CAM fourth axis
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Description[edit | edit source]
These experimental features allow milling of four axis faces and pockets
These features are in early development. Bugs may exist. Thank you for your feedback and testing.
Installation[edit | edit source]
Ideally, upgrade to version 0.19.16502, or higher.
Download these scripts:
- PathProfileFaces.py available here and
- PathAreaOp.py is here
- PathPocketShape.py from here too (for pocket operations)
Place them in your FreeCAD/Mod/CAM/PathScripts directory, *after* renaming your originals for safe keeping. Rename the new scripts to the original script names. Restart FreeCAD and have fun.
Use at your own risk.
Limitations[edit | edit source]
Current 4th-axis capable operations do not handle complex/compound rotations: those involving X and Y simultaneously.
There is currently no GUI integration of 4th-axis rotational settings in the release branch. All related settings are in the Data tab of the Properties View section for each individual operation supported.
Usage[edit | edit source]
Profile Faces[edit | edit source]
- Select the face(s) for the operation as normal
- Click on the CAM Profile Faces icon to start the operation
- Change your settings as desired
- Click OK to run the operation
- In the properties list for the new operation, change the "Enable Rotation" setting as needed for the face(s)
- Recompute the operation
- Adjust start/final depths as needed. Final depth is coded to NOT go beyond the selected face used for the profile.
Pocket Shape[edit | edit source]
- Click on the CAM Pocket Shape icon to start the operation.
- Click the OK to create the operation - no faces selected
- Select the new Pocket_Shape operation in task window
- In the operation's Properties list, scroll to CAM section and change the "Enable Rotation" property to the desired 4th-axis setting.
- Re-compute the operation
- Double click on the same operation, to edit settings in the task window.
- Open the 'Base Geometry' tab. Select one face (preferred at the moment) and click the 'Add' button, placing that face in the Base Geometry list.
- Change the other operation settings as desired.
- Click OK to save and apply the changes.
Troubleshooting[edit | edit source]
- There is an "Inverse Angle" property. You may have to toggle this to get correct paths for some of your faces.
- Set "Enable Rotation" to other than 'Off' to profile faces perpendicularly that are not normal to Z-axis.
- Toggle the "Reverse Direction" property if the path appears to be off by 180 degrees.
- Project Commands: New Job, Post Process, Sanity Check, Export Template
- Tool Commands: Inspect Toolpath, Legacy CAM Simulator, CAM Simulator, Finish Selecting Loop, Toggle Operation, ToolBit Library Manager, Add toolbit…
- Basic Operations: Profile, Pocket Shape, Face, Helix, Adaptive, Slot, Drilling, Tapping, Engrave, Deburr, Vcarve
- 3D Operations: 3D Pocket, 3D Surface, Waterline
- CAM Dressup: Array, Axis Map, Boundary, Dogbone, Drag Knife, Lead In/Out, Ramp Entry, Tag, Z Depth Correction
- Supplemental Commands: Comment, Stop, Custom, Probe, Path From Shape TC
- CAM Modification: Copy oOperation, Array, Simple Copy
- Specialty Operations: Thread Milling
- Miscellaneous: Area, Area Workplane
- ToolBit architecture: Tools, ToolShape, ToolBit, ToolBit Library, ToolController
- Additional: Preferences, Scripting
- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
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- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub