thought I'd see how everyone else does this. I use 4th axis positioning on a vertical extensively and have for about 10 years. Years ago Dave Suttie told me to set up local work planes on the faces I was to machine and set the planes to code from "world". This has worked fine. I set "X" zero to the cl of the part and "Y" and "Z" zero to cl of rotation. all code comes from the cl of rotation but creating the code is easier because it comes from the local plane, prof top and clear values are at "normal" distances to the part face rather than 6" up in Z. With this setup each part has it's own coord system and each face is simply an angle change in the program. the problem with this setup is that the part has to be positioned in the correct spot, relative to the cl of rotation. The operator cannot simply dial in a corner of the part, call it "zero" and go. Vise jaws and fixtures have to be cut correctly or the part is not correct. The crew leader has another problem also, the problem is that the code values are meaningless to the operator, a 1/2" tall part does not have a code line that cuts at 1/2" because the part is in jaws that start 4" above rotation center.
hope this wasn't too confusing, but what are the rest of you doing? I'm not sure if I can code from a local plane and get it to work. I don't know how I would link the cl of rotation to the local plane. Bob Looney PMI/ISCO Bend, OR 97702 ====================================================================== To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================
