Using Sherline Mill as CNC with Head Turned 90 Deg

Todd wrote:

If you are only turning the head, and not the z axis, then would it not be effectively a manual B axis?

Yes, and I have considered setting up my tilting-head mill with a 4-axis kinematics that allows direct-entry of the angle that has been set.
But that seems like rather an "advanced" approach in this case and won't actually help with the request to be able to use normal XYZ G-code in the tilted mode.
(I would expect my putative setup to jog in XYZ normally and in the W axis parallel with the spindle)

johnl2 wrote:

I don't understand your question.

This Video shows a similar machine to yours with CNC-controlled B and C axes.
It is possible to set up LinuxCNC to "understand" such a geometry in terms of tool-tip coordinates and angles so that (for example) a move in the W-axis will actually move the X, Y and Z axes together in proportions depending on the current B and C angles.

You _could_ set up your machine to automatically compensate for whatever B-angle you set the head to. But that won't let you use standard XYZ G-code.

johnl2 wrote:

So it cannot be done?

Now I don't understand your question

Yes, it can be done, but it won't achieve what you seem to want.

Also, I have never heard of these other axis you're naming, like W, B and C

LinuxCNC supports up to 9 axes, XYZ, ABC, UVW. ABC are conventionally roatations, and UVW are conventionally a second (rotated) set of cartesian axes.

However, on the basic level all that XYZABCUVW do is pass values from G-code to HAL, and what you do with the numbers is entirely up to the machine builder.

johnl2 wrote:

B/c what I want is what you said, to use standard xyz g-code with a tilted head making the head x and the x the z .

Right, so ignore the B-axis and 5-axis kinematics ideas, and just make a config with the axes swapped around.

johnl2 wrote:

Okay, I will try that. So I'm going into the stepconf wizard?

That's one way. Or you can hand-edit a copy of the existing INI and HAL.