feeling my first attempt was the right one, but because it didn't physically look pocketed on the screen I thought it was wrong and started trying to trick the software and now i'm back to square one. I am learning though what to do. I am going to restart from scratch today, it's good practice.
 
Sometimes it doesn't look right on the screen, but you can't trick the software. It comes out exactly as drawn.:wink:
Good luck with it and show some pics.
 
Jeff, I tried to tell you about Mesh Cam, it's about 150.00 and is super for doing 4th axis work, plus if there isn't a post processor , Robert will do one for your machine. be sure to change inch measurement to degrees on your A axis in Mach3 .look at the work Jeff Demand does with it, it's cheap, stable, a little slow but all 3D milling is slow.
 
I don't know if I have or what is a post processor. All I know is this software was quite expensive and it does 4 and 5 axis, so I am not sure why I'd want to buy all these other programs. Makes more sense to just stick with one and learn how it works in my opinion. I actually think I did figure it out too! I was having some issues, slept on it and I think I actually generated a successful 4 axis mop. Unfortunately I can not cut it out. I unpacked and set up my rotary stuff but there is not a chuck in the box. It's supposed to have a 3 jaw chuck, so now i have to wait for the company to contact me back and send it out. Kinda hard to attach a rod to a faceplate, lol. But..that's ok, I sent my mop file to mecsoft and am going to have them run it for me on their computer and verify it's correct. Although on my screen it looks a little odd at time, it also look like it's probably right. I just had to do some trickery, no fault of the software but it can't read my mind and I think it was cutting it out opposite of what I wanted. So i tricked it by creating 2 mop files, one for outside and one for inside pockets and I feel confident that was the trick..soon I'll find out for sure. It's pretty darn awesome to look at, wish I could show it, but nobody here would be able to open the file. This software company won't let you save files in different formats, you can import but not export. This is because they have some features they don't want exploited by others I'm told.
 
I am curious what is the meaning of changing Mach? Are you saying i load this in and cut it there will be an issue because some settings in Mach need changed? And..will I have to make these changes, or will mach figure it out on it's own when i fire it up? Almost every setting in my mach software right now was automatically figured out when I plugged my machine in, the software just seems to know all my specs and hardware somehow.
 
workinforwood said:
I am curious what is the meaning of changing Mach? Are you saying i load this in and cut it there will be an issue because some settings in Mach need changed? And..will I have to make these changes, or will mach figure it out on it's own when i fire it up? Almost every setting in my mach software right now was automatically figured out when I plugged my machine in, the software just seems to know all my specs and hardware somehow.
Click to expand...

Depends on how your software writes. One thing that got to me was the ij (arc or circle command) was set up in absolute on my original Mach3 and the software wrote in incremental. Drove me nuts when these goofy looking things started cutting out and I knew they were right. What's worse is that is was set different on the computer I use for design than the one in the shop. Only found it when I put the 2 computers side by side and compared every setup screen. So to answer your question, Mach3 does not figure out all the stuff by itself.
 
I think you are correct. I was listening about all the manufacturing jobs in Cincinnati yesterday, serious lack of workers. According to the factories, lack of job skills is the problem, not moving overseas. The factories are all automated anymore. The question brought up "ever talk to your kid about working in manufacturing?" And the answer pretty much always heck no! But factory work is becoming like office work and the kids playing games on computers is the skills you actually need! The demand for cnc operators and especially cnc welders has never been greater and the pay scale is impressive. I feel a bit old to make a career change but it sure is tempting. Some of these places like Mazak are hiring with paid training and paid schooling on weekends, so you have a job and no education costs, its like joining the military but better pay and no guns.
 
Steve, you got me thinking and laughing about an episode of Top Gear I saw recently. You need a College degree to be a farmer too! These new tractors are like driving a space ship. The one guy climbed in his tractor, an hour later he had his seat adjusted and wipers on, that's it, lol!
 
What software are you using anyways?

By the way, there is a trick that works for some 4th axis work:

You dray your toolpath on a regular 2d plane; make sure the material's height matches the cilinder's diameter. ( the deep diameter, at the bottom of the eventual cut).
Than plug the 4th axyz in the y axis's plug.
I know it's not the way it's meant to work, and will not be peeve t in some cases, but there is no satisfaction as big as fooling the machine!
 
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