Fundamentals

Application

Machines with rotary axes allow machining of, for example, several workpiece sides after one clamping process, by tilting the working plane.

The tilting functions also allow aligning a workpiece clamped at an incorrect angle.

Requirements

  • Machine with rotary axes
  • 3+2 axes machining requires at least two rotary axes. Removable axes as an additional top table are also possible.

  • Kinematics description
  • To calculate the tilting angles, the control requires a kinematics description prepared by the machine manufacturer.

  • Software option Adv. Function Set 1 (#8 / #1-01-1)
  • Tool with tool axis Z

Description of function

Tilting the working plane defines the orientation of the working plane coordinate system WPL-CS.

Reference systems

 
Tip

The position of the workpiece datum and consequently the orientation of the working plane coordinate system WPL-CS can be defined by using the TRANS DATUM function before tilting the working plane in the workpiece coordinate system W-CS.

A datum shift is always in effect in the active WPL-CS, meaning after the tilting function if applicable. If the workpiece datum is shifted for the tilting process, an active tilting function may have to be reset.

Datum shift with TRANS DATUM

In practice, workpiece drawings show different specified angles, which is why the control offers different PLANE functions with different options for defining angles.

Overview of PLANE functions

In addition to the geometric definition of the working plane, every PLANE function allows specifying how the control positions the rotary axes.

Rotary axis positioning

If the geometric definition of the working plane results in no unambiguous tilting position, the desired tilting solution can be selected.

Tilting solution

Depending on the defined angles and the machine kinematics, there is a choice whether the control positions the rotary axes or orients the working plane coordinate system WPL-CS exclusively.

Transformation types

Status display

The Positions workspace

As soon as the working plane has tilted, the General status display in the Positions workspace contains an icon.

The Positions workspace

 
Tip

When deactivating or resetting the tilting function correctly, the icon indicating the tilted working plane must disappear.

PLANE RESET

The Status workspace

When the working plane is tilted, the POS and TRANS tabs in the Status workspace contain information about the active orientation of the working plane.

When defining the working plane by using axis angles, the control displays the defined axis values. All alternative geometric definition options display the resulting spatial angles.

The POS tab

The TRANS tab

Overview of PLANE functions

The control provides the following PLANE functions:

Syntax element­

Function

Further information

SPATIAL

Defines the working plane by means of three spatial angles

PROJECTED

Defines the working plane by means of two projection angles and one rotation angle

EULER

Defines the working plane by means of three Euler angles

VECTOR

Defines the working plane by means of two vectors

POINTS

Defines the working plane by means of the coordinates of three points

RELATIV

Defines the working plane by means of a single spatial angle with incremental effect

AXIAL

Defines the working plane by means of a maximum of three absolute or incremental axis angles

RESET

Resets tilting of the working plane

Notes

 
Notice
Danger of collision!
When the machine is switched on, the control tries to restore the switch-off status of the tilted plane. This is prevented under certain conditions. For example, this applies if axis angles are used for tilting while the machine is configured with spatial angles, or if you have changed the kinematics.
  1. If possible, reset tilting before shutting the system down
  2. Check the tilted condition when switching the machine back on
 
Notice
Danger of collision!
Cycle 8 MIRRORING can have different effects in conjunction with the Tilt working plane function. The programming sequence, the mirrored axes, and the tilting function used are critical in this regard. There is a risk of collision during the tilting operation and subsequent machining!
  1. Check the sequence and positions using a graphic simulation
  2. Carefully test the NC program or program section in the Single Block mode

Examples

  1. When Cycle 8 MIRRORING is programmed before the tilting function without rotary axes:
    • The tilt of the PLANE function used (except PLANE AXIAL) is mirrored
    • Mirroring takes effect after tilting with PLANE AXIAL or Cycle 19
  2. When Cycle 8 MIRRORING is programmed before the tilting function with a rotary axis:
    • The mirrored rotary axis has no effect on the tilt specified in the PLANE function used, because only the movement of the rotary axis is mirrored
 
Notice
Danger of collision!
Rotary axes with Hirth coupling must move out of the coupling to enable positioning. There is a danger of collision while the axis moves out of the coupling and during the positioning operation!
  1. Make sure to retract the tool before changing the position of the rotary axis
  • If you use the PLANE function when M120 is active, the control automatically rescinds the radius compensation, which also rescinds the M120 function.
  • Always reset all PLANE functions with PLANE RESET. For example, if you define all spatial angles with 0, the control resets only the angles and not the tilting function.
  • If you restrict the number of rotary axes with the M138 function, your machine may provide only limited tilting possibilities. The machine manufacturer decides whether the control takes the angles of deselected axes into account or sets them to 0.
  • The control only supports tilting functions if tool axis Z is active.
  • If necessary, you can edit Cycle 19 WORKING PLANE. However, you cannot insert the cycle again, because the control no longer offers the cycle for programming.

Tilting the working plane without rotary axes

 
Machine

Refer to your machine manual.

This function must be enabled and adapted by the machine manufacturer.

The machine manufacturer must take the precise angle into account (e.g., the angle of a mounted angle head in the kinematics description).

You can also orient the programmed working plane perpendicularly to the tool without defining rotary axes (e.g., when adapting the working plane for a mounted angle head).

Use the PLANE SPATIAL function and the STAY positioning behavior to swivel the working plane to the angle specified by the machine manufacturer.

Example of mounted angle head with permanent tool direction Y:

NC programs contained in this User's Manual are suggestions for solutions. The NC programs or individual NC blocks must be adapted before being used on a machine.

Change the following contents as needed:

  • Tools
  • Cutting parameters
  • Feed rates
  • Clearance height or safe position
  • Machine-specific positions (e.g., with M91)
  • Paths of program calls

Some NC programs depend on the machine kinematics. Adapt these NC programs to your machine kinematics before the first test run.

In addition, test the NC programs using the simulation before the actual program run.

 
Tip

With a program test you determine whether the NC program can be used with the available software options, the active machine kinematics and the current machine configuration.

Example

11 TOOL CALL 5 Z S4500

12 PLANE SPATIAL SPA+0 SPB-90 SPC+0 STAY

 
Tip

The tilt angle must be precisely adapted to the tool angle, otherwise the control will generate an error message.