Just started to use the 3/5 axis converter in sweeping and I'm getting poor surface quality during machine rotations. Anyone use this option? Does anyone know how to clean these up?
Outputting by "tool tip" and using default settings in the 3/5 axis converter option.
I see the same poor surface quality in Vericut so its gotta be Catia
See Pics
Thanks
Tony Walker
Hi Tony,
I have a few recommendations. This could be the post not
CATIA.
1. try setting the gage length to the center of the ball
2. Try running the output in vericut aptsource first... to see what it looks like before posting. that might shed some light.
3. Try setting the postprocessor maximum angular to a very small MAXANG.. like .25 deg.
IF you are using RTCP... could be machine settings.
I know people that use ball center on RTCP... should not have to, but try it.
Hope this helps
Dave
Dave Frank * Dasco Engineering.
NC Programming Lead
COE Product Co-Chairman, Digital Numerical Control
Hi Tony,
I have used it on quite a few jobs. It works pretty good for me. However it doesn't produce a good clean motion (not jumping up and down) especially when tilting around some complex shapes. But for simple 5-axis shapes it works OK.
I see you are using default settings. It might not produce good results with default settings. Make sure your max discretization angle minimum length settings are fine tuned. Also tighten up step angle even if it takes more time to compute, you'll definitely get a better quality in the toolpath. Since it looks like a simple 5-axis shape in that case I would create surface to control the tool-axis but then again I don't see the entire part so it could become more complicated task for creating NC-Drive geometry if there are other areas where tool-axis needs to be tilted in various different directions. If so then leave it as automatic. Now comes the lateral vs frontal angle option. You have to look at part in its entirety and the computed trajectory of the toolpath and then you can decide where tool-axis needs to be tilted in what direction.
Since I don't know the kinematics of your machine so I cannot say what to do with post settings. But if your 5-axis toolpath is properly linearized with these above mentioned settings in CATIA then post doesn't have to do much work except it might fine tune the toolpath by taking out some extra points especially in singularities (when approaching 0,0,1) which is almost always a case for the knucklehead machines.
Since we are talking about 3/5 axis converter, it would be nice if we get a fix in the macro management for feedrates in clearance. As of now it is all RAPID motion.
P.S. UGNX does most of this automatically which takes out the fun of figuring it out.
Thanks for the info.. We have cleaned up considerably thru the post but still could use some work,.
