Quote:
Originally Posted by Bells  […] Also was there a particular cue or inlay that you were trying to accomplish when you started using "4th axis " machining or 4-d inlay? thanks............ |
Below is a CAD drawing of a design that I envisioned when I first started exploring the idea of using the rotary axis for inlay work. I had no idea how to convert linear dimensions into degrees of rotation, so I build an indexer that was driven by a series of timing belts and toothed pulleys. I created my drawings such that the linear dimensions in the “Y” axis would correspond to the circumference of the butt sleeve, and the ratios achieved by the timing-belt-and-pulley jack shafts would convert the linear commands to a rotary action. It was a crude work-around that had an elegant simplicity and worked like a charm.
For the last couple of decades (or so) I’ve had a real indexer (two, actually) and learned to write 4-axis and 5-axis code, so the job’s not as tough. Also, the attached CAD drawing is actually a re-draw of that original design, which was done in
early AutoCad, and has been lost to time. I still have the practice blocks I cut this design into many, many years ago.
TW