4 Axes Machine Questions

I have some questions about setting up a 4 axes router with xy and2 z axes or (zw). We use the machine several different ways. Some times we run it with one head or the other as the z, sometimes we will use both heads to mill different processes on the same part (mill with one then the other), but most of the time we mill with both heads simultaneously to make two of the same part at the same time. The control software that we are using now has a command that we can use to reassign the axes lettering, L12 ZZ would make both axes move together, L12 WZ and L12 ZW would switch them. Is there a way to do the same sort of axes remapping in EMC2?

The Z and W are together with a fixed spacing.

I haven't found an easy way to output code from our cam program we currently use (Enroute) to produce code with both z and w together (I can do just z or just w). The majority of code we are running on these machines are 2 1/2-D v-carving. This would also require regenerating the g-code for hundreds of old files, some of which I might not even be able to find the original cam files. I do know that some of our oldest files are already set up with both z and w commands, but they were done with another cam program that we no longer use (or have?? they predate my employment).

Thanks for the link. but it doesn't seem to give any definitive answers.

So can I set up an M code to cause the W head to move with the Z and its commands, and another to return it to normal separate Z and W movements? What should the hal command(s) for such an M code look like, and what other special considerations would have to be made to the hal file? While the W and Z work together I would need the W and Z to continue to use their respective machine coordinate systems (W is touched off at one number and Z is slightly different).

It seems to me that you might look at the gantry kinematic as a starting point.
In the gantry you have two motors that can be homed seperately and then move together when running code.
If that will work for you then look at the options of running them seperately.
Of course you could also just set up two machine configurations, one with the axis slaved and one with them seperate.

Rick G

The machine(s) are old Digital Tool routers, and they are plain steppers. The other machine Andy helped me set up with step/dir servos is only 3 axis.

My main consern about setting up the W slaved, is that I would still need to be able to jog and touch off the Z and W seperately, to set and adjust the depth on the tools. Would I still be able to do this in a configuration with them slaved using gantrykins? I need to go read up on gantrykins I realy haven't looked at it at all yet.