Rotary Basics - request documentation update for X0!~

[dustypilot]

Hello Axiom Folks,

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Good Riddance 2020.

Santa was good to me and there was a new rotary attachment for my Pro V5 under the tree (Thanks MOM). I was so excited. I read all the directions twice! I watched all the Youtube vids, studied the Aspire tutorials and by golly I was ready to make BETTER ROUND STUFF!!!

But a curious thing happened. I presume most people will not have round stuff lying around. They will have square stock they need to make round so they can MAKE BETTER ROUND STUFF just like me.

I was VERY careful to set my Z0 at the center using your prescribed procedure (which works well thank you), used the Vectric gadget for a rounding toolpath, but alas the 1/4" endmill ran above the stock and barely engage the corners. I stared at this and repeated with minor tweaks to no avail (same result) for hours...

I hit the boards, searched for 4th axis, rotary, spin, whatever magical keyword would get me my answer...and finally, FINALLY, I found it.

Job setup was lower left corner for XY. So I put the bit at the lower left corner of the square blank...if I may humbly request, would you please modify your 4th axis documentation to indicate that when XY zero, place the X OVER THE CENTER OF THE TAILSTOCK: Not the left corner of the workpiece.

Perhaps there are others who intuitively figured this out. Alas, I was NOT among them. This little tidbit in setup would make the manual better and would have saved me a day (or two).

Also, you could add the part about attaching the various pieces to the tailstock. There is one pic and it is left to the user to figure out Tab A slot B. Finally, another 5 mm on the tailstock screws would be nice. I watch Southern Ginger REV 2 and purchased 30mm M6's before installation and it was a nice plus.

Question: Can the headstock be mounted inverted? The reason I ask is it always homes to the lower left corner. 99% of my CNC will be flat so I setup in the lower left. When I want to 4th axis, it would be cool to leave it installed in the upper right corner and I see there are drilled and tapped holes on the top- like someone already thought of this. Then one could remove the RIGHT two spoil boards and get to work...which leads me to my final point (again credit to Southern Ginger for this one).

Instead of removing the 2 spoil boards, it is REALLY convenient to trim the second one so the tailstock can just ride along it and auto square to the headstock. Simple, easy and 2-7/8" makes it way easier than putting a square to it every time you move it. Yes, I have moved it several times...because now I know where X0 goes...

Thank you and let's go 2021 - we all could use a break!

Timothy Slater
Santa Rosa, CA

[Compton]

Following.

[Chad]

We leave instruction on the software out of the manual as not all users will be using the Vectric software.

You are correct, the XY-0 will need to be set to the center line of the material. Most do this in the center of the blank...but if you have selected on of the corners within Vectric, that would translate to the upper or lower aged of the material along the centerline. Generally, we recommend the center of the piece as well a a material length that give you a good inch of waste at either end just to limit any possible contact with the steel components.

I will see if we can improve the manual to clarify some of the setup.


With regards to the orientation of the 4th Axis, you will notice threaded holes on each surface of the rotary head stock...this would allow the mounting feet to be moved and the unit could be mounted upside down on the right side, limiting the number of spoil boards that need to be removed.

*We appreciate Zach's recommendation of trimming the second spoil board and using it as a guide as well...one of the handiest recommendations to date.

[mcraigchr]

Well, color me confused.

I got the 4th axis setup.

Did the following:

- Created a rotary project for simply turning a dowel from square stock.
- Z-Zero - Center of Cylinder
- XY Datum - Center

I marked the middle of the stock and zeroed XY. XY -> 0

I then moved the X+ over a bit. Zeroed Z on the machine metal top. The machine went up to 85 on it's own. I went back down to 75.00, per the Axiom instructions and Z->0.

Start the file. Y travel looks good. Z looks right. But X stays where I put it to Zero Z. It does not return to 0 on the X axis.

Obviously, I have missed something. Any ideas?

CC

[joeblow]

Jan 18, 2021 15:14:50 GMT -5 mcraigchr said:

........But X stays where I put it to Zero Z. It does not return to 0 on the X axis.

Obviously, I have missed something. Any ideas?

CC

I have had this happen a few times.  I always return to Origin after jogging the spindle around for bit changes and setting Z-0 before I run the file.  Only happened with the rotary.

Hope everything runs correctly after you try this.

[mcraigchr]

Thanks joeblow.

I did go ahead and call Axiom support. Talked to Chad and he stated that the g-code for the 4th axis does not output X coordinates.

So, you always need to put X back at origin 0, after zeroing Z and before running the job.

CC

[dustypilot]

Jan 19, 2021 15:09:46 GMT -5 mcraigchr said:

Thanks joeblow .

I did go ahead and call Axiom support. Talked to Chad and he stated that the g-code for the 4th axis does not output X coordinates.

So, you always need to put X back at origin 0, after zeroing Z and before running the job.

CC

Kind of makes sense since the X coordiantes are "wrapped" around the axis. The X has really be "turned" into A.

Oh I crack myself up <g>