Rotary Machining

Overview

SolidCAM’s Rotary Machining technology is used to create a tool path that is designed to mill parts/screws on a 4-Axis machine. The Rotary Machining operation is used to machine parts that have a variable pitch and are difficult to machine using the standard 5-Axis tools.

Adding a Rotary Machining Operation

In SolidCAM Manager, right-click the Operations header and choose Add Milling Operation > Rotary Machining item to add a Rotary Machining operation to your CAM part.

Parameter pages

The parameters of the Rotary Machining operation are divided into a number of subgroups. The subgroups are displayed in a tree format on the left side of the Operation dialog box. When you click a subgroup name in the tree, the parameters of the selected subgroup appear on the right side of the dialog box.

  • CoordSys

The Coordsys page of the Rotary Machining dialog box is similar to the Coordsys page of other Sim 5-Axis Milling operations.

The Tool page of the Rotary Machining dialog box is similar to the Tool page of other Sim 5-Axis Milling operations. In Rotary machining you can use End Mill, Bull Nose Mill, and Ball Nose Mill.

In Rotary Machining, the Feed control tab is available only with the option of Rapid motion in G1 mode.

  • Levels

In Rotary Machining, the Levels page is available only with the option of Distances and Air move safety distance sections.

  • Tool axis control

The Tool axis control page of the Rotary Machining dialog box is similar to the Tool axis control of other Sim 5-Axis Milling operations. However, in this operation the Output format is set to 4 axis only.

  • Link

The Link page enables you to define the Ramping, Approach/Retract and Links parameters of the Rotary Machining operation. The default Lead-In/Out page is enabled when Finishing Strategy is selected in the Geometry page. The default Lead-In/Out page is similar to the Default Lead-In/Out page of other Sim 5-Axis operations. Refer the following parameters - Tangential arc, Tangential line and Orthogonal line used for the approach/retreat movements.

  • Clearance data

In Rotary Machining, the Clearance data page is similar to the Clearance data page of other Sim 5-Axis operations.

  • Machine control

The Machine control page of the Rotary Machining dialog box is similar to the Machine control page of other Sim 5-Axis Milling operations.

  • Misc. parameters

The Misc. parameters page of the Rotary Machining dialog box is similar to the Misc. parameters page of other Sim 5-Axis Milling operations.