I finally got the hang of setting up a 4th axis on our old Haas last week

Our shop in Toledo got a job for some curved brackets, and my boss told me to figure out the rotary table on the VF-2. I watched a bunch of videos and after three tries, I got the work offset dialed in so the toolpath wrapped around correctly. Anyone have a good method for checking runout on a 4th axis before you start cutting?

3 comments

3 Comments

henderson.mason7d ago

I finally got the hang of setting up a 4th axis" - man, I wish that was me. I spent a whole afternoon once cussing at a rotary table because I had the clamp on the wrong side and it kept shifting when I tightened it down. Felt like a real genius when I figured that out. For checking runout, I just use an indicator on the part itself and spin it by hand a few times. Makes me feel like a wizard when the needle doesn't move.

sethr111mo ago

Watching videos is a good start, but I always physically indicate the centerline on the part itself before I even touch the work offset.

wren9781mo ago

Oh man, that's the only way to be sure. I'll even hit it with a sharpie line after I indicate, just a quick dash on each side. Makes setting the work offset feel like a formality because you already know exactly where it is.