4 & 5 Axis Mill Training Tutorials
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Mastercam X Training Tutorials – 4 & 5 Axis Mill Applications
Revised Date: July 8, 2009
Copyright © 1984 - 2009 In-House Solutions Inc. - All rights reserved.
Software: Mastercam X Mill
Authors: Mariana Lendel
ISBN: 978-1-926566-41-2
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11-1
General Notes
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B-1
TUTORIAL SERIES FOR
TUTORIAL 4
CHUCK INDEXING TUTORIAL
4/5-Axis TUTORIAL 4
Objectives:
The Student will design a 3-dimensional drawing by:
Creating the 2D geometry in the Right Side view.
Creating the 3D geometry using translate command.
Creating circles knowing the diameter and the center location.
Changing the view of the part for better visualisation.
The Student will create a 2-dimensional milling toolpath in different Tplanes consisting of:
Using View Manager to select the Tplane for each face.
Create an operation for each face using the same work offset (G54).
Facing one flat surfaces.
Facing the other two flat surfaces using Transform-Rotate toolpath.
Drilling the two holes.
Removing the material inside of one groove using contour toolpath.
Machine the second groove using Transform-Rotate toolpath.
The Student will check the toolpath using Mastercam’s Verify verification module by:
Defining a 3-dimensional block, the size of the workpiece.
Running the Verify function to machine the part on the screen.
Page 4-2
4/5-Axis
Page 4-3
TUTORIAL 4
4/5-Axis TUTORIAL 4

Select the line; Enable Copy and set # to 1; Rotation angle 90 deg
Xform/ Xform Rotate
Select the rotated line; Enable Copy and set # to 1; Rotation angle 105 deg
Page 4-4
4/5-Axis
Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend
Enable divide and select the two arcs one below and
the other one to the right of the rotated lines.
Select Entity A here
TUTORIAL 4
Create/Line/ Create Line Endpoint and set
parameters to:
Specify an endpoint = Origin
Line length = 2.5
Angle = 120 deg.;
Create/Line/ Create Line Parallel and set parameters to:
Select a line; Select the 120 deg line
Select the point to place a parallel line through; Pick a point above the line; enter the distance 0.25
Select the flip buton several times until you make both parallel lines (above and below the 120 deg. line)
Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend
Enable Break in the ribbon bar.
Select an entity to break; Select the first parallel line end that is further away from the origin.
Enable the length button in the Ribbon bar and enter -0.25
Repeat the command to break at 0.25 distance the other parallel line that we created in the previous
step
Delete the center line and the parallel lines closest to the origin.
Select these entities
Create/Line/ Create Line Endpoint and set parameters to:
Select the endpoints of the parallel lines left to close the slot.
Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend

to the left of the line; enter the distance 1.50
Select Entity C
Create/Arc/ Create Circle Center Point and set parameters to:
Diameter = .375;
Center at intersection between two of the lines created in the previous step.
Diameter = .375;
Center at intersection between two of the lines created in the previous
step.
Delete the construction lines
File/Save as
File Name: Tut4_Rotary axis indexing.mcx
Page 4-6
4/5-Axis TUTORIAL 4
TOOLPATH CREATION
STEP 2: DEFINE THE STOCK
To display the Toolpaths Manager press Alt + O.
Set the construction plane to Top Plane.
If a machine definition is already selected see Tutorial # 2 page 2-4 to learn how to change it.
Otherwise follow the next step.
Machine Type
Mill
Select Mill 4-AXIS VMC.MMD.
Page 4-7
4/5-Axis
Select the plus in front of Properties to expand the Toolpaths Group Properties.
Select the plus
Select the Stock setup.
Select Stock setup
The stock shape should be set to Cylinder.
Enable X- Axis

Override defaults with modal
values enables the system to keep
the values that you enter.
Feed Calculation set From tool uses
feed rate, plunge rate, retract rate
and spindle speed from the tool
definition.
Select the OK button to exit Toolpath Group Properties.
Page 4-9
TUTORIAL 4
4/5-Axis TUTORIAL 4
STEP 3: FACE THE FLAT SURFACE AT 165 DEGREES.
Tool Planes and Axis Orientation
The tool plane (Tplane) is the plane in which the tool approaches and machines the part. The
Tplane represents the CNC machine’s coordinate system (XY axis and origin). This is the cutting
plane for a toolpath, typically normal to the tool axis
The Rotary axis for our part is A-axis. The axis orientation for different views should look as shown
in the following picture.
Compare the planes axis orientation when rotating the part about B axis. (horizontal machining
centers).
Page 4-10
4/5-Axis
Toolpath Preview:
3.1 Create the new view at 165 degrees.
Select WCS in the Status Bar.
Select View Manager.
Select Geometry button.
Select the second line here
[Select a flat entity, 2 lines, or, 3 points]: Select the
two lines as shown in the following picture

in the following picture.
Page 4-13
4/5-Axis
3.3 Face the plane.
Toolpaths
Face
Select the OK button to accept the NC name.
Enable C-plane in the Chaining dialog box.
[Select OK to use the defined stock or select chain 1]:Select the chain as
shown
Select the
chain here
Select the OK button to exit Chaining.
From Tool page, click on the Select library tool button.
Select the Filter button in the Tool Selection.
Page 4-14
TUTORIAL 4
4/5-Axis TUTORIAL 4
In the Tool Types field select the None button to disable all tools.
Select the Face mill tool type as shown.
In the Tool Diameter field click the pull-down arrow and select Equal.
Enter the Tool Diameter value to 3.0.
Select the OK button to exit Tool List Filter.
Make sure that the tool is selected (highlighted) in the Tool Selection screen.
Select the OK button to exit the Tool Selection dialog box.
Make the necessary changes to match the parameters with the screenshot below.
The Tool page allows you to select the tool used in this operation. It also allows you to
change the Spindle speed, the Feed rate, Plunge rate and Retract rate. You can insert a
comment that will be output in the NC file after running the post processor
Page 4-15

Enable Maintain source operation’s to keep the same Work offset number.(G54).
Note that the Facing operation is selected
Select the Rotate tab and change the parameters as shown.
Enable Rotation view and select the arrow button.
Page 4-18
4/5-Axis
Select the Right Side View.
Select the OK button to exit View Selection
Select the OK button to exit Transform Operation
Parameters
Your part should appear as shown.
Press Alt + T to remove the toolpath display.
Page 4-19
TUTORIAL 4