How do I setup a 5 axis mill?

Louis wrote: LinuxCNC failed to start with the error "pin does not exist.".

The error report will also tell you _which_ pin does not exist, and also which line of the HAL file to look at.
With that information it is generally possible to see what is wrong.

So my new machine has arrived now, and I've got it moving around. I think the "pin does not exist" errors I was getting before were because I was running in simulation mode on my regular computer in preparation of the arrival of the new machine. I've now built a dedicated computer to run the new mill. I took the same steps as before. I used stepconf to create an XYZA configuration, then edited the .hal and .ini files, duplicating the A axis sections and changing them to C, and it's working. I can now control all 5 axes, and I'm pretty happy about that. I have attached my config files in case some of you who are familiar with this stuff will spot an error I've made, room for improvement, etc...

So now I've got to generate some gcode to run on this thing. I only have 3 axis CAM software now, so my initial plan is to generate multiple 3 axis tool paths and manually rotate the workpiece between them. I think 5 sided machining will be fine for now, but I'm still wondering if if would be helpful for me to get the XYZACkins setup modified to suit my mill so I can have RTCP motion. Is that required for continuous 5 axis toolpaths?

Louis wrote: I'm still wondering if if would be helpful for me to get the XYZACkins setup modified to suit my mill so I can have RTCP motion. Is that required for continuous 5 axis toolpaths?

No, some CAM systems do the RTPC in the CAM software, and RTCP kinematics is counterproductive. However if you do it in the kinematics then you can run the same path with a different-length tool (for example) and the G-code paths will still work.

The configs in the PDF file I posted earlier have now been included in the JA13 branch of LinuxCNC:
github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/tree/joints...table-rotary-tilting

So if you switch to that branch you can try them out. I actually would very much recommend running joints_axes13 if you set up for RTPC, as it allows you to jog in the XYZABC space.

This is a video of one of those simulations:

Hello, the link above is dead - is there a Linux CNC version for 5 axis or not?? If not can we have clear step by step instructions to make Linux CNC control 5 axis (XYZAC) for rotary table that has two stepper motors in it.

Many thanks!

I will donate if someone can really provide very clear and simple step by step instructions ...

jackotool wrote: Hello, the link above is dead - is there a Linux CNC version for 5 axis or not??

All versions of LinuxCNC can support up to 9 axes. The config that was linked to is now here, in the main LinuxCNC repository.
github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/tree/master...table-rotary-tilting

If you install LinuxCNC (version 2.8 onwards) then you can run that demo config without physical hardware. If you install the current released version (2.7) then there are some different 5-axis demos.

If not can we have clear step by step instructions to make Linux CNC control 5 axis (XYZAC) for rotary table that has two stepper motors in it.

Do you want to use tool-point-coordinates, or just control 5 conventional axes?

Thanks for your help and reply ...

I guess tool point coordinates? ... as the tool will be doing the cutting of aluminium. I'm hoping LinuxCNC will decide for me what when and where to use which axis.

What do I do with the .ini files etc ... where do I put them --- I am relatively new to CNC .... although I was a CNC machine tool setter operator 30 years ago!