5-Axis Machining

The Pocket NC V2-50 is a desktop 5-axis CNC that can operate on a wide variety of materials within a 5.0" x 4.55" x 3.55" workspace.

I learned how to use this equipment with Autodesk Fusion 360 over the course of Fall 2019. After going through Pocket NC's own tutorial with wax, I quickly moved onto machining Delrin and aluminum for various projects in lab.

The aluminum parts in the images here are prototype parts for the Fast Traverse Rover. The 5 axis nature of this machine allowed me to conduct all tool paths while only having to set the material in the vise twice for one part. Only to cut it off in a bandsaw after.

I made 6 of these parts for a actuated suspension prototype and in the process managed to discover numerous resources online for this machine specifically.

Typically we use delrin to make simple, but strong parts for prototypes in lab. However, Delrin has primarily been used to develop and conduct an indepth tutorial for students in the University Rover Challenge course.

This standard operating procedure taught them how to use this specific machine and how to use various 3 and 5 axis tool paths in the Fusion 360 CAM Software.

Features machined include: Fillets (outer & inner), Hemisphere, Chamfer, Pockets, & Clearing.
The toolpaths used in this process include: Adaptive Clearing, 2D Pocket, Bore, 2D Adaptive Clearing, Radial, Swarf, & Flow. More specific toolpaths and examples can be found in the Standard Operating Procedure weblink below.

The Pocket NC V2-50 Standard Operating Procedure is relatively complete, as I have been able to successfully teach 4 students how to use this machine with the document. I look forward to it becoming a staple for future machinists in our robotics team as they continue to add to the document.

Here is a chamfer being cut with a 5-axis toolpath called Swarf.

Here are some examples of the tool paths generated. Although reviewing the SOP above will give a more detail and context.

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