[wwendorf]

I have been starting to so some pretty intense 4th axis work, and I have found a limitation, or bug, that is starting to drive me nutz.

I have the need to do a lot of very small pockets with constant A and X moves, and prefer no Y moves. Specifically, several hundred holes in a 2.25" diameter by 3" long "cup" so to speak. My problem is coming in that as sprut rotates around the A axis, it is generating very tiny little steps, to the point that mach 3 can't seem to process them fast enough and the whole mill slows WAY down.

It doesn't make sense to me why sprutcam would be making all of these little tiny steps when it should be able to just do a A X move, essentially replacing the Y axis moves on a flat object for the A axis moves, kind of how you would program a rotary part on a 2.5d cam program.

I have tried increasing the look aheads on Mach3, but it only speeds things up a little bit, then the steps get bogged way down again until it has some straight and long point to point moves.

I was hoping I could get some input on you on how to possibly correct this bug in the gcode generate of the SprutCamSC81.2 post processor, or Mach3.

Thanks much,
Wade

NOTE: This has been dual posted in the Mach 3 Mill forum.

[scottsss]

Can you post your project file? Also, are they actually pockets or drilled holes? I just did a project of 432 ish drilled holes in 304.