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My adorable new 5 Axis

kf4zht

Red Skull Member
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
561
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1,075
Been looking for more CNC capabilites and came across a lightly used Pocket NC V2-10. For those not familiar its a small envelope 5 axis desktop machine. For reference I am mostly making firearms parts so small is fine. It reportedly can handle light stainless work

www.pentamachine.com

Pocket NC V2-10 — Penta Machine Co.

Lead time is currently 3 weeks. Details Pocket NC 5 Axis Desktop CNC Mill V2-10 can cut materials up to a hardness of G5 titanium although optimally cuts delrin, aluminum or softer steels. Travel is 5.0 inches/128.3 mm (Y), 4.55 inches/115.5mm (X) and 3.55 inches/90.1mm (Z). The machine accepts st
www.pentamachine.com www.pentamachine.com

Got it used with the enclosure, a few tool holders, 2 vises and the ER40 vise. It was a decent deal compare with new. Machine got here last week

M16D57XHN-wzwTaclktCUE=w1761-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg


MkGcNb9ZhlkRqTQluBavPY=w1761-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg



I already had a couple items that I want to make some small runs on, files were in my Fusion (which was still a hobbiest license). Dang - they removed all the 5 axis stuff from that version, including 3+2. So after looking at the options I applied for the startup license and was accepted after a couple days. I qualified per their reqs, but wasn't sure if they would kick it due to the nature of the work. It still doesnt include true 5 axis, that is an addon that I can use flex tokens for, but it will run me $33/day :eek: Gonna wait till I have tools and base stuff down before I crank on that side.

Machine was very lightly used. Firmware was super out of date, and once I got it updated it behaved much better. It does need an upgrade for the controller to allow TCPC, but that is $250 and again - going to hold off until I need it.

Right now I'm dealing with tooling options. Ordered a few tools, using some I already had for the router that are less than ideal but get me going. Between software, tooling, vises, etc this is following the normal "whatever you spend on the machine you will spend that much on tooling. Fawk me

First test part. 1.25" hex bar

Facing
MPW5xXhDwCWJFqjOFcoRQI=w1761-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg


Boring - Used the wrong op type and it started binding in the slot. Changed to a full removal after this
aaNgKhMFv05o8XAkQADPr8=w1761-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg


Here is the part after the initial ops, but no cleanup passes. The endmill shank is rubbing on the part and the surface finish isn't great. Ordered some reduced shank stub flute endmills to help out
WPyvoqi-sWoz65fNyIwhekA=w991-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg


I am enjoying the enclosed machine. Used to manual mills, routers and lathes that just spit chips everywhere. Needs an air blast, printed an adapter but I'm out of loc-line fittings and need another regulator. Goodbye money
 
Fun fact, 5 axis is what I do for a living. Different scale of machinery, but still same ol shit. This thing does peak my interest though!

What kind of control does it run? Just G-code through a computer? That's how the desktop 3 axis ones we had in HS were.

True 5 axis is neat.
 
kf4zht said:
I already had a couple items that I want to make some small runs on, files were in my Fusion (which was still a hobbiest license). Dang - they removed all the 5 axis stuff from that version, including 3+2. So after looking at the options I applied for the startup license and was accepted after a couple days. I qualified per their reqs, but wasn't sure if they would kick it due to the nature of the work. It still doesnt include true 5 axis, that is an addon that I can use flex tokens for, but it will run me $33/day :eek: Gonna wait till I have tools and base stuff down before I crank on that side.
Click to expand...
What other options are out there? Although I like Fusion360, the whole subscription/cloud-based stuff is for the birds. My machines aren't getting any major updates every few weeks, so 90% of the updates for Fusion360 are a waste for me. There are a few things that are useful, but even those I could probably do without and keep using the same version. Not to mention when Autodesk "updates" something and then it doesn't work for a few days...
 
PAToyota said:
What other options are out there? Although I like Fusion360, the whole subscription/cloud-based stuff is for the birds. My machines aren't getting any major updates every few weeks, so 90% of the updates for Fusion360 are a waste for me. There are a few things that are useful, but even those I could probably do without and keep using the same version. Not to mention when Autodesk "updates" something and then it doesn't work for a few days...
Click to expand...
Does Fusion even do simultaneous 5 axis? Or is it still 3+2? Or 3+1+1 or whatever they tried to sell it as?


I should probably figure it out. I have a 4th for the "new" Fadal that I obviously want to get wired up eventually.
 
posford said:
Fun fact, 5 axis is what I do for a living. Different scale of machinery, but still same ol shit. This thing does peak my interest though!

What kind of control does it run? Just G-code through a computer? That's how the desktop 3 axis ones we had in HS were.

True 5 axis is neat.
Click to expand...
It has a onboard computer which gives you a web interface for control. You can connect to the interface through USB or network (which I really like). The upgraded verson is called Kinetic Control and is supposed to be more optimized for a tablet and allows for a hardware MPG to be connected directly to the machine.

PAToyota said:
What other options are out there? Although I like Fusion360, the whole subscription/cloud-based stuff is for the birds. My machines aren't getting any major updates every few weeks, so 90% of the updates for Fusion360 are a waste for me. There are a few things that are useful, but even those I could probably do without and keep using the same version. Not to mention when Autodesk "updates" something and then it doesn't work for a few days...
Click to expand...
Sprutcam, mastercam and a few others. Mastercam is $$$. Sprutcam I got a quote for and it was a little over $4k for a 5axis single machine license. That does include full 5 axis and is a purchase - so the license doesnt expire and they charge you for upgrades. As a reference if you get fusion ($500) and the machining extension ($1600) its about half the cost, but for a yearly license.
 
kf4zht said:
It has a onboard computer which gives you a web interface for control. You can connect to the interface through USB or network (which I really like). The upgraded verson is called Kinetic Control and is supposed to be more optimized for a tablet and allows for a hardware MPG to be connected directly to the machine.
Click to expand...
Looked into it, I understand what they mean by TCPC, we have a DMG that requires that, and one of the divisions uses it. I work in the old guy area, we program off center of rotation. Not bad once you understand it, but I need to accurately know where the C/L of B and C axes' are, which requires some setup.

Said it'll cut Ti and softer steel, not bad, but not great. Still cool!
 
posford said:
This I what I use exclusively. We have an engineering team that programs in Mastercam and we as machinists post-process. Probably doesn't make a ton of sense for small scale use https://www.autodesk.com/products/camplete/overview
Click to expand...
So the company actually has a free online simulator for the machine Penta Simulator

Another reason to stick to Fusion - the origional post processor was written for fusion and then adapted for the other softwares. So its the most complete (but still not perfect)
 
kf4zht said:
So the company actually has a free online simulator for the machine Penta Simulator

Another reason to stick to Fusion - the origional post processor was written for fusion and then adapted for the other softwares. So its the most complete (but still not perfect)
Click to expand...
I understand fusion is pretty easy to work with too. I don't see a good reason to deviate from it
 
bunk said:
Ear plugs mandatory. I never did al but lots of 316 and 6al4v on a okuma. Then went to medical and 10 axis was the norm.
Click to expand...
Since being back I'm doing mostly inconel, 6al4v was my bread and butter for a long time though :smokin:
 
posford said:
Since being back I'm doing mostly inconel, 6al4v was my bread and butter for a long time though :smokin:
Click to expand...
I did 1 inconel part for the company and im OK with that ! I really got into star swiss turns as a maint tech, we had a couple dozen of them and were making 400k parts a day. Good money there.
 
bunk said:
I did 1 inconel part for the company and im OK with that ! I really got into star swiss turns as a maint tech, we had a couple dozen of them and were making 400k parts a day. Good money there.
Click to expand...
I have hundreds under my belt at this point, and a lot of stupid alloys nobody ever heard about. Swiss turns are neat and crazy. I can't imagine that level of production.
 
kf4zht said:
Sprutcam I got a quote for and it was a little over $4k for a 5axis single machine license. That does include full 5 axis and is a purchase - so the license doesnt expire and they charge you for upgrades. As a reference if you get fusion ($500) and the machining extension ($1600) its about half the cost, but for a yearly license.
Click to expand...
That's the thing. Two years in you likely have your workflow down and aren't going to be adopting many of the new "gee whiz bang" features they keep coming out to pretend to be relevant anyway. So then you're paying half the cost of a license every year to do the things you've always done in the way you've always done them.
 
I've been dicking around with FreeCAD for a few weeks. FreeCAD has some idiosyncrasies, but it's pretty darn impressive software, especially for free.

I googled to see if there was a 5 axis tool path post processor in FreeCAD one of the first things I found was tool paths for your little Pockent NC machine. May be more cumbersome than what you want. The FreeCAD end of things is pretty great, haven't messed with the other software mentioned.
hackaday.io

Tutorial: Simple 5-axis surface milling | Details | Hackaday.io

<p>The example part is a nut for a high current, medium voltage, high pressure pass-through that will be machined on a 5-axis mill.<br>Yesterday I used FreeCAD's standard 'adaptive clearing and profiling' operation for all roughing. Here's the nut with the roughing toolpaths: <br></p>...
hackaday.io hackaday.io

Importing STLs into FreeCAD isn't too difficult, but is a little more cumbersome than the pro stuff. It won't automatically turn a mesh into a solid, you've got to go through some extra steps. There may be an add on for that, there's a boat load of what they call "workbenches" and macro add-ons available in the tools section.

Worth at least checking out.
 
Tooling starting to dribble in. Got a single point threadmill to try. Fawk threadmilling in fusion. Makes no sense why it can't figure out some of the values for you. Finally found the NYC CNC calculator and think it will work next time.

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Just barely scratched it. But with a $40 fragile tool I'm going to take it easy

Using the router at the same time to cut some base plates for the machine. This way I can have a stack of semi-sacrificial ones for setups. Also plan on eventually adding a dovetail type fixture
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Of course those are $250 Small Dovetail Fixture (1.23” x 1.31” x .75”) – 5th Axis

This machine is going to be called twofiddy. Every time I turn around something costs $250.

Anyone got recommendations on mitee bites for 5th axis. Trying to decide between their hex style and the pitbulls. I trust the pitbulls more but they are more complicated to setup
 
G91 incrimintal loop with a Z move for pitch. L for number of threads. Takes about a minute to write a program.
 
I found it easiest to keep a record of the settings when thread-milling. The first time it takes a few passes to get it dialed in. Once the thread is right I will record the diameter the thread mill cut at. Major diameters for internal threads and minor diameters for external. Supplied solid models always seem to come with different size holes for the threads so it can be a pain.

For an internal thread, you take your recorded major diameter and subtract the size of the modeled hole. That number will be Fusion's pitch diameter offset.

I've used the pitbull clamps and they hold well. Haven't tried the hex type.
 
Finished up the new table a while back and updated all the code for the new center location. Started with miteebite fixture clamps but was having pull out with those. Swapped to the pitbull clamps and i can pick up the machine by the part.

Deep bore
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Still having chip evac issues on these deeper holes. You can't run coolant as it will get into the electronics and poof. Going to rework it with a hard line for the air blast that rides along the spindle.

Finished the bore and pulled out for the OD work
X0V97xxL-8W1uAKo3TXaj3s=w991-h1321-s-no?authuser=0.jpg


I can probably ramp up the feeds on this part.

In terms of other bad ideas - Stainless on the shapeoko is on fire

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by Rick Weiss

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl
 
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