ArtCAM Forum

Hi,

This is a very clever idea called FlipFlopWax Procedure from Fourth Axis: http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/ Scroll down till the title Explanation and read on.

Is it possible to have something similar incorporated directly into JewelSmith?

Greg...

Hi Greg,

Glad to hear you like the idea, I can tell you that it works really well.

No real need to "incorporate" it, you just need to create your own vector file version of it to suit JewelSmith & then save it, simple!!

As long as you've got access to Rhino, you should be able to convert the NURBS curves into EPS or AI files for Import back into ArtCAM.
Then you can create yourself a "Template" suited for ArtCAM.
Just be sure to send a copy of it back to Fourth Axis as a courtesy, so then it can be available for other users.

regards Colin

Even if you don't have rhino, its pretty straight forward once you understand what they are doing. I cut a ring last night with the technique. It takes a fair bit longer to mill, but it saves you the headache of possible having to recut it if you are off. I have had pretty good luck with the way I normally do 3 sided rings so I doubt I will use it much for that. But for making heads its ideal.

this is incredible...you guys make this work?

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the additional steps....like I said you and your associates have started the development of a great idea.

Greg

Looks like a good alternative to using the three pin jig that modelmaster sells. I'm going to try it to see how I like it. Thanks for sharing this.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to all for the nice compliments, it's much appreciated.


If you're presently using a Jig-Adapter-Fixture system that's working well & there's no alignment issues, then continue using it.
There's no point in "fixing what ain't broke!"

On the other hand, if you've constantly been fighting alignment issues with them, then give the FlipFlopWax Template a try.

After all, it's costing you nothing except a bit of time to try it out.
And that time is probably going to be a lot less than you've already wasted in having to recut misaligned waxes.

regards Colin

They just added some more ideas at http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/
New files at the bottom of that page.
This idea is not just saving investment for a fixture, now you can do 3 side rings in very small mills where there is no space for any fixture.

Fourth Axis supplied rotary for my Roland MDX15, I have used for more than 2 years now. I also cutted some test rings from this new idea, beta test.

This idea is magnificent, 3 side rings in any mill with a rotary axis. It takes away any probleme from a fixture, but the best work needs the good rotary axis. I really like my Fourth Axis, no backlash, perfect little thing.

Arnand

If one of you real smart guys could show us mentally challenged guys how to do this I'll bet you'd get lots of drinks at the sept deal.

I'm counting on you.

this would be a huge help to me.

Maybe delcam will jump on it

Paulcam

I don't make jewellery (limited to wood here), but this idea appears to be a work of genius. Thanks for sharing!

I'll see what I can do to have a complete set of instructions up by Monday for everyone. I've been doing something akin to this for a while now.

Graeme

Nearly 3am, I can not sleep, Mark at Fourth Axis just emailed me, now he has Artcam format files for FlipFlopWax Procedure posted to his website.
http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/

Excellent work, the Artcam files are from Tom Kimbrough in Florida, thank you Tom for this weekend work, now I can use my Artcam and FlipFlopWax this week.

Other new files also posted work with Moment of Inspiration. Already Mark posted Rhino files and Modela Player 4 files.
Arnand

Just wanted to drop a line to say BRAVO!! I personally don't have a real need for this technique (that I can think of at least) because I am happy with the setup from MM, but wow! Nice thinking out side of the box. Very creative!!

Thank you to Zachman and many others who have admired the FlipFlopWax Procedure. It's a great example of what you can do when you assemble in one room a surface mathematician, a nanotechnologist, a manufacturing engineer and an electrical engineer - all Fourth Axis staff. Add a few unsuccessful trials and sprinkle with frustration. See the light! Then you bounce the raw ideas off some REAL people - bench jewellers - and refine them. Last, expose the fallout of all this work to some clients and to the profession. Sit back, ready for the blast and instead hear a lot of happy noises and reap a great deal of help to advance the FlipFlopWax Procedure as an "open systems" development.

Let the credits roll:

Clients who slaved over template and design files:
Colin Creed - Austatt Image Makers (AU)
Steve Crout - Jubilee Jewellers (NZ)
Tom Kimbrough - Florida (USA)

Jewellers who ran test cuts alongside Fourth Axis staff:
Colin Creed - Austatt Image Makers (AU)
Steve Crout - Jubilee Jewellers (NZ)
Arnand Loupier - Jewel Artist (USA)
Nikolas Serenkov - Supergemcut (Ukraine)

Fourth Axis staff who never lost sight of the goal:
Matt - the electrical engineer who can cut wax just by looking at it,
Nic - the nanotechnology scientist who writes code in the shower,
Chris - manufacturing engineer with middle initials CADCAM,
Mark - me, who sort of made the coffee and kept everybody playing nice when nothing would work, maybe added a little mathematics.

Now we all have open access to a Procedure that opens these doors:
* cut 3-sided rings on machines too small to accept a flipper fixture,
* cut 3-sided rings when you cannot afford a flipper fixture, or your spouse has other ideas for using that money,
* cut 3-sided rings when you and your flipper fixture are not on speaking terms.

I emphasise this quotation from our FlipFlopWax web page:
We admire the beautifully engineered ProtoWizard, DeskProto 123WaxRing, and TelPro fixtures, and after listening to users of this style of fixture and reading the associated forums, we wanted to find an even more trouble-free way of cutting three-sided rings.

No single system is likely to be the best under all circumstances. But with FlipFlopWax Procedure you can customize the process without the use of hacksaw or bolt cutters ... and without spending one cent ... it's free and you can use it on any good mill with any good rotary axis.

I hope you will contribute further ideas and keep the FlipFlopWax Procedure free and open. My staff and I are happy to comment on ideas, issues, problems through the inquiry form at http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/

Mark Bingham
markb@fourth-axis.com
http://fourth-axis.com/rotary-4th-fourth-axis-mdx-15/
^^^^ now THAT's a good rotary axis ^^^^

FlipFlopWax is now running through JewelCAD to Artcam. The website http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/ is just now posting a package for JewelCAD users with FFW. You send the file to Artcam for output. This package for JewelCAD is sitting at the foot of that page

Arnand