Inserting Machine Rotations

task target This task shows how to add machine rotations in the program. You can either:
 

Insert a Machine Rotation Manually
scenario 1. In the specification tree, select the program entity after which you want to add the machine rotation, then select Machine Rotation in the Auxiliary Operations toolbar.

For a default machine (see Machine Editor), the following Machine Rotation dialog box appears.
    For a generic machine (that is, a machine created using NC Machine Tool Builder - see Machine Editor), the dialog box has two extra attributes:
  • Rotary Axis: Name of the rotary axis A, B or C
  • Category: Table or Head, depending on the selected rotary axis.

Note that these attributes are taken into account in tool path computation.

This provides the possibility to manually create machine rotations on generic machines and allows transitions to be managed between machining operations.
2. Select the Properties tab to specify the characteristics of the machine rotation.
3. Specify the Rotary angle.

If Manual is set in the Definition list, you can enter the angle value directly in the Rotary angle field.

If Selected is set the Definition list, you can specify the angle value using the graphic area in the dialog box:

  1. Click the axis symbol in the graphic area then select an axis system in the 3D viewer.
  2. Click the vector symbol in the graphic area then select a line or cylinder in the 3D viewer.
    In this case the angle between the z-axis of the selected axis system and the line or cylinder axis specifies the Rotary angle.

    or

    Click the point symbol in the graphic area then select a point in the 3D viewer.
    In this case the angle between the z-axis of the selected axis system and the line through the selected point and the axis system origin specifies the Rotary angle.
The machine table is rotated by this angle about the rotary axis (A, B or C).
The rotary axis is defined:
  • on the default machine is set on the Part Operation
  • in the Machine Rotation dialog box is a generic machine is set on the Part Operation.
4. Select the Rotary direction:
  • Clockwise
  • Counter-clockwise
  • Shortest.
    The Rotary type is set to Absolute in this version. 
5. Select the Syntax tab .
  • Select the Initialize from PP words table check box to consult the machine rotation syntax defined in the PP table that is referenced by the Part Operation.
  • Otherwise, enter a PP instruction for your machine rotation. This user-defined syntax has no link with the PP table and its validity is not checked by the program.
6. Click OK to accept creation of the machine rotation in the program.
 

Generate Machine Rotations Automatically

Note: This capability is only available when a default machine (see Machine Editor) is set on the Part Operation. For machines created using NC Machine Tool Builder, automatic generation of machine rotations is not possible.
scenario 1. Right-click the Manufacturing Program in the specification tree and select Generate Machine Rotations.

The program is updated with all necessary machine rotations.
  To delete machine rotations that were automatically generated, right-click the Manufacturing Program in the specification tree and select Delete Generated Machine Rotations.

All  machine rotations that were automatically generated are removed from the program.

end of task