Post Fail with tool orientation for 4th axis positioning

Anonymous · ‎08-24-2021

Hi, I've been using the planetCNC post in the library for 3 axis machining with no problems. I have now added a rotary 4th axis and am trying to run a program that requires 16 different tool orientations, and I get errors. It looks the the post is capable of doing 4 axis, but I assume there are modifications needed and I don't know how to do that. Can you help?

See below for errors:

Generated by: Fusion 360 CAM 2.0.10564

...

Warning: Work offset has not been specified. Using G54 as WCS.

###############################################################################

Error: Tool orientation is not supported.

Error at line: 766

Error in operation: 'Pencil2 (2)'

Failed while processing onSection() for record 3116.

###############################################################################

Error: Failed to invoke function 'onSection'.

Error: Failed to invoke 'onSection' in the post configuration.

Error: Failed to execute configuration.

Stop time: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 12:14:33 AM

Post processing failed.

daniel_lyall · ‎08-24-2021

Around line 256 change this

if (false) { // note: setup your machine here

var aAxis = createAxis({coordinate:0, table:false, axis:[1, 0, 0], range:[-360, 360], preference:1});

var cAxis = createAxis({coordinate:2, table:false, axis:[0, 0, 1], range:[-360, 360], preference:1});

machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration(aAxis, cAxis);

To

if (true) { // note: setup your machine here

var aAxis = createAxis({coordinate:0, table:false, axis:[1, 0, 0], range:[-360, 360], preference:1});

//var cAxis = createAxis({coordinate:2, table:false, axis:[0, 0, 1], range:[-360, 360], preference:1});

machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration(aAxis, /*cAxis*/);

boopathi.sivakumar · ‎08-25-2021

Hi @Anonymous

In addition to what @daniel_lyall said make sure the parameters defined in the createAxis is matching as per your machine. You can read the documentation here How to set up a 4/5 axis machine configuration - Autodesk Community- HSM
For a typical 4th axis mounted on the table along X will have a kinematics something like below

  if (true) { // note: setup your machine here
    var aAxis = createAxis({coordinate:0, table:true, axis:[1, 0, 0],cyclic:true, range:[0, 360], preference:1});
    //var cAxis = createAxis({coordinate:2, table:false, axis:[0, 0, 1], range:[-360, 360], preference:1});
    machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration(aAxis);

    setMachineConfiguration(machineConfiguration);
    optimizeMachineAngles2(1); // TCP mode
  }

Boopathi Sivakumar
Principal Technology Consultant

Anonymous · ‎08-25-2021

Thanks Daniel,

I copied the revised text from your email and pasted it into the post, but there was a syntax error on line 259.

This is line 259 as copied:

machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration ( aAxis , /* cAxis*/ );

I also made the change per the message from Boopathi to change (0) to (1) in this line:

optimizeMachineAngles2(1); // TCP mode

Thanks for your help.

daniel_lyall · ‎08-25-2021

That's my fault the /* is in the wrong places

It should be like this

machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration ( aAxis /*, cAxis*/ );

Not this

machineConfiguration = new MachineConfiguration ( aAxis , /* cAxis*/ );

Example attached