How to define the direction of a rotary axis in Fusion

Autodesk Support

Nov 8, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

How to define the positive and negative rotational motion of a rotary table axis in a post processor for Fusion, Inventor CAM, or HSMWorks to get the desired angle output in the code.

Causes:

Some post processors, such as the Tormach Path pilot, require a positive or negative rotational direction to be defined in the Properties section of the Post Process dialogue box.

Solution:

The positive and negative signs determine to the direction of rotation of the rotary axis. Positive X should be used when the machining set obeys the right-hand rule. Negative should be used when the right rule is not obeyed.

The Right-Hand Rule for Machining (external resource).

To define the rotary axis of your machine in the generic Tormach post processor, enter the translational axis around which the rotary axis of your machine rotates. For example, most rotational A axes rotate around X, B around Y, and C around Z. Enter the translational axis (X, Y, or Z) and the positive or negative direction sign in the rotaryTableAxis post property field in the Post Process dialogue box (shown below for both Windows and macOS).

Post Processor- Configuration

NOTE: If a machine configuration is being used in the Setup being posted, remember to add negative signs in the machine configuration as well.