Hi Guys:
Thought Id mention.. In looking at the photo in the previous post, it can be hard for many to envision what the toolpaths mean, what they are showing..
This is because when displaying a 4th axis path, you have to see it in 4 dimensions, not 3 as in Workbench which is easy to envision. Each dot in the toolpath
is the position of the bottom tip of the tool , so one thing you can be sure of when viewing not only the photo in the previous post, but the 4th axis in the old module
is that if the gear can be seen to have no toolpath dots in it, then the gear itself ( screaming to be released from the blank ) is not chewed or gouged by the tool
in the running of such a path. This, of course assumes proper centering and proper A axis rotation direction. Since the positioning of the 4th axis in relation to the X and Y axis are all important parts of the job, I can never be sure (nor can you) that the code does as youd think when you run it unless you can clearly visualize what its doing.
In the next release you will be able to simulate the code so you can see what to expect. This will run much like a movie with the A axis ( or whatever letter you use) rotating,
and the tool moving in X, Y and Z as it would when cutting. You will be able to stop or slow down the tool , rotate the screen to look at the tool vs the gear to satisfy yourself that no gouging is occurring.
Since every tooth is the same you should only have to inspect the simulation of one tooth. However, since you can , if you wish, use different tools for rooting and tangential and other steps, the system CANl do all rooting before doing tangential ( for example), but only if different tools are used, if the same tool is used then rooting will be followed by tangential on each tooth one by one. ( To make the job as fast as it can be..).
We'll work together as you ( and I ) get used to the new way of posting to see if we can make it even more efficient, but Im hoping this simulation capability will help
you visualize the process and more easily point out any troubles we may face. So.. we'll see how it all works out in a week or so.
Thx
Art