5 Axis simultaneous? Fusion 360 Machining extension

[wiremonkey]

Hello folks,
I'm in the process of adding A and C axis to my 3 axis machine and weighing in on various controller/software options. The mystery for me is regarding posting gcode from Fusion 360 (with machining extension) to Centroid. I see that there is a Centroid mill post processor in the Fusion library, but I don't know how well it works with the Acorn 6 controller and Centroid software in terms of simultaneous 5 axis toolpaths. Does anyone have experience with this workflow? Before I spend a lot of cash for both the Acorn controller and the continuous 5 axis software from Centroid I'd like to get some input from folks who have already done it. I searched "5 axis" on here and "Fusion" and nothing comes up.
And for the record, I've been using Fusion 360 for 5 years and don't really want to put the time in to learn another CAD/CAM software. However, maybe if I export my model as a STEP mesh, maybe someone can recommend a reasonably priced CAM software to fit the bill? Fusion 360 runs about $400 a year and their machining extension about $1200 a year.
Thank you,
Tyler

[suntravel]

I have only 4 axis machines, but this works well with fusion and machining extension.

Uwe

[wiremonkey]

Are you doing simultaneous 4 axis work or 3+1?
Thanks

[suntravel]

4 axis simultaneous when needed.

3+1 works without extension

Uwe

[vw_chuck]

Uwe is this on your lathe or on a mill?
How do you get the C and Y axis working on a lathe in fusion 360? Doesnt seem to be there in fusion 360.

[cnckeith]

related

[Muzzer]

Be aware that Uwe is paying for the "extensions" that cost several times the licence price. For those of us without the appetite for such an expense, we are stuck with 3+1 operation, which the std Centroid post processor supports fine.

3+1 allows indexable 4th axis work ie move the rotary axis to a position, run a 3D toolpath, move to another rotary position and run another toolpath. For now there don't seem to be any affordable simultaneous 4th axis CAM options but hopefully this will change so more amateurs (like most of us here) can expand our capabilities into true 4th axis.

Deskproto offers simultaneous 4th axis but without having tried it myself it doesn't look very industrial. That might sound a bit unfair but it looks a long way from the likes of Fusion etc in terms of how it works, given that I do all my current CAD and CAM in Fusion.
https://www.deskproto.com/products/multiax-ed.php

[vw_chuck]

So you need to use the mill PP on the lathe? I only have a lathe pro license??? That is pretty lame if I have to buy the mill pro license also?
Can't the 3+1 functionality be added to the lathe PP?

[suntravel]

Engraving/milling with C-Axis works without machining extension

Just try my modified PP for Centroid millturn.

Uwe