Probably the best tutorial on 4th axis in Internet! I’ve tried to figure it out for a while and finally found this video!!! Thank you so much! Like and subscribed for sure!
I can't compliment you enough on this presentation. So clearly and concisely delivered, I think I only had to back up once. Many thanks for uploading this. It will help me a great deal when my 4th axis setup arrives this week - and beyond. The only point I wasn't sure about was setting the Rotation Radius. You gave an example of a piece of 1.5" square stock and said to make the radius half of that - 0.75". Can you please explain why this would not be set to half of the DIAGONAL measurement of the stock?
Thank you very much, David. I do appreciate it. Mach3 thinks of the stock as a cylinder - in the case of the example in the video, a 1.5" cylinder. It doesn't matter if the stock is actually a square, a hexagon, an octagon, or a cylinder - it has to think of the stock as a cylinder in order to make the calculations needed to turn the axis 1 degree. If you used half of the diagonal measurement, those calculations would be way off because of it. The rotation radius of the stock should always me measured from the center of the stock, to one of the flats of a square. I hope that helps.
Thanks for the video, very detailed tutorial, it will be a very great help for me, looking forward to set up my rotary axis, which in my case is a rotary table.
Dear Mark Great job and a very nice video ewxplained in a very easy way I lhave learned a lot with this video an I will try my MAXNC15 machine adding my rotary axis . Thanks a lot .
I love you so much, I admire your knowledge and knowledge, and the information you've passed on to us is very valuable, and I'd like to see a video of this series, but I don't understand it because it's not in Turkish
You can turn on the subtitles, then click the gear next to that. Click Subtitles, then Auto-Translate. Scroll down the list of languages, and click on Turkish. You can do that on any video on RUclips.
Hi Mark, I am looking into doing this same thing and it honestly looks overwhelming although I think I will figure it out once I start. This SUNWIN option you linked is no longer available. Can you suggest what the ratio is on yours and what might be best? Lot of good looking setups with a 100-1 or 50-1 but I don't understand which would work better? Do you still like your set up or would you change it?
Thnak you for your video :) , now I connecting the same type of 4 axis, but why in Motor Home fo A do you have setting Soft Max 100, and Soft Min -100.? Such setting stoped A axis by Switchs Limits. What values for no stop rotation.?
Thanks for the great video Mark. Could you please make a video for using the rotary axis on a work piece. I mean how should we make the Z zero and X zero on a work piece. Thanks again...
Excellent video Marck, I have a rotatory axis and I have followed your explanation and it has served me, I only have one detail, my rotatory axis only turns in one direction, which you think is the reason, thanks
Thank you very much! As for your axis turning only one direction, it could be any number of things. I'd check the wiring first. Make sure you have the correct direction wires hooked up to the correct direction pins.
Mark amazing video the only valuable tutorial you can find out there. You really put time in it and it's so damn clear! I would have a couple of questions: 1- IS it only possible to run the 4th axis while disable the Y or the X (depends on the 4th axis mount position)? or it is also possible to keep them all but you had only 3 drives available? 2- Second question related to the first. If you use in your case the Y drive for the A, I guess you can not homing the machine on that axis anymore. And more important did you set pin 8 and 9 for A that are actually corresponding to the A dir and pull pins on the breakout board or they are the Y dir and pull but you simple make them drive the A axis now? that would be pretty smart since you only swap the stepper cable to the drive. Thank you very very much for your help!
Thank you very much! I do appreciate it. I'll try to answer all of your questions with a couple of statements. I only have a 4 axis kit (it's a plug and play drive box that has all of the stepper drives and breakout board built into a single board,) and my Y axis uses 2 motors (the Y and the A,) with the A slaved to the Y. I can't physically hook up all 5 motors to the drive box - I'd need a 5-axis unit. I move the gantry into position over the rotary axis headstock, shut everything down, swap the cable over to the motor on the rotary axis, switch over to the rotary axis Mach3 profile, then fire everything back up. I have no further need for the Y axis and have no need for the homing switches. Even if I had all 5 motors plugged into the drive box, the gantry wouldn't move - it doesn't need to. All of the motions needed to cut on the rotary are done with the X, Z, and A axis.
@@MarkLindsayCNC hi Mark. Thanks for the quick reply. Got it you have dual Y motors that's why the need to swap the cable. That means that hypothetically I can just wired up my 4th drive to the A since I am using a single stepper to drive my Y and I have space for 4 axis on the breakout board (actually 5). Is it correct? Another thing that surprise me is the fact that all the cuts are made with fixed Y axis. In my imagination would be better if the machine an stil move on the Y axis because in case of deep angled pocket you might not be able to reach it with the Y axis fixed in the center. For instance I am thinking of my application. I would like to make helical gears. In most of the case will be fine but for high helical degree would be handy be able to slightly move to the side to reach a angled pocket along the spoke. Do you think is possible if you keep enable the Y axis to do so? I will use Fusio360 to generate the toolpath
Your best bet would be to go over to the CNC Zone forum and run it by the folks over there. I'm certain they can get you headed in the right direction.
Hello, maybe you know how to set up the offsets for the rotary axis (as far as I understand, there is no way to connect the limit switches, since they will work with a full rotation). Perhaps there is a way to somehow register the parameters for the g54 command of the rotary axis (I have a 5-axis attachment to a 3-axis machine).
Just realized you showed the parallel port in your setup. The reason I mention it is you didn't set a step and direction pulse width in motor tuning. The setting is to give the pc port signals time to settle and the driver read them. With the setting too short you could potentially loose steps. Too long a pulse is not a problem. When using a motion controller like a UC100 the motion controller takes care of all that nonsense. Cheers Peter
Thank you for that, Peter! I'm going to need to pick your brain on that very topic one day very soon. Perhaps a good topic for a video on your channel? (Not-so-subtle hint...)
Mark Lindsay CNC It's not a major issue. Jeff from Xylotex will be able to tell you the correct setting for them is as it Is dependent on the actual driver itself. If I'm reading the right document for your driver it looks like 2uS would be right but I could be looking at the wrong drive. Cheers Peter Cheers Peter
Hi , you make very useful tutorial. :) but how many drives do you have? 3 or 4 drives? My CNC Router has 3 drives for XYZ only, I setting all like you, but A axis dosnt working. Should I instal 4/fourth drive for A axis or sould working with 3 drives like in your CNC?
My settings are for my 4-axis Xylotex Drive Box. Every controller is different. If you can add a 4th driver, I would go that route. That way you can dedicate that driver to the rotary axis and not have the concerns of switching cables like I do.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thank you :) i supposed you have 4 axis, but I wasn't absolutely sure. At first I will try to use 3 drives only... i make social connections for A axis by Y axis, I think it could be working, i will inform you if such connecting will be working. Bye the way, I have two CNC router, one I make by myself with table 1200x1200 mm. Working perfectly. :)
Марк, спасибо! Очень мало информации в интернете про настройку поворотной оси на русском языке, благодаря переводчику я много чего узнал интересного. С Ноывм Годом Марк!
Great video Mark. Do I need to worry about homing an A axis in Mach 3 using Reference All Home. If so, I cannot find out the settings needed to do. Hope you can help.
I don't use my limit switches with the Rotary Axis profile, so they're disabled. I don't bother setting my Machine Coordinates. I just set my gantry where it needs to be (I have a mark on the headstock housing I line it up with,) shut down and change Mach3 Profiles. I put the X axis in the center of the material (lengthwise in X,) and set X zero, set the Z zero with my touch plate, and I'm ready to go. I don't click Ref All Home at all. Check out this video for a demonstration: ruclips.net/video/NSBsF-sawYE/видео.html
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thank you Mark. I use a touch plate that I made and wired into my control box and use a script similar to the one you used. My touch place as it stands will be used when doing non-rotary stuff so I'm planning to write some code and a switch that I'll add to the interface (or read a value maybe) so that I can use the same touch plate on the rotary in the way you do. The code will just flick the measurements depending on rotary job or not. I also added a virtual LED to the Mach3 screen set that is very handy, it lights up when I bring the touch plate to the tool, just to check the connections are correct. Keep up the great videos, your delivery is great. Fan from the UK. Des
Yeah, it's not for everybody. I figure the only people who are really going to be interested in it are the folks who are trying to make their rotary axis work. Hopefully it helps someone who's sitting there scratching their head like I was.
Great video. Can you help me, with problem I encounter when putting number in A Axes motor movement profile. I can t put in number in decimals as I should, mach3 always correct in round number (witch is not precise enough). What am I doing wrong?? Thank a lot for your help. Ales
Mark hi I have 5 axis CNC system but I can not control rotary axises, A and B. Rotation in my system with A is 1:60 and with B it is 1:3,4. I prefer to use metric system. Can you please help. Tapio Nummi
I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I've never worked with a 5-axis system before. I would suggest a forum like the CNC Zone. Those folks are amazing.
Excelent! And if i want to use a servo like a spindle. I only need to change in ports a pin the pines of the axis to spindle is it? Because doesnt work. Could you please help me?
I'm afraid I don't know anything about servos at all. You might head over to the CNC Zone website, join that forum, and ask your questions over there. I'm certain they'd be able to help.
Hello, excellent video, I have a question, because when I do a piece on the 4th axis, it turns out badly, since it starts well but ends up getting out of phase.
You need to check to make sure you have your steps per degree set correctly. If the rotation of the axis is even slightly too slow or too fast, it will move out of phase. My suggestion would be to sign up at the Mach Support forum (assuming you're using Mach3 or Mach4) and look for Rotary Axis Calibration. I found this thread over there, and it may help you. www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=35178.0
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thanks for your answer, the strange thing is that there are times that if I do the work turning 360 ° and it ends very well, but there are times that 360 ° ends, the figure ends up out of phase.
I've not had that problem, but I don't put a lot of pressure on the tail stock. Make sure you have your headstock and tailstock aligned correctly, and that your drive belt isn't too tight. There should be a little bit of deflection in the belt.
@@MarkLindsayCNC the alignment is within about .015 and it is a live center for loss resistance. Mu unit is not a belt drive but one of the older Gear drive units. I changed the stepper to a high torque nema 23 but it didnt seem to make any difference.
Great video, thanx! Question: My A-axis only go 360 deg with Mach3 when I use Aspire 9 spiral wrap .... so if I go more than one turn spiral it just continues straight at the end .... and some of the other spirals comes out crazy ..... mmmmm
Hmmmm... I haven't done any spiral wrapping on my rotary axis yet. You might post over on the Vectric Support Forum. There are a few rotary wizards over there who could surely help out.
Great video, one question. Do all rotary setups rotate counter clockwise for positive? I've only cut one simple job to test and it came out fine. But I accidentally found your website that describes the counter clockwise movement and can't find an answer anywhere. Thanks!
I can't say whether all do or don't. I would imagine every control system is different. If yours is working, no matter which way it's turning, then I say run with it.
@@MarkLindsayCNC ok then, I will try some text to see what happens and reverse if needed. I will look into the post processor as well to see if it's configurable. Thanks for the fast reply, I bet much appreciate it.
Mark, Is there a specific reason to dis-engage, or change the settings on the Y axis? Not sure why it can't just be left alone other than fear of accidental movement. I also don't understand the change to the X, Y, & Z pin numbers for step and direction. Lastly, Can you advise how to figure steps per inch? I'm using Sherline stepper motors. Thanks! Bob
Your are so damn clear in your explanations that you should change your name to be Mark Clear Lindsay... lol Great Job Mark...keep it up. I have all buttons/thumbs/bells clicked.... I follow all your videos. thanks Again
Great video as usual. I haven't made up my mind so far if I am going to purchase a 4th axis. Does one need the latest version of v carve pro? Also what type of files are needed like 2d or 3d. etc. LeRoy
Thank you LeRoy! "Latest version" is a relative thing. Vectric incorporated rotary projects into the Job Setup in Version 9, but there were ways of setting up a rotary job in previous versions through the use of gadgets. If you have Version 9 or later, it'll be a lot easier to set up a rotary job, but it's not, strictly speaking, required to have the latest version. The types of files needed will depend on which version of the software you have. Sorry I can't get more specific than that.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thanks for the quick response. I am still working with version 8.5, i do see something in gadgets called wrapping if that is what you are referring to.
@@MarkLindsayCNC It helped a lot but I have one problem which is maybe not related with Mach 3 but maybe it is. If I adjust 0 on A rotary axis then I give command 360 degrees, them my 360 degrees is not 0 (360) but is is actually a little less, something like 359,75 degrees. I can give compensation etc. but this error stays the same if I turn 2 or 3 times or if I turn 10 times for example then I have 3599,75 which means that calculation of gears is probably OK and problem is somewhere else....it is like I create this error during the firts turn but it stays the same for others...do you have any idea? I have direct connection to stepper motor via tooth belt on plulleys and belt is stretched well...
Get into Mach3, click the SETTINGS tab (Right above the Zero X button.) Just above the red RESET button, you'll see the Set Steps Per Unit button. Click that, then select the A axis, then click OK. Tell it how far you want it to move (360 degrees,) then click OK. Mach3 will move the axis, then ask you how far it actually moved. Enter that amount, then click OK. It'll set the correct number of steps. Click OK. Then check it again by repeating the process until it turns 360 degrees.
Thank you very much, you answered most of my questions, but how do I find out how many stept to 1 rev, its a second hand Chinese 6040 , also how do I find the pin outs, all mine are set to 3 for XY & Z and work fine ??
great video thanks, I just ordered my rotary axis, so this will definitely help when it comes in. I do have a question, do you have to run a separate profile without you "Y" axis, how do you then line up to center over your work
Thanks for checking out the video! I answered your first question at the very beginning of the setup ( 3:50 ). If you'll move on to the next video in the series (Mount and First Run,) you'll see how I line up the gantry over the center of the headstock. Here's a link to Part 3: ruclips.net/video/8hNjGZHeQOM/видео.html You'll want to go through the entire series, as I made a couple of modifications to the procedures I used in Part 3.
@@MarkLindsayCNC yes I understand that you said you will create a new one, but I was wondering why. I may have missed that. I don't know a lot about Mach and nothing about 4th axis. But could I not just have all 4 axis turned on? Or does your controller only have 3 axis? I bought a new controller says 4 axis, so was hoping I could run all from 1 profile. Again thanks for this video, the explanation of the steps per degree part, I did not know about.
Okay, I understand what you were asking now. Yes, you have to create and use a separate profile for the rotary axis. The drive box is made to operate 4-axes, but remember that the A axis lead is slaved to the Y axis in order to move the gantry. That takes up all 4 of the axis leads coming from the drive box. To use the rotary, you need to position the gantry as I do in Part 3, turn off the drive box, unplug the A axis lead from the motor being used to move the gantry along the Y axis, then plug the rotary axis motor into that lead. Make sure you use the A axis lead - not the Y axis lead. Check the color coding to be sure.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Oh ok, my current machine only has 1 motor on my "X" (which is my gantry), I am building a new machine and want to have 2 motors on the gantry and I also bought a new controller card and the guy told me I could just splice the 2 together from the card before the motor driver, so each motor has its own motor controller, but getting the same signal from the board. Have you heard of this? The board I got is a USB Mach 3 board from "build your CNC" website. Would you recommend against this? Sorry for all the questions. thanks
@@MarkLindsayCNC then can you take de xlm fil copy it on another name and réuse this on on a second profil. Exemple could we have a métric and sae profil on same pc? Just to could change only the native unit and calibrate motor without have to do all other pin and ports setting?
This would be a good question for the Mach Support Forum, but as far as I know, you could clone a profile that you know works, then go in and make the necessary changes to that cloned profile, then save them.
Thank you! I use VCarve Pro to design files to run on my rotary axis. The post processor depends on what controller software you use, and how your rotary axis is oriented. In my case, I use Mach3 controller software, and my rotary is oriented across the front of the table, so I use the Mach2/3 WrapY2A ATC(inch) post processor. Yours may be totally different.
I'm at 12 mins & I'm already confused why you wouldn't use the Y axis. In a way I can understand that the part will be turning but you could also hold a triangle & want to work on each pane??? I'll see if my queries are answered or if I'm just being a dunce!!!
The main reason is because I have a 4-Axis controller, and my Y axis needs 2 motors to move the gantry. With 1 motor that used to move the gantry now turning the rotary axis, that leaves only 1 motor to move the gantry along the Y. That won't work. I would need a 5-axis controller to use the Y axis with the rotary, and for what I do, it just isn't worth the cost.
@@MarkLindsayCNC It's funny you should say that as that was my worry because I also have a slave for my Y axis & that's what made me wonder. So far the video had told me all I wanted to know & your answer here has done the rest. My controller is supposed to be 6 axis but it's only a cheapy so who knows. Great work!!!
In my experience, it's one of the easiest to learn. I've created over 300 videos on how to use it. Here are 3 playlists that'll get you started: ruclips.net/user/MarkLindsayCNCplaylists?view=50&shelf_id=6
ok Thanks. The reason I asked is , you say you plugged in your X axis into your rotary drive. My rotary drive has its own 4 pin plug on the back of the control box, here I'm a bit confused on this point
I have a 4-axis drive box (controller box.) When I have the CNC configured without the rotary axis, I have 2 stepper motors driving the Y axis (moving the gantry from front to rear across the table.) That meant I had to use the A axis motor cable to drive that second stepper motor. It's slaved to the Y axis in Mach3, so that when the Y stepper motor turns, the A stepper motor turns simultaneously, moving the gantry. When I connect the rotary axis, I no longer need to move the gantry when it's cutting. So, I move the gantry into position over the rotary axis, shut down the drive box, disconnect the A axis cable from the stepper motor, connect it to the A axis stepper motor on the rotary axis, then open a new Mach3 profile, turn on the drive box, and I'm ready to go. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and it takes about 45 seconds to do.
@@MarkLindsayCNC I am following your Video to setup a rotary profile, I got to the motor tuning part and the motor tuning dialog box will not open. I have checked too the others and they open. I though that you maybe able to shed some lite on my problem. Great video but I seem to have a problem. I am using my mach 3 saved program from my stick, when I saved my Mach 3.
@@jerrybonnifield1537 I don't know what you mean by you're using the Mach3 program from your stick. You should open the Mach3 Loader on the computer running Mach3 and create the profile from there. I'll assume you did that. My first question would be to ask whether you have all the motors enabled in the Ports and Pins, Motor Outputs window. (CONFIG>Ports and Pins> Motor Outputs tab.) Make sure the correct motors are enabled and that you went back to the CONFIG menu, then clicked Save Configuration Settings to write them to the hard drive. Then try opening the motor Tuning window.
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4yrs later it's still the best tutorial on the internet for Mach 3 and rotary axis, thank you Mark
Probably the best tutorial on 4th axis in Internet! I’ve tried to figure it out for a while and finally found this video!!!
Thank you so much!
Like and subscribed for sure!
Thank you for your kind words. I hope it helps you out!
Got my fourth axis running this week for the first time, thanks to you. Thank you!
Best instructor in the CNC world (Thanks Mark From Pakistan)
Thank you for the very kind words. I hope you find the videos helpful!
you are a supper super talented teacher.. i never so such a clear and honest teaching. thanks a lot
thank you for this video! very informative and so well explained. I'm getting to it right away.
...finaly, someone who know what there talking about ...top stuff , thanks again mark
I can't compliment you enough on this presentation. So clearly and concisely delivered, I think I only had to back up once.
Many thanks for uploading this. It will help me a great deal when my 4th axis setup arrives this week - and beyond.
The only point I wasn't sure about was setting the Rotation Radius. You gave an example of a piece of 1.5" square stock and said to make the radius half of that - 0.75". Can you please explain why this would not be set to half of the DIAGONAL measurement of the stock?
Thank you very much, David. I do appreciate it.
Mach3 thinks of the stock as a cylinder - in the case of the example in the video, a 1.5" cylinder. It doesn't matter if the stock is actually a square, a hexagon, an octagon, or a cylinder - it has to think of the stock as a cylinder in order to make the calculations needed to turn the axis 1 degree. If you used half of the diagonal measurement, those calculations would be way off because of it. The rotation radius of the stock should always me measured from the center of the stock, to one of the flats of a square. I hope that helps.
Thanks for the video, very detailed tutorial, it will be a very great help for me, looking forward to set up my rotary axis, which in my case is a rotary table.
Congratulations my friend!
Excellent job!
Thanks!!!
Thank you very much! I hope you find it useful!
Excellent video. very useful.thanks for sharing.
Great video, brilliant explanation, thank you.
Dear Mark
Great job and a very nice video ewxplained in a very easy way
I lhave learned a lot with this video an I will try my MAXNC15 machine adding my rotary axis .
Thanks a lot .
I love you so much, I admire your knowledge and knowledge, and the information you've passed on to us is very valuable, and I'd like to see a video of this series, but I don't understand it because it's not in Turkish
You can turn on the subtitles, then click the gear next to that. Click Subtitles, then Auto-Translate. Scroll down the list of languages, and click on Turkish. You can do that on any video on RUclips.
Yes, but, Mr. Mark, this isn't like your other videos
There's only English in the options
I don't know why Auto Translate isn't available to you. I will work on the translations from my end.
That makes me very happy
Excellent video Mark... very concise and useful! Thanks So much for this!
Thank you Lyle!
Lovely video
Thanks for this stuff.
Excellent video👍
Hi Mark, I am looking into doing this same thing and it honestly looks overwhelming although I think I will figure it out once I start. This SUNWIN option you linked is no longer available. Can you suggest what the ratio is on yours and what might be best? Lot of good looking setups with a 100-1 or 50-1 but I don't understand which would work better? Do you still like your set up or would you change it?
Thnak you for your video :) , now I connecting the same type of 4 axis, but why in Motor Home fo A do you have setting Soft Max 100, and Soft Min -100.? Such setting stoped A axis by Switchs Limits. What values for no stop rotation.?
I don't use Soft Limits on my CNC router. Those settings are the factory defaults set into Mach3. Soft Limits is turned off on my machine.
Thanks for the great video Mark. Could you please make a video for using the rotary axis on a work piece. I mean how should we make the Z zero and X zero on a work piece. Thanks again...
You can bet that's coming up. Stay tuned. Thanks for watching!
Thank You very much Dear Sir!
Your help was much appreciated!
Greetings!
Thank you for watching!
@@MarkLindsayCNC And learning a lot!
Finally set mine working too.
Be well!
Excellent vid! Jeez, I learned a load from this. Thanks!
Glad to hear it, Bryan! Thanks for watching! If that means you're getting a rotary axis set up, I do hope you'll share a pic or two about it.
Excellent video Marck, I have a rotatory axis and I have followed your explanation and it has served me, I only have one detail, my rotatory axis only turns in one direction, which you think is the reason, thanks
Thank you very much! As for your axis turning only one direction, it could be any number of things. I'd check the wiring first. Make sure you have the correct direction wires hooked up to the correct direction pins.
@@MarkLindsayCNC
Thanks for your answer, I'm going to check the wiring and make sure that I manually rotate in both directions
That’s pretty neat Mark
Mark amazing video the only valuable tutorial you can find out there. You really put time in it and it's so damn clear! I would have a couple of questions: 1- IS it only possible to run the 4th axis while disable the Y or the X (depends on the 4th axis mount position)? or it is also possible to keep them all but you had only 3 drives available? 2- Second question related to the first. If you use in your case the Y drive for the A, I guess you can not homing the machine on that axis anymore. And more important did you set pin 8 and 9 for A that are actually corresponding to the A dir and pull pins on the breakout board or they are the Y dir and pull but you simple make them drive the A axis now? that would be pretty smart since you only swap the stepper cable to the drive. Thank you very very much for your help!
Thank you very much! I do appreciate it. I'll try to answer all of your questions with a couple of statements. I only have a 4 axis kit (it's a plug and play drive box that has all of the stepper drives and breakout board built into a single board,) and my Y axis uses 2 motors (the Y and the A,) with the A slaved to the Y. I can't physically hook up all 5 motors to the drive box - I'd need a 5-axis unit. I move the gantry into position over the rotary axis headstock, shut everything down, swap the cable over to the motor on the rotary axis, switch over to the rotary axis Mach3 profile, then fire everything back up. I have no further need for the Y axis and have no need for the homing switches. Even if I had all 5 motors plugged into the drive box, the gantry wouldn't move - it doesn't need to. All of the motions needed to cut on the rotary are done with the X, Z, and A axis.
@@MarkLindsayCNC hi Mark. Thanks for the quick reply. Got it you have dual Y motors that's why the need to swap the cable. That means that hypothetically I can just wired up my 4th drive to the A since I am using a single stepper to drive my Y and I have space for 4 axis on the breakout board (actually 5). Is it correct? Another thing that surprise me is the fact that all the cuts are made with fixed Y axis. In my imagination would be better if the machine an stil move on the Y axis because in case of deep angled pocket you might not be able to reach it with the Y axis fixed in the center. For instance I am thinking of my application. I would like to make helical gears. In most of the case will be fine but for high helical degree would be handy be able to slightly move to the side to reach a angled pocket along the spoke. Do you think is possible if you keep enable the Y axis to do so? I will use Fusio360 to generate the toolpath
Your best bet would be to go over to the CNC Zone forum and run it by the folks over there. I'm certain they can get you headed in the right direction.
@@MarkLindsayCNC I will do that! Thanks a lot.
hi Sir i have a doubt.. if there is a reference for the 4axis cause when i turn off everything i lose my zero angle. thank you for support
good work , thanks much
Hello, maybe you know how to set up the offsets for the rotary axis (as far as I understand, there is no way to connect the limit switches, since they will work with a full rotation). Perhaps there is a way to somehow register the parameters for the g54 command of the rotary axis (I have a 5-axis attachment to a 3-axis machine).
Nice and comprehensive video Mark. Just out of curiosity are you using a motion controller or the parallel port on your pc.?
Just realized you showed the parallel port in your setup. The reason I mention it is you didn't set a step and direction pulse width in motor tuning. The setting is to give the pc port signals time to settle and the driver read them. With the setting too short you could potentially loose steps. Too long a pulse is not a problem.
When using a motion controller like a UC100 the motion controller takes care of all that nonsense.
Cheers
Peter
Thank you for that, Peter! I'm going to need to pick your brain on that very topic one day very soon. Perhaps a good topic for a video on your channel? (Not-so-subtle hint...)
Mark Lindsay CNC
It's not a major issue. Jeff from Xylotex will be able to tell you the correct setting for them is as it Is dependent on the actual driver itself. If I'm reading the right document for your driver it looks like 2uS would be right but I could be looking at the wrong drive.
Cheers
Peter
Cheers
Peter
Hi , you make very useful tutorial. :) but how many drives do you have? 3 or 4 drives? My CNC Router has 3 drives for XYZ only, I setting all like you, but A axis dosnt working. Should I instal 4/fourth drive for A axis or sould working with 3 drives like in your CNC?
My settings are for my 4-axis Xylotex Drive Box. Every controller is different. If you can add a 4th driver, I would go that route. That way you can dedicate that driver to the rotary axis and not have the concerns of switching cables like I do.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thank you :) i supposed you have 4 axis, but I wasn't absolutely sure. At first I will try to use 3 drives only... i make social connections for A axis by Y axis, I think it could be working, i will inform you if such connecting will be working. Bye the way, I have two CNC router, one I make by myself with table 1200x1200 mm. Working perfectly. :)
Марк, спасибо! Очень мало информации в интернете про настройку поворотной оси на русском языке, благодаря переводчику я много чего узнал интересного. С Ноывм Годом Марк!
Where can you buy good CNC clip art? I have bought some from Etsy and had no luck. One program had 380 errors
Great video Mark. Do I need to worry about homing an A axis in Mach 3 using Reference All Home. If so, I cannot find out the settings needed to do. Hope you can help.
I don't use my limit switches with the Rotary Axis profile, so they're disabled. I don't bother setting my Machine Coordinates. I just set my gantry where it needs to be (I have a mark on the headstock housing I line it up with,) shut down and change Mach3 Profiles. I put the X axis in the center of the material (lengthwise in X,) and set X zero, set the Z zero with my touch plate, and I'm ready to go. I don't click Ref All Home at all. Check out this video for a demonstration: ruclips.net/video/NSBsF-sawYE/видео.html
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thank you Mark. I use a touch plate that I made and wired into my control box and use a script similar to the one you used. My touch place as it stands will be used when doing non-rotary stuff so I'm planning to write some code and a switch that I'll add to the interface (or read a value maybe) so that I can use the same touch plate on the rotary in the way you do. The code will just flick the measurements depending on rotary job or not. I also added a virtual LED to the Mach3 screen set that is very handy, it lights up when I bring the touch plate to the tool, just to check the connections are correct. Keep up the great videos, your delivery is great. Fan from the UK. Des
This makes my head spin, but it's incredible! Awesome work and that beard is coming in nicely, too.
Yeah, it's not for everybody. I figure the only people who are really going to be interested in it are the folks who are trying to make their rotary axis work. Hopefully it helps someone who's sitting there scratching their head like I was.
Great video. Can you help me, with problem I encounter when putting number in A Axes motor movement profile. I can t put in number in decimals as I should, mach3 always correct in round number (witch is not precise enough). What am I doing wrong?? Thank a lot for your help. Ales
Hit me up through my website, using the Contact Us link, and we'll see if we can't get it straightened out. Thanks for checking out the video!
muito bom parabens pelas explicações!!
thanks from brazil!
Thank you for watching!
Mark hi
I have 5 axis CNC system but I can not control rotary axises, A and B.
Rotation in my system with A is 1:60 and with B it is 1:3,4.
I prefer to use metric system. Can you please help. Tapio Nummi
I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I've never worked with a 5-axis system before. I would suggest a forum like the CNC Zone. Those folks are amazing.
Excelent! And if i want to use a servo like a spindle. I only need to change in ports a pin the pines of the axis to spindle is it? Because doesnt work. Could you please help me?
I'm afraid I don't know anything about servos at all. You might head over to the CNC Zone website, join that forum, and ask your questions over there. I'm certain they'd be able to help.
@@MarkLindsayCNC sorry its a stepper motor not a servo
Hello, excellent video, I have a question, because when I do a piece on the 4th axis, it turns out badly, since it starts well but ends up getting out of phase.
You need to check to make sure you have your steps per degree set correctly. If the rotation of the axis is even slightly too slow or too fast, it will move out of phase. My suggestion would be to sign up at the Mach Support forum (assuming you're using Mach3 or Mach4) and look for Rotary Axis Calibration. I found this thread over there, and it may help you. www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=35178.0
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thanks for your answer, the strange thing is that there are times that if I do the work turning 360 ° and it ends very well, but there are times that 360 ° ends, the figure ends up out of phase.
Thank you, sir. Do we need home setting for A axis?
My first rotary axis had no home position, so strictly speaking, it's not needed.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thank you so much for this tutorial.
Do you have any issues when you use your tailstock? When I apply any pressure at all on the tailstock the Chuck stalls
I've not had that problem, but I don't put a lot of pressure on the tail stock. Make sure you have your headstock and tailstock aligned correctly, and that your drive belt isn't too tight. There should be a little bit of deflection in the belt.
@@MarkLindsayCNC the alignment is within about .015 and it is a live center for loss resistance. Mu unit is not a belt drive but one of the older Gear drive units. I changed the stepper to a high torque nema 23 but it didnt seem to make any difference.
Great video, thanx! Question: My A-axis only go 360 deg with Mach3 when I use Aspire 9 spiral wrap .... so if I go more than one turn spiral it just continues straight at the end .... and some of the other spirals comes out crazy ..... mmmmm
Hmmmm... I haven't done any spiral wrapping on my rotary axis yet. You might post over on the Vectric Support Forum. There are a few rotary wizards over there who could surely help out.
@@MarkLindsayCNC I had my softlimits activated ...... when I turned it off it cut perfect :-)
Great video Mark , and yes this helps,Thanks !!
so good
thanks for share.
Great video, one question. Do all rotary setups rotate counter clockwise for positive? I've only cut one simple job to test and it came out fine. But I accidentally found your website that describes the counter clockwise movement and can't find an answer anywhere. Thanks!
I can't say whether all do or don't. I would imagine every control system is different. If yours is working, no matter which way it's turning, then I say run with it.
@@MarkLindsayCNC ok then, I will try some text to see what happens and reverse if needed. I will look into the post processor as well to see if it's configurable. Thanks for the fast reply, I bet much appreciate it.
@@MichaelWoodrum Do please let me know how it works out for you!
Mark,
Is there a specific reason to dis-engage, or change the settings on the Y axis? Not sure why it can't just be left alone other than fear of accidental movement. I also don't understand the change to the X, Y, & Z pin numbers for step and direction. Lastly, Can you advise how to figure steps per inch? I'm using Sherline stepper motors. Thanks!
Bob
Excellent!
Thank you for checking it out!
Hello Mark, how do you generate gcode for this project? I'm trying to find user-friendly gcode software rather than the expensive fusion360
I used VCarve Pro to design the project and generate g-code for the demonstration in this series.
good one Mark
Thank you, Frank!
Your are so damn clear in your explanations that you should change your name to be Mark Clear Lindsay... lol Great Job Mark...keep it up. I have all buttons/thumbs/bells clicked.... I follow all your videos. thanks Again
Well, thank you very much Andre, but I figure you've forgotten more about CNC than I've learned. I'll consider this high praise indeed.
Great video as usual. I haven't made up my mind so far if I am going to purchase a 4th axis. Does one need the latest version of v carve pro? Also what type of files are needed like 2d or 3d. etc.
LeRoy
Thank you LeRoy! "Latest version" is a relative thing. Vectric incorporated rotary projects into the Job Setup in Version 9, but there were ways of setting up a rotary job in previous versions through the use of gadgets. If you have Version 9 or later, it'll be a lot easier to set up a rotary job, but it's not, strictly speaking, required to have the latest version. The types of files needed will depend on which version of the software you have. Sorry I can't get more specific than that.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Thanks for the quick response. I am still working with version 8.5, i do see something in gadgets called wrapping if that is what you are referring to.
Shoot me an email through the Contact Us page on my website. It's way too much to try to address here.
Excelent video thanks!!
Thank you! I hope it helps you out.
@@MarkLindsayCNC It helped a lot but I have one problem which is maybe not related with Mach 3 but maybe it is. If I adjust 0 on A rotary axis then I give command 360 degrees, them my 360 degrees is not 0 (360) but is is actually a little less, something like 359,75 degrees. I can give compensation etc. but this error stays the same if I turn 2 or 3 times or if I turn 10 times for example then I have 3599,75 which means that calculation of gears is probably OK and problem is somewhere else....it is like I create this error during the firts turn but it stays the same for others...do you have any idea? I have direct connection to stepper motor via tooth belt on plulleys and belt is stretched well...
Get into Mach3, click the SETTINGS tab (Right above the Zero X button.) Just above the red RESET button, you'll see the Set Steps Per Unit button. Click that, then select the A axis, then click OK. Tell it how far you want it to move (360 degrees,) then click OK. Mach3 will move the axis, then ask you how far it actually moved. Enter that amount, then click OK. It'll set the correct number of steps. Click OK. Then check it again by repeating the process until it turns 360 degrees.
Can you add soon, I'd be grateful if all these sheriffs had Turkish subtitles
Thank you very much, you answered most of my questions, but how do I find out how many stept to 1 rev, its a second hand Chinese 6040 , also how do I find the pin outs, all mine are set to 3 for XY & Z and work fine ??
for me it was exactly 10 but your microstepping and stepper motor on that thing plays a role.
v good job
Nice Video. Thanks~~ Well, please teach us more if you have time~~
I'll be back on it after the New Year. Thanks!
great video thanks, I just ordered my rotary axis, so this will definitely help when it comes in. I do have a question, do you have to run a separate profile without you "Y" axis, how do you then line up to center over your work
Thanks for checking out the video! I answered your first question at the very beginning of the setup ( 3:50 ). If you'll move on to the next video in the series (Mount and First Run,) you'll see how I line up the gantry over the center of the headstock. Here's a link to Part 3: ruclips.net/video/8hNjGZHeQOM/видео.html
You'll want to go through the entire series, as I made a couple of modifications to the procedures I used in Part 3.
@@MarkLindsayCNC yes I understand that you said you will create a new one, but I was wondering why. I may have missed that. I don't know a lot about Mach and nothing about 4th axis. But could I not just have all 4 axis turned on? Or does your controller only have 3 axis? I bought a new controller says 4 axis, so was hoping I could run all from 1 profile. Again thanks for this video, the explanation of the steps per degree part, I did not know about.
Okay, I understand what you were asking now. Yes, you have to create and use a separate profile for the rotary axis. The drive box is made to operate 4-axes, but remember that the A axis lead is slaved to the Y axis in order to move the gantry. That takes up all 4 of the axis leads coming from the drive box. To use the rotary, you need to position the gantry as I do in Part 3, turn off the drive box, unplug the A axis lead from the motor being used to move the gantry along the Y axis, then plug the rotary axis motor into that lead. Make sure you use the A axis lead - not the Y axis lead. Check the color coding to be sure.
@@MarkLindsayCNC Oh ok, my current machine only has 1 motor on my "X" (which is my gantry), I am building a new machine and want to have 2 motors on the gantry and I also bought a new controller card and the guy told me I could just splice the 2 together from the card before the motor driver, so each motor has its own motor controller, but getting the same signal from the board. Have you heard of this? The board I got is a USB Mach 3 board from "build your CNC" website. Would you recommend against this? Sorry for all the questions. thanks
like this buildyourcnc.com/FAQ/13287
If you did another profil on mach 3 thats not affect the original One? Thanks for your vidéo
That is correct. I created a second profile for use with the rotary axis only. It does not affect the other, original profile at all.
@@MarkLindsayCNC then can you take de xlm fil copy it on another name and réuse this on on a second profil. Exemple could we have a métric and sae profil on same pc? Just to could change only the native unit and calibrate motor without have to do all other pin and ports setting?
This would be a good question for the Mach Support Forum, but as far as I know, you could clone a profile that you know works, then go in and make the necessary changes to that cloned profile, then save them.
Great video, what software can I use for rotary and postprocessor?
Thank you! I use VCarve Pro to design files to run on my rotary axis. The post processor depends on what controller software you use, and how your rotary axis is oriented. In my case, I use Mach3 controller software, and my rotary is oriented across the front of the table, so I use the Mach2/3 WrapY2A ATC(inch) post processor. Yours may be totally different.
@@MarkLindsayCNC
I also use mach3 and aspire, I will connect and do tests, ask if you have information about tangential with 4th axis, I thank you
I have worm gear ratio 5:1 ,how i calculate these
I spelled that all out in the video. I used 6:1 - you should use 5:1.
Power loss during work in rotary how to go setpoint located
I'm at 12 mins & I'm already confused why you wouldn't use the Y axis. In a way I can understand that the part will be turning but you could also hold a triangle & want to work on each pane??? I'll see if my queries are answered or if I'm just being a dunce!!!
The main reason is because I have a 4-Axis controller, and my Y axis needs 2 motors to move the gantry. With 1 motor that used to move the gantry now turning the rotary axis, that leaves only 1 motor to move the gantry along the Y. That won't work. I would need a 5-axis controller to use the Y axis with the rotary, and for what I do, it just isn't worth the cost.
@@MarkLindsayCNC It's funny you should say that as that was my worry because I also have a slave for my Y axis & that's what made me wonder. So far the video had told me all I wanted to know & your answer here has done the rest. My controller is supposed to be 6 axis but it's only a cheapy so who knows. Great work!!!
I use cut2d with mach3 on my router engraver what can I use with mark 3 on a K40 laser engraver cutter ???
Which software did you use to generate g code
In this video I used VCarve Pro. I have since upgraded to Aspire.
@@MarkLindsayCNC thank you so much , is t friendly software to use / learn
In my experience, it's one of the easiest to learn. I've created over 300 videos on how to use it. Here are 3 playlists that'll get you started: ruclips.net/user/MarkLindsayCNCplaylists?view=50&shelf_id=6
is it the same way with AC Servo
I know absolutely nothing about AC Servos. I've never used a machine that has them.
Ok, Thank you
MARK are ou using a 3 axis box or a 4 axis box
It's a 4-Axis box. When I'm using the CNC for 3-axis flat work, the A axis is slaved to the Y. That gantry has some weight to it.
ok Thanks. The reason I asked is , you say you plugged in your X axis into your rotary drive. My rotary drive has its own 4 pin plug on the back of the control box, here I'm a bit confused on this point
I have a 4-axis drive box (controller box.) When I have the CNC configured without the rotary axis, I have 2 stepper motors driving the Y axis (moving the gantry from front to rear across the table.) That meant I had to use the A axis motor cable to drive that second stepper motor. It's slaved to the Y axis in Mach3, so that when the Y stepper motor turns, the A stepper motor turns simultaneously, moving the gantry. When I connect the rotary axis, I no longer need to move the gantry when it's cutting. So, I move the gantry into position over the rotary axis, shut down the drive box, disconnect the A axis cable from the stepper motor, connect it to the A axis stepper motor on the rotary axis, then open a new Mach3 profile, turn on the drive box, and I'm ready to go. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and it takes about 45 seconds to do.
@@MarkLindsayCNC I am following your Video to setup a rotary profile, I got to the motor tuning part and the motor tuning dialog box will not open. I have checked too the others and they open. I though that you maybe able to shed some lite on my problem. Great video but I seem to have a problem. I am using my mach 3 saved program from my stick, when I saved my Mach 3.
@@jerrybonnifield1537 I don't know what you mean by you're using the Mach3 program from your stick. You should open the Mach3 Loader on the computer running Mach3 and create the profile from there. I'll assume you did that. My first question would be to ask whether you have all the motors enabled in the Ports and Pins, Motor Outputs window. (CONFIG>Ports and Pins> Motor Outputs tab.) Make sure the correct motors are enabled and that you went back to the CONFIG menu, then clicked Save Configuration Settings to write them to the hard drive. Then try opening the motor Tuning window.
👍👍👍
Liked
Great job thanks sir