Syntaxes for Multi-Slide Lathe Machine Environment

The syntaxes that is used in a Multi-Slide Lathe machine environment in order to produce NC data for a multi-channel context are discussed below:

This page discusses:

Syntaxes for Turret Management

To identify the channel (Turret) in the program header an attribute MFG_CHANNEL_NUMBER is added to the NC instruction NC_START_MACRO. Synchronization is also possible due to the NC instruction NC_PROGRAM_HEADER. The commands must be available to segregate the code for different channels and to synchronize channels.

NC_START_MACRO

  • MFG_IDENTIFIER: Generic Machine identifier
  • MFG_PROGRAM_NAME: Manufacturing Program name
  • MFG_MACHINE_NAME: Machine name
  • MFG_CHANNEL_NUMBER: Channel number (Turret)
  • MFG_MODEL_NAME: Name of the PPR Context (with document suffix)
  • MFG_PRODUCT_NAME: Name of the Product (with no document suffix).

Definition in PP Table

*START_NC_INSTRUCTION	NC_START_MACRO 
... 
CHANNEL,%MFG_CHANNEL_NUMBER 
... 
*END

See PP Tables and Word Syntaxes - PP Word Tables

Example of Resulting APT Source

... 
CHANNEL,1 
...

NC_PROGRAM_HEADER

*START_NC_INSTRUCTION  NC_PROGRAM_HEADER 
*START_SEQUENCE 
CHANNEL,%MFG_CHANNEL_NUMBER 
*END 
*END

Syntax for Synchronisation Management

To evaluate the synchronizations defined in the programs, an NC command, NC_SYNCHRONISATION, is available to define the syntax to be valuated.

NC_SYNCHRONISATION

  • MFG_SYNCHRONISATION_NUMBER: index of the synchronization
  • MFG_CHANNEL1: first synchronized channel
  • MFG_CHANNEL2: second synchronized channel.

Default Definition in PP Table

*START_NC_COMMAND NC_SYNCHRONISATION 
SYNC/%MFG_SYNCHRONISATION_NUMBER,%MFG_CHANNEL1,%MFG_CHANNEL2 
*END

Result

For two channels, the number of synchronizations is managed dynamically. With more than two channels, the algorithm to compute the number of synchronisations is more complex. In this case, the numbering of synchronizations might not be always relevant.

For more information about NC commands and NC instructions, please refer to the PP Tables and Word Syntaxes - PP Word Tables.

Syntax for Spindle Management

As several spindles is addressed within a given channel, a new attribute MFG_SPINDLE_NAME is added to identify the current spindle when defining existing NC commands NC_SPINDLE_LATHE and NC_MACHINING_AXIS.

NC_SPINDLE_LATHE

Note that this corresponds to the part's spindle speed.

  • MFG_SPNDL_UNIT: list with two values defining the spindle rotation units.

    • First value: spindle rotation expressed in revolutions per minute.

      RPM is the default value.

    • Second value: spindle rotation expressed in surface meters per minute.

      SMM is the default value.

  • MFG_SPNDL_WAY: list with two values defining the direction of rotation of the spindle.
    • First value: spindle rotation processed clockwise.

      CLW is the default value.

    • Second value: spindle rotation processed counter-clockwise.

      CCLW is the default value.

  • MFG_SPNDL_SPEED: numerical value of the spindle speed.
  • MFG_SPINDLE_NAME: current spindle name if any.

Default Definition in PP Table for NC_SPINDLE_LATHE

*START_NC_COMMAND NC_SPINDLE_LATHE 
SPINDL/%MFG_SPNDL_SPEED,&MFG_SPNDL_UNIT,%MFG_SPINDLE_NAME 
*END

SPINDLE Syntax on the Counter Spindle

When machining is done on the Counter Spindle, the SPINDL syntax is set to be coherent with the Counter Spindle.

The figure below shows how the Clockwise / Counterclockwise spindle direction is determined: you must look at the tool from the jaws (2).

In this figure, the spindle direction is counterclockwise (1).



NC_MACHINING_AXIS

  • MFG_NCAXIS_IDENTIFIER: machining axis identifier
  • MFG_SPINDLE_NAME: name of the spindle that is linked to the origin
  • MFG_SPINDLE_NUMBER: number of the spindle that is linked to the origin
  • MFG_NCAXIS_X_ORIG, MFG_NCAXIS_Y_ORIG, MFG_NCAXIS_Z_ORIG: coordinates of the machining axis origin
  • MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECX, MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECX, MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECX: components of the x-axis
  • MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECY, MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECY, MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECY: components of the y-axis
  • MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECZ, MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECZ, MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECZ: components of the z-axis.

Default Definition in PP Table for NC_MACHINING_AXIS

*START_NC_COMMAND NC_MACHINING_AXIS 
$$*CATIA0 
$$ %MFG_NCAXIS_IDENTIFIER,%MFG_SPINDLE_NAME, %MFG_SPINDLE_NUMBER 
$$ %MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECX %MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECY %MFG_NCAXIS_X_VECZ %MFG_NCAXIS_X_ORIG 
$$ %MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECX %MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECY %MFG_NCAXIS_Y_VECZ %MFG_NCAXIS_Y_ORIG 
$$ %MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECX %MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECY %MFG_NCAXIS_Z_VECZ %MFG_NCAXIS_Z_ORIG 
*END