Cutting data calculator

Application

With the cutting data calculator you can calculate the spindle speed and the feed rate for a machining process. You can load the calculated values into an opened feed rate or spindle speed dialog box in the NC program.

The control offers the OCM cutting data calculator for OCM cycles (option 167).

OCM Cutting data calculator (option 167)

Requirement

  • Milling operation FUNCTION MODE MILL

Description of function

AS_4_24_Schnittdatenrechner_WKZ16
Window for the Cutting data calculator

On the left side of the cutting data calculator you enter the information. On the right side the control displays the calculated results.

If you select a tool defined in the tool management, the control automatically applies the tool diameter and number of teeth.

  • You can calculate the spindle speed as follows:
  • Cutting speed VC in m/min
  • Spindle speed S in rpm
  • You can calculate the feed rate as follows:
  • Feed per tooth FZ in mm
  • Feed per revolution FU in mm

Or you can use tables to calculate the cutting data.

Calculation with tables

Applying values

After the cutting data have been calculated, you can specify which values the control should apply.

  • You can choose among the following options for the tool:
  • Tool number
  • Tool name
  • Do not apply values
  • You can choose among the following for the spindle speed:
  • Cutting speed (VC)
  • Spindle speed (S)
  • Do not apply values
  • You can choose among the following for the feed rate:
  • Tooth feed (FZ)
  • Revolution feed (FU)
  • Contouring feed rate (F)
  • Do not apply values

Calculation with tables

  • You must define the following in order to calculate the cutting data with tables:
  • Workpiece material in the table WMAT.tab
  • Table for workpiece materials WMAT.tab

  • Tool cutting material in table TMAT.tab
  • Table for tool materials TMAT.tab

  • Combination of workpiece material and cutting material in the cutting data table *.cut or in the diameter-dependent cutting data table *.cutd
  •  
    Tip

    Using the simplified cutting data table, you can determine speeds and feed rates using cutting data that are independent of the tool radius (e.g., VC and FZ).

    Cutting data table *.cut

    If you require specific cutting data depending on the tool radius for your calculations, use the diameter-dependent cutting data table.

    Diameter-dependent cutting data table *.cutd

  • Parameters of the tool in tool management:
    • R: Tool radius
    • LCUTS: Number of cutting edges
    • TMAT: Cutting material from TMAT.tab
    • CUTDATA: Table row from the *.cut or *.cutd cutting data table

Opening the cutting data calculator

  1. To open the cutting data calculator:
  2. Edit the desired NC block
  3. Select the syntax element for the feed rate or spindle speed
calculator

  1. Select Cutting data calculator
  2. The control opens the Cutting data calculator window.

Calculating the cutting data with tables

  • The following prerequisites must be fulfilled in order to calculate the cutting data with tables:
  • The WMAT.tab table exists
  • The TMAT.tab table exists
  • The *.cut or *.cutd table exists
  • Tool material and cutting data table are assigned in the tool management
  1. To calculate the cutting data with tables:
  2. Edit the desired NC block
calculator

  1. Open the Cutting data calculator

  1. Select Activate cutting data from table
  2. Use Select material to choose the workpiece material
  3. Use Select type of machining to choose the combination of workpiece material and tool material
  4. Select the desired values to be applied
SF_4_Schnittdatenrechner_Uebernehmen

  1. Press Apply
  2. The control applies the calculated values in the NC block.

Notes

You cannot calculate the cutting data in turning mode (option 50) because the feed rate and spindle speed data are different in turning mode from milling mode.

In turning operations the feed rates are often defined in millimeters per revolution (mm/1) (M136), whereas the cutting data calculator always calculates feed rates in millimeters per minute (mm/min). Furthermore, the radius in the cutting data calculator is referenced to the tool; turning operations, however, require the workpiece diameter.