You can open CAD files directly on the control to extract contours or machining positions from them. You can then store them as Klartext programs or as point files. Klartext programs acquired in this manner can also be run on older HEIDENHAIN controls, since these contour programs by default contain only L and CC/C blocks.
Requirement
- CAD Import (software option 42)
Description of function
To insert a selected contour or a selected machining position directly into an NC program, use the control's clipboard. Using the clipboard, you can even transfer the contents to additional software tools (e.g., Leafpad or Gnumeric).
Opening files with additional software

Icons in the CAD Import
With the CAD Import, the control shows the following additional functions in the menu bar:
Icon | Function |
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![]() | Set the transition tolerance The tolerance specifies how far apart neighboring contour elements may be from each other. You can use the tolerance to compensate for inaccuracies that occurred when the drawing was made. The default setting is 0.001 mm |
![]() ![]() | C or CR Arc mode defines whether circular arcs are output in C format or CR format (e.g., for cylinder surface interpolation) in the NC program. |
![]() | Show connections between two positions Specify whether the control should display the tool path as a dashed line during selection of machining positions |
![]() | Apply path optimization The control optimizes the tool traverse movement so that there are shorter traverse distances between the machining positions. You reset this optimization by selecting the icon again |
![]() | Find circles according to diameter range. Load center coordinates to the position list The control opens a pop-up window in which you can filter holes (full circles) based on their size |
Applying contours
- The following elements can be selected as a contour:
- Line segment
- Circle
- Circular arc
- Polyline
- Any curves (e.g., splines, ellipses)
You can also use the CAD viewer (option 50) to select contours for turning. The icon is grayed out if option 50 is not enabled. Before selecting a turning contour, you must set the preset on the rotary axis. If you select a turning contour, it is saved with Z and X coordinates. In addition, all X coordinate values in turning contours are transferred as diameter values, i.e. the drawing dimensions for the X axis are doubled. All contour elements below the rotary axis cannot be selected and are highlighted gray.
Linearization
During linearization, a contour is divided into individual positions. The CAD Import creates a straight line L for each position. With the CAD Import, you can therefore also apply contours that cannot be programmed with the path functions of the control (e.g., splines).
The CAD-Viewer linearizes all of the contours that are not in the XY plane. The higher the resolution, the more accurately the control displays the contours.
Applying positions
You can also use the CAD Import to save positions (e.g., for holes).
- Three possibilities are available in the pattern generator for defining machining positions:
- Single selection
- Multiple selection within a range
- Multiple selection using search filters
- The following file types are available:
- Point table (.PNT)
- Klartext program (.H)
If you save the machining positions to a Klartext program, the control creates a separate linear block with a cycle call for every machining position (L X... Y... Z... F MAX M99).
CAD-Viewer also recognizes circles that consist of two semi-circles as machining positions.
Multi-selection filter settings
After you have used the quick selection function to mark drilling positions, a pop-up window appears, showing the smallest diameter found to the left and the largest diameter to the right. With the buttons just below the diameter display you can adjust the diameter so that you can transfer the hole diameters that you want.
Icon | Filter setting for the smallest diameter |
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Display the smallest diameter found (default setting) | |
Display the next smaller diameter found | |
Display the next larger diameter found | |
Display the largest diameter found. The control sets the filter for the smallest diameter to the value set for the largest diameter |
Icon | Filter setting of largest diameter |
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Display the smallest diameter found. The control sets the filter for the largest diameter to the value set for the smallest diameter | |
Display the next smaller diameter found | |
Display the next larger diameter found | |
Display the largest diameter found (default setting) |
Selecting and saving a contour
- The following instructions apply to the use of a mouse. You can also perform these steps with touch gestures.
- Deselecting, deleting, and saving of elements works in the same way for taking over contours and positions.
Common gestures for the touchscreen
Selecting a contour with existing contour elements
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Tip The control suggests the contour that deviates least from the suggested direction. To change the suggested contour path, you can select paths independently of the existing contour elements | ||
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- Alternatively, you can use the Copy entire list contents to clipboard icon to copy the selected contour to the clipboard and then paste it into an existing NC program.
- If you select an element with the CTRL key pressed, it is deselected for export.
Selecting paths independent of existing contour elements
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If the contour element to be extended or shortened is a straight line, the control will extend or shorten the contour element along the same line. If the contour element to be extended or shortened is a circular arc, the control will extend or shorten the contour element along the same arc.
Saving the contour as a workpiece blank definition (option 50)
For a workpiece blank definition in turning mode, a closed contour is required.
- Select or program only those contour elements that are actually required (for example, within the definition of a finished part).
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Select positions
- The following instructions apply to the use of a mouse. You can also perform these steps with touch gestures.
- Deselecting, deleting, and saving of elements works in the same way for taking over contours and positions.
Common gestures for the touchscreen
Individual selection
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Multiple selection by area
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Multiple selection by search filter
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Notes
- Set the correct unit of measure to make sure that CAD-Viewer displays correct values.
- Ensure that the unit of measure used in the NC program matches with that used in the CAD-Viewer. Elements that have been copied from the CAD-Viewer to the clipboard do not contain any information about the unit of measure.
- The control maintains the contents of the clipboard only as long as CAD-Viewer is open.
- CAD-Viewer also recognizes circles that consist of two semi-circles as machining positions.
- The control also transfers two workpiece-blank definitions (BLK FORM) to the contour program. The first definition contains the dimensions of the entire CAD file. The second one, which is the active one, contains only the selected contour elements, so that an optimized size of the workpiece blank results.
Notes on applying contours
- If you double-click a layer in the list view window, the control switches to Contour Transfer mode and selects the first contour element that was drawn. The control highlights the other selectable elements of this contour in green. Especially in case of contours with many short elements, this procedure spares you the effort of running a manual search for the beginning of a contour.
- Select the first contour element such that approach without collision is possible.
- You can even select a contour if the designer has saved it on different layers.
- Specify the direction of rotation during contour selection so that it matches the desired machining direction.
- The contour paths available depend on the selectable contour elements that are shown in green. Without the green elements, the control will display all solutions available. To remove the proposed contour path, select the first green element by pressing the left mouse button while holding the CTRL key down.
As an alternative, you can switch to the Remove mode: