CNC Control Setup for Milling and Turning:. Peter Smid
system setting
| Program storage capacity (max.) | 640 m (0i / 21i) 1280m (18i) |
| Maximum number of registered programs | 400 (0i / 21i) 1000 (18i) |
| Program editing | Standard |
| Program protection | Standard |
| Background editing | Standard |
| Status and current position | Standard |
| Program name | 31 characters max. |
| Parameter setting and display | Standard |
| Self diagnosis function | Standard |
| Alarm and alarm history | Standard |
| Operation history display | Standard |
| Help function | Standard |
| Run time and parts count | Standard |
| Actual cutting feedrate display | Standard |
| Display of S and T code | Standard (all screens) |
| Servo setting screen | Standard |
| Multi-language display | English (default) |
| Spindle speed indicator | Standard |
| Spindle load indicator | Standard |
| Data protection key | Standard |
| Graphic function | Standard |
| Clock function | Standard |
| Dynamic graphic display | Standard |
| Display unit - Color LCD | 8.4" (0i) 10.4" (21i / 18i) |
| Reader / Puncher Interface | RS-232 interface |
| Memory card interface | Standard |
| External part number search | 9999 |
Only some software options are listed in the table:
| Additional work coordinate systems | 48 sets or 300 sets |
| Extra custom macro common variables | up to 999 |
| Tool life management | |
| Additional tool life management sets | 512 |
| Automatic corner override | |
| Automatic corner deceleration | |
| Coordinate system rotation | |
| Feedrate clamp by arc radius | |
| Hypothetical axis interpolation | |
| Custom macro interruption | |
| Jerk control | |
| Polar coordinate interpolation | |
| Program restart | |
| Increment system multiplied by 1/10 | 0.0001 mm 0.00001 inch |
| Scaling function | G50, G51 |
| Small diameter peck drilling cycle | |
| Smooth interpolation | |
| Circular threading | |
| 3D coordinate conversion | |
| 3D cutter radius offset | |
| Load monitoring | |
| Position compensation (for backward compatibility only) | G45-G48 |
| Tool retract and recover |
| 3 | PROGRAM INTERPRETATION |
When working with CNC machining centers or CNC lathes programs, the machine operator monitors not only the numerous tool motions, but also the actual program flow. This is especially true - and a very important observation - for the beginning of the actual production run. During full production, the CNC operator will frequently check the program as it is displayed on the control monitor (screen), to keep an eye on the machining process. This initial evaluation usually takes place at the control system of the machine during part setup. Many machine shops also issue a printed copy of the part program to make the monitoring a bit easier, particularly for programs that are only a page or two.
Regardless of the extent a CNC operator is involved with a particular part program (on screen or on paper), it is important that he or she fully understands its contents - what exact information does the program really provide? There is a lot more information provided even in a short program than a brief simple look can absorb. The first step in the process of understanding the program itself is to understand the way it was written - to understand the program structure.
A CNC program can be written in so many different ways that is makes it impossible to find any degree of consistency between individual part programmers, even within the same company. Operators can greatly influence any programming style, based on their experience of using many programs to machine various parts. Operators can also communicate their preferences to the CNC programmer, who should use such information in the best way to improve program structure.
Every part program has a single and very specific purpose that will always be the same - to machine a part. The way it is written has to be logical in many ways, some of them quite obvious. For example, the order of tools in the program is the order of tools for actual machining. If coolant is required for a certain operation or for the whole part, it is logical to include coolant ON function (usually M08) in the program. Machining order must also be logical - roughing will always be done before finishing, heavy operations before light operations, etc. All these structural features are generally followed by all CNC programmers, otherwise their programs would not work.
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