# Setting up Fusion for 4th axis **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [April 21, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023 "2025-04-21T19:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![peschkaj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/peschkaj/32/620_2.png) [@peschkaj](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/peschkaj)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/1 "2025-04-21T19:59:01Z")
After purchasing the rotary attachment, I’m attempting to set up the 4th-axis in Fusion. I’ve set up the post-processor and set “Fourth axis mounted along” as “Along Y”. But once I attempt to post-process I’ll get either: - “Error: Direction is not supported for machine configuration.” when I don’t check “enable 5th axis” - “Error: Cannot have fifth and fourth axis set” when I do check “enable 5th axis” Are there documents or notes available to help get things up and running? ---
**Author:** ![DarkBushido](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/darkbushido/32/948_2.png) [@DarkBushido](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/DarkBushido)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/2 "2025-04-21T23:41:51Z")
Hi, I’m new here. I don’t have a 4th axis yet, but I’ve been playing with Fusion 360 for a while. Have you edited your machine’s mechanics? Are you trying to set up 3+1 toolpaths, or did you buy the Machinist Package to do full 4-axis machining? I had to manually edit my machine’s post post-processor, This is the video I followed for it (i think) [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/pwncnc/original/1X/54ba692e8e81fc6f243d196eb95f0a0609ae8c9d.jpeg "QUICK TIP: Enable 4th and 5th Axes in your Post Processor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbBkrYQ1AbM) ---
**Author:** ![peschkaj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/peschkaj/32/620_2.png) [@peschkaj](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/peschkaj)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/3 "2025-04-22T00:52:32Z")
I have the full manufacturing extension, so I can do 4-axis machining. The Masso post-processor definitely supports 4-axis natively and I’ve set it in the post dialog for the tool paths: ![2025-04-21_20-51-02](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/pwncnc/original/1X/d2ffb8ce98be87dbc226d03de216c7f60a81f5be.png) I have not changed the kinematics of the machine, though, because I’m not sure where the rotary should be placed in the kinematics screen. ---
**Author:** ![DarkBushido](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/darkbushido/32/948_2.png) [@DarkBushido](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/DarkBushido)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/4 "2025-04-22T01:01:16Z")
What machine are you using? Where do you plan to put the 4th axis? ---
**Author:** ![peschkaj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/peschkaj/32/620_2.png) [@peschkaj](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/peschkaj)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/5 "2025-04-22T01:06:21Z")
It’s a pwncnc conversion kit (Masso controller) on what used to be a Shapeoko 5 Pro 4x4 The 4th axis will run along the Y on the left hand side of the bed. ---
**Author:** ![DarkBushido](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/darkbushido/32/948_2.png) [@DarkBushido](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/DarkBushido)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/6 "2025-04-22T03:56:14Z")
I’m using a Onefinity, but as I said, I don’t have my 4th axis yet. I have no idea if this will work for your setup. But this is what my kinematics screen looks like. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/pwncnc/original/1X/8d22f1b751b0057d814f6fb3006a9a247b5e2189.png) ---
**Author:** ![DarkBushido](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/darkbushido/32/948_2.png) [@DarkBushido](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/DarkBushido)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/7 "2025-04-22T03:58:59Z")
As I said, I have no idea if this will work out. but it generates gcode with A moves ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/pwncnc/original/1X/1cb3252ee398d4c6c1a7c25496636d6d4b5b5898.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/chris/32/54_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 7:33am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/8 "2025-04-22T07:33:08Z")
> [@peschkaj](#): > > “Error: Direction is not supported for machine configuration.” when I don’t check “enable 5th axis” I googled this error and found several possible solutions from wrong post processor to file doesnt require a rotary Do not check 5th axis because im pretty sure that’s the C axis not a slaved B axis I wish i could help more, but I’m using vectric not fusion ---
**Author:** ![peschkaj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/peschkaj/32/620_2.png) [@peschkaj](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/peschkaj)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/9 "2025-04-22T12:52:05Z")
Thanks to y’all I was able to get things to post. Here’s what I did, in the hope that this helps someone else later: - I deleted the machine model - it’s not like I have a model of the machine to simulate with. - I unchecked the 5th axis in the post. - I created a manufacturing model oriented along the axis that I’ll use for the lathe. - I deleted the set up and started fresh with a “Milling” set up. Now I can post. Next step is making sure I don’t run into the lathe. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/chris/32/54_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/10 "2025-04-22T16:17:09Z")
> [@peschkaj](#): > > Next step is making sure I don’t run into the lathe. To mitigate this, I first utilized a work offset dedicated for it. The headstock being on the right thing is the reason why. I then modified the post processor to change to the work offset and go to the orgin. I don’t know how much or what you can customize with the post processor in fusion but here was a basic list of things I’ve done with mine > [@Rotaries have arrived!](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/rotaries-have-arrived/2694/20): > > @MstrODstr, I have it parallel to the X Axis and place it in a known location when the time comes to use it. The headstock on the right hand side, and A+ spins to the rear, A- spins to the front. I don’t think it really matters if thats how you do it or not because your designs are going to go a full 360 (or encompass a full 360. You asked about vectric, you’ll probably need a post processor found here: [Vectric VCarve and Vectric Aspire MASSO Post Processors](https://docs.masso.com.au/cam-post-processors/vectric-vcarve-and-vectric-aspire) I edited the post processor to inc… ---
**Author:** ![peschkaj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/peschkaj/32/620_2.png) [@peschkaj](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/peschkaj)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/11 "2025-04-22T17:03:24Z")
Fusion will let me supply areas to avoid as a fixture, so I’ll set up a rough model of the rotary in Fusion, just to make sure I avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/chris/32/54_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/setting-up-fusion-for-4th-axis/3023/12 "2025-04-22T18:03:58Z")
Thats probably from the work offset, and I couldn’t imagine it using machine coordinates to establish the “no-go zone”, so while that sounds like a protection, it’s not a failsafe. You could setup your machine coordinates to correlate to your working offset, but that will making zeroing on your rotary more challenging, but you’d only have to do it once provided you have established a way to setup your rotary in the same location. This is obviously talking about the occurrences between powering on, and setting up job. With the headstock on the right, I just have to make sure that my xy is on the left side of the rotary, and I can hit go, and it’ll automatically go to the rotary xy0 before cutting. If your motor _isn’t_ rotated 90 degrees out of the way, I would suggest doing that as well [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/pwncnc/original/1X/7b08b6cbfd1d95a0e4755b86225eb62b30514900.jpeg "Masso Coordinate system - Masso Edition 05") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqlAzwaqUM)