Mapping X/Y G-code to cylinder on A-Axis

This is useful if you have a 4th axis and want to mill on the outside of a cylinder as if it were the X-Y plane. You must have set up the A axis as “4THMILL”. This is possible with a normal XY G-Code file. EdingCNC will perform the mapping for you. Some calibration needs to be done to make this work. It is done on the coordinates page. The location of the A-axis rotation point needs to be set and also the radius of the workpiece needs to be set first.

First, we set the location of the A rotation point:

We move by jogging or MDI to the center point of rotation of the A axis, only Z and Y are important here. Press button "1. Set to current position". Done, center is set.

Next, we set the outside radius of the workpiece:

There are two possibilities to do this:

1. Just type the radius if you know it and press "Set Radius"

2. We move the Z up touch the outside of the material with the tool bit and press "Calibrate Radius".

Calibration is done. First, we need to be sure that our Y axis is at the correct position before we switch on the Y->A mapping. We need to do this now because when the mapping is ON, Y can no longer be moved, as Y is now mapped to A. You can press "Move Y to rotation point” to do the movement.

The mapping can be switched ON now. Then, we can load a standard G-Code file with XYZ coordinates. Below, we see how it looks in the graphic.

Position the X and the Z at the zero point of the drawing, so where the milling should start.

Now Zero all axes in the Operate screen



Y to A mapping OFF

//IMAGE of flat picture....



Y to A mapping ON