Use this post at your own risk! Always check the produced code before running it on a real machine!

Inspired by bogan.

Special thanks to Bruno Silva - test part modelling and code testing.

CNCZone discussion link.

Setup: standard 3 axis mill. A axis rotary, along X or Y.

Here's a video of a part being cut with code generated by this post :

• 3 axis - working
• 4 axis - working / for both repositioning moves and 4x toolpaths
• 5 axis - working
• Drill cycles - G81 (drill), G82 (drill+dwell), G83 (peck drilling), Cannes: G85, G86, G89
• Tapping seems to work

• 4x indexial use may need some more work to avoid unnecessary retracts to clearance. As of now it's safe but can be made faster w/o retracts.
• Tool offsets and compensation

• Put the .gpp and .vmid files in C:\Users\Public\Documents\SolidCAM\SolidCAMXXXX\Gpptool. You need to restart SolidWorks for it to pick up the new files.
• Usage in SolidCam - Select Mach3_4X_Y for CNC-Machine
• Mach3 setup:

• Config > General Config - tick A-axis is angular, set IJ mode to incremental, uncheck all in Rotational, possibly also check G04 dwell in ms
• Config > Toolpath - Check Y-axis for axis of rotation and enable A-rotations. 3d compass also helps. I recall having issues with 360 wrap around so check by curring air before destroying an important part.

Usage : Do set your CoordSyses so that the CS origin is on the pivot point (axis of rotation) and X/Y is the axis around which the part revolves

Is a completely new implementation of the post, that uses SolidCam's new kinematics (pos_to_machine=Y).

This is now the one to use. Files in the /old directory are kept just for reference. The only version currently available is for machine that has the 4th axis along Y. Should there be interest I will make a version that has the 4th axis parallel to machine X.

Testers needed - any feedback appreciated.