The 3-D rotation window allows activating and deactivating tilting of the working plane for the Manual and Program Run operating modes. This allows restoring the tilted working plane and retracting the tool (e.g., after program cancellation in the Manual operation application).
Application
Related topics
- Tilting the working plane in the NC program
- Reference systems of the control
Tilting the working plane with PLANE functions (option 8)
Requirements
- Machine with rotary axes
- Kinematics description
- Advanced Functions Set 1 (software option 8)
- Function enabled by the machine manufacturer
- Tool with tool axis Z
To calculate the tilting angles, the control requires a kinematics description prepared by the machine manufacturer.
In the machine parameter rotateWorkPlane (no. 201201), the machine manufacturer defines whether tilting the working plane is allowed on the machine.
Description of function
The 3-D rotation window can be opened with the 3D ROT button in the Manual operation application.

The 3-D rotation window contains the following information:
Area | Contents |
---|---|
Info |
Activating handwheel superimpositioning with M118 |
Manual Operation | Effect of the tilting function in the Manual operating mode:
The control will not take the rotary axes positions that are not equal to 0 into account. Traverses take place in the W-CS workpiece coordinate system. Workpiece coordinate system W-CS The control takes the columns SPA, SPB and SPC into account, but no rotary axis positions that are not equal to 0. Traverses take place in the W-CS workpiece coordinate system. This is relevant only for head rotary axes. The traverses take place in the T-CS tool coordinate system. The control takes the positions of rotary axes and columns SPA, SPB and SPC of the preset table into account. The traverses take place in the WPL-CS working plane coordinate system. |
Program run | When activating the Tilt working plane function for the Program run operating mode, the entered angle of rotation applies starting from the first NC block of the NC program to be run. If you use Cycle 19 WORKING PLANE or the PLANE function in the NC program, then the angular values defined there become active. The control will reset the entered angular values to 0. |
3D ROT Spa. angle | Currently active angle for the 3D ROT selection item The machine manufacturer uses the machine parameter planeOrientation (no. 201202) to define whether the control calculates with spatial angles SPA, SPB and SPC or with the axis values of the existing rotary axes. |
Confirm the selection with OK. If a selection item is active in the Manual Operation or Program run areas, then the control highlights the area in green.
If a selection item is active in the 3-D rotation window, then the control displays the appropriate symbol in the Positions workspace.
Basic rotation selection item
If you select the Basic rotation selection item, then the axes move, taking into account a basic rotation or a 3D basic rotation.
Basic rotation and 3D basic rotation
The axis movements take effect in the W-CS workpiece coordinate system.
Workpiece coordinate system W-CS
If the active workpiece preset contains a basic rotation or 3D basic rotation, the control additionally displays the corresponding icon in the Positions workspace.
The 3D ROT Spa. angle area has no function with this selection item.
Tool axis selection item
If you select the Tool axis selection item, then you can move in the positive or negative direction of the tool axis. The control locks all other axes. This selection item makes sense only for machines with rotary head axes.
The traverse movement is active in the T-CS tool coordinate system.
- This selection item can be used, for example, in the following cases:
- When retracting the tool in the direction of the tool axis during an interruption of a 5-axis machining program.
- When traversing with the axis keys or the handwheel with a pre-positioned tool.
The 3D ROT Spa. angle area has no function with this selection item.
3D ROT selection item
If you select the 3D ROT selection item, then all axes move in the tilted machining plane. The traversing movements are active in the WPL-CS working plane coordinate system.
Working plane coordinate system WPL-CS
If a basic rotation or 3D basic rotation has additionally been saved to the preset table, then it will automatically be taken into account.
In the 3D ROT Spa. angle area, the control shows the currently active angle. The spatial angle can also be edited.
If you edit the values in the 3D ROT Spa. angle area, then you must position the rotary axes (e.g., in the MDI application).
Notes
- The control uses the COORD ROT transformation type in the following situations:
- if a PLANE function was previously executed with COORD ROT
- after PLANE RESET
- with corresponding configuration of the machine parameter CfgRotWorkPlane (no. 201200) by the machine manufacturer
- The control uses the TABLE ROT transformation type in the following situations:
- if a PLANE function was previously executed with TABLE ROT
- with corresponding configuration of the machine parameter CfgRotWorkPlane (no. 201200) by the machine manufacturer
- When setting a preset, the positions of the rotary axes must match the tilting situation in the 3-D rotation window (option 8). If the rotary axes are positioned differently than is defined in the 3-D rotation window, then, by default, the control aborts with an error message.
- A tilted working plane will remain active even after a control restart.
- PLC positionings defined by the machine manufacturer are not allowed when the working plane is tilted.
In the optional machine parameter chkTiltingAxes (no. 204601) the machine manufacturer defines the control reaction.