Understanding the Machine Definition
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Introduction
The Machine Definition of the Current Settings Default dialog box is
an integral part of setting up the software. The machine definition is
used to define all of the elements of the machine and their parameters.
The elements of the machine include the linear axes, rotary axes, and
the workpiece and tool elements. When building a machine definition, you
define the moving direction and limits of travel for each element. The
parameters that you define in the machine definition are used in the program
output. For customers with Pro Simulation/full machine simulation, geometry
can be added to the machine definition to define what appears in the simulation
window.
The Machine Definition is used for all machine types except
Lathe. The Lathe Machine Definition is currently predefined.
Elements of the Machine Tree
The machine tree contains multiple elements that are used to define
the machine.
You can use the tree elements in one of two ways:
Click an element in the tree to display
the element's parameters in the Machine Data group. The values can
then be edited in the Machine Data group.
Right-click the element in the tree
to access a shortcut menu. The shortcut menu provides options to add
and remove tree elements.
Common Machine Tree Elements
- this
is the top level machine element and can be thought of as the machine
base.
- this item
represents a linear axis.
- this item
represents a rotary axis.
- this items represents geometry that is added to machine elements
for full machine simulation only.
Workpiece
Transform - this item contains the stock elements that are
typically defined by each program that you create.
Toolpath
Initial
Stock
Stock
Fixture
Workpiece
Holder
Transform - represents the tool holder and contains items
to represent each part of the tool and holder.
CC
- this item is the collision check. The collision check is displayed
in the Machine Data group.
Adding New Machines
When you add a new machine in the Current Settings (Default) dialog
box, you can select from a predefined template or select user defined.
When you select one of the provided machine templates, the template automatically
creates a machine tree for the selected machine type. For many machine
configurations, the order of the items in the machine tree do not need
to be moved. They can however be changed if needed. You can right-click
an item in the machine tree to open a shortcut menu with options to delete
or add machine elements to the tree. If you use the option User Defined,
the machine definition is not automatically created. If you use this method,
you have to define each element to build the entire tree. You can always
use a template as a starting point and then modify the template to create
a custom machine configuration.
Building Machines
When building a machine, you must examine how the machine is built.
For any machine configuration, you can think of the machine as having
a base. The base is the foundation upon which the machine is built. Every
machine element is attached to the base or to some other machine element.
The relationship of all of the machine elements, how they are connected,
and in which way they move, defines how the machine is built. The following
sections give an example of the basic machine types and their machine
tree to show the basic construction of each machine.
3 Axis Machines
The following example shows the BobCAD 3 Axis Mill. Notice the elements
contained in the machine tree.
The following list explains the general construction of the machine
tree.
Machine (Base)
- the skeleton or foundation of the machine. This is the starting point
for machine creation.
-
Y - attach the y-axis machine
element to the base.
- X
- attach the X-axis element to the Y-axis machine element.
- Workpiece Transform -
attach the workpiece to the X-axis machine element (table).
- Z - attach the Z-axis machine element
to the base.
- Holder Transform - attach
the tool and tool holder to the Z-axis machine element (spindle).
Notice that when the Y-axis machine element moves, the X-axis and workpiece
elements also move.
4 Axis Machines
The following example shows the BobCAD 4 Axis Mill. Notice the elements
contained in the machine tree.
The following list explains the general construction of the machine
tree.
Machine (Base)
- the skeleton or foundation of the machine. This is the starting point
for machine creation.
-
Y - attach the Y-axis machine
element to the base.
- X
- attach the X-axis element to the Y-axis machine element.
- A
- attach the A-axis element to the X-axis machine element (table).
-
Workpiece Transform
- attach the workpiece to the A-axis machine element (rotary
table).
- Z - attach the Z-axis machine element
to the base.
- Holder Transform - attach
the tool and tool holder to the Z-axis machine element (spindle).
Notice that when the Y-axis machine element moves, the X-axis, A-axis,
and workpiece elements also move.
5 Axis Machines
Table-Table Configuration
The following example shows the BobCAD 5 Axis Table-Table Mill. Notice
the elements contained in the machine tree.
The following list explains the general construction of the machine
tree.
Machine (Base)
- the skeleton or foundation of the machine. This is the starting point
for machine creation.
-
Y - attach the Y-axis machine
element to the base.
- X
- attach the X-axis element to the Y-axis machine element.
- A
- attach the A-axis element to the X-axis machine element.
-
C - attach the
C-axis element to the A-axis machine element.
-
Workpiece Transform
- attach the workpiece to the C-axis machine element.
- Z - attach the Z-axis machine element
to the base.
- Holder Transform - attach
the tool and tool holder to the Z-axis machine element (spindle).
Notice that when the Y-axis machine element moves, the X-axis, A-axis,
C-axis, and workpiece elements also move.
Head-Head Configuration
The following example shows the BobCAD 5 Axis Head-Head Mill. Notice
the elements contained in the machine tree.
The following list explains the general construction of the machine
tree.
Machine (Base)
- the skeleton or foundation of the machine. This is the starting point
for machine creation.
-
X - attach the X-axis machine
element to the base.
- Y
- attach the Y-axis element to the X-axis machine element.
-
Z - attach the Z-axis
machine element to the Y-axis machine element.
-
C - attach the
C-axis element to the Z-axis machine element.
- A - attach the
A-axis element to the C-axis machine element.
-
Holder Transform
- attach the tool and tool holder to the A-axis machine
element (spindle).
- Workpiece Transform - attach
the workpiece to the machine base.
Notice that when the X-axis machine element moves, the Y-axis, Z-axis,
C-axis, A-axis, and tool holder elements also move. Also notice the workpiece
transform location in the tree. For this machine, the workpiece is attached
to the table (base) of the machine which is not carried by any other machine
element.
Head-Table Configuration
The following example shows the BobCAD 5 Axis Head-Table Mill. Notice
the elements contained in the machine tree.
The following list explains the general construction of the machine
tree.
Machine (Base)
- the skeleton or foundation of the machine. This is the starting point
for machine creation.
-
X - attach the X-axis machine
element to the base.
- Z
- attach the Z-axis element to the X-axis machine element.
-
B - attach the B-axis
element to the Z-axis machine element.
-
Holder Transform
- attach the tool and tool holder to the B-axis machine element
(spindle).
- Y - attach the Y-axis element
to the machine base.
-
C - attach the C-axis
element to the Y-axis machine element.
- Workpiece Transform -
attach the workpiece to the C-axis machine element.
Notice that when the X-axis machine element moves, the Z-axis, B-axis,
and tool holder elements also move. Also, when the Y-axis machine element
moves, the C-axis and workpiece elements also move.
Related Topics
Current
Settings Default
How
to Create a Machine
Tool
- represents the tool and tool holder selected in the milling
wizard.
