Is there a tangential knife option similar to what exists in Mach 4 where an A-axis rotation is computed to ensure the tool (knife) is maintained tangential to the path ? I have a Masso and love it but it is not clear how to do this. I use VCarve pro and perhaps someone knows if there is a toolpath option there that would generate the needed g-codes ? If all fails then perhaps some Python code to post process the gcode file.
Axis driven tangential knife
- Thread starter DrWino
- Start date
zombieengineer
ZombieEngineer
Apparently ShopBot have an oscillating tangential knife with a VCarve post processor.
Perhaps you might be able to "repurpose" some of their learnings...
github.com
Perhaps you might be able to "repurpose" some of their learnings...
Tangential-Oscillating-Knife-Software/ShopBot_TanOsc_Knife_(mm).pp at main · ShopBotTools/Tangential-Oscillating-Knife-Software
Post processors for use with Vectric software to program cuts with a tangential oscillating knife - ShopBotTools/Tangential-Oscillating-Knife-Software
github.com
How'd you go? I am looking for a similar solution for Oscilating Tangential Knife. I use Fusion but at this point, would consider another CAM package purely for knife operations if I had to. Getting desperate.
Several years ago I works with Fusion and a client to develop a post processor for a tangential knife and the result was 2 test post processors which I have posted below. Unfortunately as soon as the client got the test versions they disappeared and we could get no further feedback from them as to whether the posts worked or not and the client did not return either my or Fusions emails so it went no further. As a result was not integrated into the Fusion post processor as planned. This was during the pandemic and they may well no longer be with us.
Either way the project collapsed and it was never added to the post processor but I kept the test versions in case they work. The difference between rev5 & rev6 is the later uses inverse time G93 which should give better results with the rotary axis.
Cheers Peter
Either way the project collapsed and it was never added to the post processor but I kept the test versions in case they work. The difference between rev5 & rev6 is the later uses inverse time G93 which should give better results with the rotary axis.
Cheers Peter
Hi Peter
That's disappointing, but see it a lot on forums these days.
Would there be any scope to re-open the project? I would be happy to participate and provide a closed loop of testing. Located in Perth, WA so not far from your time zone.
breezy
Moderator
Peter's Fusion contact left Autodesk just before I contacted Autodesk with regard to Plasma PP.
Autodesk's contact person I ended up working with is
Serge Quiblier <serge.quiblier@autodesk.com>
Technical consultant – Customer Engagement Organization
This was in June 2022 through to April 2023.
Plasma PP still hasn't been implemented by Autodesk.
You could try contacting Serge and mention me as your source of contact detail.
By the way where are you located in Perth? I'm in Coogee.
Home is Karrinyup and the workshop is in Malaga. I've just got the knife installed on the machine and A Axis rotating perfectly with a MASSO branded Integrated stepper for rotation.Peter's Fusion contact left Autodesk just before I contacted Autodesk with regard to Plasma PP.
Autodesk's contact person I ended up working with is
Serge Quiblier <serge.quiblier@autodesk.com>
Technical consultant – Customer Engagement Organization
This was in June 2022 through to April 2023.
Plasma PP still hasn't been implemented by Autodesk.
You could try contacting Serge and mention me as your source of contact detail.
By the way where are you located in Perth? I'm in Coogee.
Will start experimenting with the processors. Thanks!
Hi All, I have begun testing with the rev 6 post.
It is very, very close to useable. I have one hurdle and one other small challenge:
- The machine drops the knife to the bottom contour height (bottom of material) before moving to its first position, meaning it travels through the part to get to first entry point. Obviously this is a deal breaker.
- It would be great to have a tick box in the post processor settings to disable Spindle (not command spindle start) as
Here is a sample G Code.
For context, I have used a 2D contour tool path. It is a 50mm thick item. WCS zero is the top, front, left of the part. The contour needs to happen at -50 in Z, which it does. Unfortunately the first thing Masso does is drop Z to -50, then position itself to the starting point of the contour.
It is very, very close to useable. I have one hurdle and one other small challenge:
- The machine drops the knife to the bottom contour height (bottom of material) before moving to its first position, meaning it travels through the part to get to first entry point. Obviously this is a deal breaker.
- It would be great to have a tick box in the post processor settings to disable Spindle (not command spindle start) as
Here is a sample G Code.
For context, I have used a 2D contour tool path. It is a 50mm thick item. WCS zero is the top, front, left of the part. The contour needs to happen at -50 in Z, which it does. Unfortunately the first thing Masso does is drop Z to -50, then position itself to the starting point of the contour.
Attachments
breezy
Moderator
I think your problem is in this line
docs.masso.com.au
H is an unknown parameter so the line ignored.
G00 - Rapid Motion
Still working on this but wanted to throw (IMHO) a promising advancement... Lightburn appear to be making a user friendly CAM package aimed at people wanting to get basic tool paths into controllers like MASSO. There's plenty of press out there about it, but I have specifically made a thread requesting tangential knife support in future versions. If you think its a good idea, a vote would be much appreciated and hopefully we can close the loop between MASSO and a simple TOK pipeline.
millmage.fider.io
Tangential Knife Support · MillMage
There is a big market gap for a simple toolpath generator for controlling a tangential knife attached to a CNC router. \ \ Currently the options are d
millmage.fider.io
@tmtoronto what post processor did you finally decide on in Sheetcam? I have been using the one from the Masso downloads page with some positive results but not quite right. Hoping the PP you tried were satisfying?
Unfortunately I no longer have any of that information. This was one of my very early projects when I first got my CNC set up, but that was many years - and hard drives - ago. Other than what is recorded in Masso and Onefinity forums.