Converting a post to 5-axis simultaneous

You can convert a 5-axis (milling) or B-axis (turn/mill) positioning post to a 5-axis simultaneous post:

1. Enter the Machine Dimensions in the Five Axis dialog. They are used by FeatureCAM to do transformation and linearization.
2. Select Use Linearization to divide angular moves into smaller linear moves. This avoids overcuts or undercuts resulting from the rotary movements.
3. Enclose any 3D coordinate transformation (tilted working plane) block for 5-axis positioning with <IFNOT><5-AXIS-OPER><THEN>…<ENDIF>. Because 5-axis simultaneous operations do not use 3D coordinate transformation, this ensures those blocks are not output.
4. Add the rotary angles to the Rapid, Z Rapid, and Linear formats.

   For example, enter: {A<ROT1-WIND>}{C<ROT2-WIND>} for a machine with a C rotary table and A tilting head.

5. Add blocks to enable inverse time feed for 5-axis simultaneous operations if your machine requires it.

   Some machines require this for the calculation of the feed rates in the rotary movements. On newer machines, usually the regular feed is sufficient. For example, you would need to add the following blocks to the Program Start, Tool Change, and Segment Start formats:

   <IF><5-AXIS-OPER><THEN>
   M code to enable inverse time feed
   <ELSE>
   M code to enable regular feed
   <ENDIF>

6. Change <FEED> to <ANG-INVTIME> in the Linear format. Because <ANG-INVTIME> has the same value as <FEED> for non 5-axis simultaneous operations, you do not need to add an <IF> to the Linear format.