This program written in VB6 by me and will help you create a perfect timing pulley with a help of a rotary axis.It uses all 4 axis to cut a perfect pulley.
The project is still in progress but it can generate Gcode for many pulley types.
At first sight the program looks difficult but if know what do you want to generate it will be much easier.
At the "pulley type" you can select the type you want to generate.
Below select how many "teeth s" you want to have.
Now at "material data" you will see the calculated diameter for the pulley you have to write the part diameter. If you already turned in a lathe or it's the same size with the calculated one just write the same value in the box.
At the tooth you don't need to change anything but if needed you have to write the 3 dimensions of 4 and press calculate for the other in case a new or different pulley needed.
At "Tool data" at top is for the roughing the part in case of diameter of part is larger than the calculated one.
At bottom in "finishing - Tooth" the tool diameter must be smaller than the bottom size of the tooth.
Finally you have two choices on to generate normally by meaning the Rotary axis will rotate from 0-360 degrees if you are sure that you don't have any backlash and "Generate No Backlash" that will generate only in one direction of rotary axis in that case the backlash is eliminated.The rotary axis must be free to rotate over 360 degrees. Users of Mach3 the Rot 360 rollover must be checked in order to work.
Test it before you cut anything if the direction of x y z a are the same with the app.
The file is saved in the same folder of the app.
Pulley Gcode Creator Download
VB6 Source Files
You may need these files if it doesn't run.
VB6 Runtimes
Machine setup axis.
Great article!
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