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Multiple MCSs

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:14 pm
by GreggT
Gents;

Newby here. I have a part that requires machining from three different sides. I will have 3 vises in the machine for each of these setups (the parts progress from station to station and I'll use an M01 to get the process started for the second 2 vises). I would like to specify H1, H2, H3, etc. How is this acomplished? I can't get the Z to flip when I select my second MCS so that the tools will come in from the opposite side? Haven't got to the third side yet.

What is the difference between CSYS, WCS, MCS, Orient Geometry, Locate Geometry, Set MCS, etc. Looks like the WCS would be independant of your MCS?

I'm sure this is simple once you understand it.

GreggT

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:41 pm
by GreggT
Hi Gregg,

here some answers about CSYS and so.

WCS - World Coordinate System
CCS - Coordinate System of Constructionplan
MCS - Mashine Coordinatsystem

MCS ist the Coordinatsystem that is the Zeropoint for Mop-calculation.
WCS ist the general Coordinatsystem, it is absolut an ankered. Orientation is fix. You can not move or turn this.
You can only move the Part to it.

All other Coordinatsystems are incremental to the WCS. There Position can be moved. The Orientation can be turned.

I hope I am right.

How to locate all this, I don't know, have not used at this time.

Peter


[Edited by Peter Smolny on 24-Feb-04 22:48]

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:10 am
by MecSoft Support
Here is a brief explaination of the coordinate systems in VisualMill.

WCS - World Coordinate System. This represents the world (or universe) of the parts. This cannot be changed.

MCS - Machining Coordinate System. This is used to create machining output relative to this temporary coordinate system. Most useful for indexed machining (4 and 5 axis). There is only one MCS in the system but the user can move and orient this CS in any fashion desired. At startup the MCS is aligned with the WCS. The easist way to orient/move the MCS is to align it with the construction grid. (There are numerous tools inside VM to manipulate the construction grid).

CSYS or CS - Coordinate Systems. The user can create multiple coordinate systems and save with the part. These can then be used to orient the MCS by using the "Align MCS to CS" command inside of the Set MCS dialog. The CS can be named differently and so can be used as markers. For instance the user can create 4 CS's for a 4 sided part and name them "Front", "Left", "Back" and "Right" before starting to program the part. Then when he wants to machine the front side, he can align the MCS to the "Front" CS and then program. To machine the left side, he can align the MCS to the "Left" and so on. The CS's are there for convience, allowing the user to save them with the part file and allowing for single command orientation of the MCS. This removes the tedium of having to orient the MCS using the other more manual method (of aligning to construction grid of which there is only one instance).

Hope this helps.



[Edited by MecSoft Support on 01-Mar-04 07:57]

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:32 am
by GreggT
How do I setup multiple coordinate systems? Step by step please. Thanks for the great info.

GreggT

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:59 pm
by GreggT
OK, I have multiple CSs and MCSs. But I still can't get my Z dirrection right. My cutters are passing through the part to get to the side I'm working on. I have rotated the CPlane several times and the "UCS" symbol doesn't change which dirrection the Z arm comes off? How do you get the orientation correct? Can anyone point me to some learning materials. This tool looks like it is awesome, but learning it is killing me. The help really blows. Anybody know where I can find a "command reference" like comes with a CAD system or a really good tutorial?

GreggT

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:26 pm
by leo
May be page 181 step 8 and 9 in VisualMill5.0GettingStartedGuide.pdf is the answer?
Leo

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:40 pm
by GreggT
Thanks Leo. That's exactly what I was looking for.

I started out on "Basic" and had skipped this part.

GreggT

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 8:57 am
by MecSoft Support
To answer Gregg's question. The easiest way to flip the Z axis of a CS is to first flip the orientation of the construction grid and then align the CS to it. To flip the orientation of the grid, use the "CPlane Rotate" command. Rotate CPlane about the X or Y axis by 180 degrees. This will cause the Z axis of the C-Plane to point the other way (Right Hand Rule). Now align the CS to the CPlane.

Hope this helps. We will look into adding a tutorial for this.



[Edited by MecSoft Support on 01-Mar-04 07:58]

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:53 am
by Mark Angus
Hello Support

I about to do my 5 axis training on a thermwood. I understand how to set my MCS on a part, using the construction planes. my question relates to the 5 axis tutorial( which seems incorrect). The orientation of MCS changes according to your machining direction, but should the "origin point" of the MCS not always be in the same position. ie on top of the part? also, there seems to be no help files on the machine setup. In 5axisEX1.vmp which was sent with the post. machine setup is setup as follows: 4th axis/rotary axis/specify/z=1. 5th axis/rotary axis/y=1 is this machine specific? do I use these settings for all my programs?

Mark

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:53 am
by MecSoft Support
Hi Mark,

here is a document with a couple of VisualMill files that explain how to use the indexed 5 axis machining in VisualMill 5.0.

www.mecsoft.com/SupportDocuments/Steps for Creating indexed 5-axis Toolapth.zip

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:05 am
by Mark Angus
Hello support.

Thanks for reply, but link does not seem to work?

mark

Multiple MCSs

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:22 pm
by MecSoft Support
Sorry about that: Try this one

http://www.mecsoft.com/SupportDocuments ... olpath.zip

[Edited by MecSoft Support on 03-Jul-07 14:25]