CNC Mill Rotary 4th Axis Upgrade

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Shortly after retrofitting my Intelitek Benchman MX CNC mill with a Masso G3 Touch, I tested out the 4th and 5th axis trunion table, and found it to be inadequate for cutting metal...there was too much chatter and it just wasn't going to be rigid enough. So I upgrade to a more rigid rotary 4th axis, install a self-centering vise, set up a test CAM file in fusion 360, and do my first 4th axis CNC operation. The first test went well and I'm excited to use this upgraded machine in upcoming projects!
Links to components used:
CNC Rotary 4th Axis for Metal + 130mm Chuck: www.ebay.com/itm/385748039370
400W AC Servo Motors: amzn.to/3Tbr94X
Precision self-centering CNC vise: www.ebay.com/itm/155958984599
My website: www.id3ntitycrisis.com
My design portfolio: www.id3ntitycrisis.com/portfo...

[@claudejacobs7179]

Desk proto has a multi axis version and can do a helix cut. I am just beginning to explore this program for my hobbyist 4th axis machine.

[@stefankrimbacher7917]

I use Desk Proto too. My setup is 5 axis index machining.

[@manfredriedl5472]

For the 4 sides simply use a circular pattern! Way less to program! Only one side and then duplicate it by four! Greetings from Austria! Cool video as always!

[@diyfiberlaser]

Awesome...thanks for the tip!

[@manfredriedl5472]

@@diyfiberlaser whats the type and size of your vice? I‘m searching for such kind of vice for my rotary axis…

[@IceCreams62]

No more Fusion 360....only Fusion 🤗

[@damienmiller]

As an alternative to the centering pin, which loses you the ability to use the through hole of your 4th axis, you could put 4x set screws around the perimeter of the mounting plate. These would let you dial in the alignment between the vise and the axis just like a 4-jaw chuck

[@simonbelanger7842]

we have 3 4 axis mills vf3 vf4ss DNS NHP4000 we use fusion360 and you really don't need the machining extension, you should see the crazy parts I designed and mill using the base license

[@allanholm5968]

thanks for the many good movies about cnc. when you made the Cnc milling machine into maseon. did you use two types of servo motor. one type for z-y-x and one for spindle why ??

[@diyfiberlaser]

Same brand of servo, just larger size for spindle

[@tmtoronto3741]

Thank you for sharing the video. I wanted to know if there is any brake required for this application. I have been looking at 4th axis options for machining aluminum on my small CNC and noticed that some solutions have various forms of braking mechanisms to keep the chuck/vise secure. Tom

[@diyfiberlaser]

I didn't install a servo with brake and it seems to hold it just fine. I supposed you could if you wanted to...and wire the brake to a relay and control it with some custom gcode

[@tmtoronto3741]

@@diyfiberlaser thank you for the quick response. Happy to hear I need one less component and no added cost.

[@simonbelanger7842]

if your 4th is a worm drive type it won't need a brake

[@dcalf1]

i have a really nice southbend magnaturn 612 lathe, its not running right now, i bought about all the Masso components to retrofit it, but i do not know where to begin, it needs your special touch to get it running, any help would be greatly appreciated,

[@diyfiberlaser]

Oh ya, I've seen those and almost bought one once...you begin with some disassembly to see what you're working with

[@michaelmiller5566]

Do you have a link for the new 4th axis? I've been dragging my feet because i dont want a cheap one that can't cut metal very well but i also dont want to spend 5000.

[@diyfiberlaser]

Linked in the video description

[@michaelmiller5566]

@@diyfiberlaser thank you.

[@P1-Engineering]

Did you happen to measure the backlash in the drive? It seems very rigid!

[@diyfiberlaser]

I haven't measured it yet...but there is no noticeable play when turning by hand

[@P1-Engineering]

@@diyfiberlaser Thanks, would be great if you had the opportunity to measure. See how it compared to a harmonic drive.

[@dcalf1]

i tried to contact you thru your website, i have something that might make good content, let me know, thanks.

[@spikeypineapple552]

Mastercam can come in cheaper! It's 19k flat cost for the 4th axis package+5k per year maintance :)

[@greenbuttonpusher_hc6453]

cheapest i could find: 6k buy 1k maintenance (also the only one where i got a quote asap without bunch of questions & no quote ... :D ) (4&5axis simultaneous in house, no moduleworks plugin) ...don't ask... :)

[@scottdimelow817]

You can buy tokens with Fusion and get the multi-axis package for 24 hours for 10 tokens (30 dollars). You can only buy 300 tokens minimum though. I've not found anything cheaper than Fusion, just pay for it monthly and you'll forget about the cost 😂