4th axis as a constant spinner

[pescadoman]

Using rotary as a spinner. Forgive me...again. In Mach I was able to use my 4th as a spindle, so to speak. With Acorn, I can get it to spin as a linear and rotary axis, but it wants to finish the command before it moves the x or y.
G00 A4000.00 wants to finish before moving to x....
G01 x1.1
ect
ect
ect.....
I'd like to keep the A spinning throughout the entire program...

[Chaz]

If your question is 'can I use my mill as a lathe', then its interesting. You would need to use the A axis as a spindle - not as the 4th axis. Perhaps one of the Centroid guys can add in.

[Richards]

I believe that each line of code must complete before moving on to the next line of code. Using an M code to turn a motor on/off would work, but you would have to build/buy a motor driver. For a stepper, a low-cost Arduino could be programmed to do that job.

[pescadoman]

When I was using Mach, I could use M code with the A axis set up as a spindle. This was done straight through the Leadsdhine MX4660 with the options in Mach. I don't see where that works in Acorn. Like Richard said, if I try G, it wants to finish before moving on.

[Gary Campbell]

I have done this a number of times, but wonder what your end game is? Rotary turning with (X or Y) and Z code or continuous turning?

[pescadoman]

Continuous turning with A axis. I'm turning down pool cue shafts and butts.

[Gary Campbell]

Stepper motors aren't made to turn continuously, they built too much heat. You would be better to pick a different type of motor

[pescadoman]

Noted, but it's something I have done literally hundred of times with the current stepper and it never got very hot.

[Gary Campbell]

Setup your side cuts as a G93 (inverse time) move and it will perform as you wish

[GBCues]

Hey Gary,
Like Pescadoman, I use my Acorn driven lathe and mill for cue work, so I'm interested in this topic too. I normally hand code my Gcode for cuts and tapers on cylinders (butts or shafts) and that's easy. I do tapering on the lathe and simply set the rotary speed by hand and program the X-Y cuts by hand.
I've spent the last 3 hours reading up on G93 and it would seem that hand coding G93 is daunting. There is a program out there called Rapid Rotary that can convert G94 code to G93 more or less automatically.
I'm wondering if you could give a little more detail or at least a hint as to how you did it above.
Thanks,
Gary