Part used for 4 Axis Contour Examples
Side Angle = 0
Right side
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Rotation occurs for this side cut along the axis of rotation.
The part rotates back to zero for the cut across the axis of rotation.
The tool axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation performs a swarf of the selected surface. When you enter a side angle, the part is rotated to tilt the tool away from the surface wall. It is only applied to the walls that are being swarf cut. The following drawings show the tool position that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
SURFCAM displays the cut with the tool tilted. During the machine cut, the tool remains vertical while the axis is rotated for the swarf cutting of the tool. This also applies to the side angle cuts.
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Part used for 4 Axis Contour Examples Side Angle = 0 | |
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Right side
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The part rotates back to zero for the cut across the axis of rotation.
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Side
Angle = 10 | |
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The part rotates back to zero for the cut across the axis of rotation. . |
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Side Angle = -10
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The part rotates back to zero for the cut across the axis of rotation.
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The lead angle is applied to the cutter in the plane of the normal to surface orientation. The drawings below indicate the tool orientation for the contour cut. These examples have the surface arrow at the top of the cone, on the outside, and directed around the surface.
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Part used for 5 Axis Contour Examples | |
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Side Angle = 0 | |
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Front View
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Side Angle = 10 | |
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Side Angle = -10 | |
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The prompt line directs you to select the guide surface.
Contour is a one pass operation that can be used as a swarf operation, a contour operation, or both.
It is a swarf type operation when it is performed using a single surface as the guide surface. A guide surface must be associated with the spline being cut.
A guide surface must be associated with one or more other surfaces, called bottom surfaces, that are used to control the swarf cut along the tool vector. If the guide surface is not cut, it can act as a guide for a contour cut performed on the bottom surface(s). Both kinds of cuts can be pSURFCAM\HTMLHelpNew\Definitions\Menu_3311.htmerformed together on the same pass.
Both cuts are also guided by a cutter intersect spline, called the contour curve, that is projected onto the guide surface. The contour curve must have been previously created. The closer it is created to the guide surface, the more accurately it can be projected onto that surface.
SURFCAM provides gouge detection and avoidance on all bottom surfaces.
The amount of material to be removed by the swarf cut on the guide surface is controlled by the Stock To Leave on Guide Surface parameter on the Cut Control tab. The amount of material to be removed by the contour cut on the bottom surface is controlled by the Stock To Leave at Bottom Surfaces parameter. The tool orientation is dependent on the guide surface arrow side, direction and the value for the Side Angle parameter on the Cut Control tab.
In performing a Contour cut, if the tool is required to tilt along the axis of rotation, a 5 Axis Contour cut must be used.
Contour Considerations for 4 Axis
The surface determines the tool axis orientation. A cutter intersect spline can be created between two surfaces and machined with this command. The contour must be a spline. A side angle can be entered to produce a lead angle if desired. A lag angle can be specified with a negative side angle.
If the tool is required to tilt along the axis of rotation, a 5 Axis Contour cut must be used.
