Well, more than 7 months on and I've finally got a 5 axis mill up and almost running ! We have a 5 axis Bridgeport with a 350mm dia integrated table.
I'm currently trying to figure out my post processor with a local support company, but its hard going due to the heidenhain control.
I've roughed out my vice spacer and mounted my 5th axis vice on top. Then it has been clocked to the middle of the table (10-15 microns in x & y and 3 microns parrellism). I've done a basic 4th axis program to check the alignment and I'm suitably impressed how accurate the machine is.
I'm hoping to try a 5th axis job on the machine next week (machine is cool that it stops at anything it doesn't like and the help file explains what it doesn't like).
The biggest question I have is how do I properly show the vice jaws in the machine clamping the part ? Also I need to add them into my collision detection and I'm not completely sure how.
Shaun