NC Machine Resources

The following NC machine resources are presented in this section.

This page discusses:

3-Axis Machine

Mfg3AxisMachine resource attributes are described below.

Base Attributes

These attributes provide general information.

MFG_NAME (Name)

Type: String

Associates a name to the resource.

MFG_COMMENT (Comment)

Type: String

Associates a comment to the resource.

Numerical Control Attributes

These attributes characterize the machine controller and have an impact on the output format.

MFG_PP_WORD_TBL (Post Processor words table)

Type: String

Specifies the name of the PP Words table used to create PP Words syntaxes.

MFG_OUTPUT_TYPE (NC data type)

Type: String

Specifies the type of NC data output by the app. It can take the following values: APT (APT source, this is the default), CLF-3000 (clfile record types 3000 and 5000 are output), CLF-15000 (clfile record type 15000 is output), ISO.

MFG_OUTPUT_FRMT (NC data format)

Type: String

Specifies the format of the NC data output. It can take the following values: POINT (X,Y,Z point coordinates, by default), AXIS (X,Y,Z,I,J,K point coordinates and tool axis components).

MFG_STRT_PT_SYNT (Home point strategy)

Type: String

Specifies the type of trajectory on the start point: None or GOTO or FROM.

MFG_MAX_FEEDRATE (Max machining feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum machining feedrate. An error is reported if the feedrate exceeds this value.

MFG_RAPID_FEED (Rapid feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the rapid feedrate. This is used to compute the total machining time and may replace the RAPID instruction in output APT files.

MFG_AXIAL_RADIAL_MOVE (Axial/Radial movement)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate automatically axial and radial movements to avoid collisions in axial operations.

MFG_INT_LIN_3D (3D linear interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D linear interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_2D (2D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 2D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_3D (3D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_R_MIN_CIRC (Min interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_R_MAX_CIRC (Max interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_MIN_DISC (Min discretization step)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum distance between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.

Note: The app compares the minimum discretization step and the machining tolerance. The larger of the two values is taken as the minimum distance between two points. When you generate NC data, any points that are spaced at a distance less than this value are eliminated from the output file. As a result, the output may not be as smooth as the tool path in the session if this descretization step is coarser than the machining tolerance of the operation.

MFG_MIN_ANGLE (Min discretization angle)

Type: Real

Specifies minimum angle between tool axis at two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve. The points whose tool axis orientation does not meet this criteria are deleted.

MFG_NURBS_OUTPUT (3D Nurbs interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate NURBS data in an APT output file.

MFG_DUPLICATE_TOOL_MODE (Duplicate tools on heads)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to duplicate tools when using multiple spindle heads.

Spindle Attributes

These attributes provide information on the spindle definition.

MFG_X_HOME_POS (Home point X)

Type: Real

Defines the X coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Y_HOME_POS (Home point Y)

Type: Real

Defines the Y coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Z_HOME_POS (Home point Z)

Type: Real

Defines the Z coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_X_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation I)

Type: Real

Specifies the I component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Y_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation J)

Type: Real

Specifies the J component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Z_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation K)

Type: Real

Specifies the K component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

3-Axis with Rotary Table Machine

Mfg3AxisWithtableRotationMachine resource attributes are described below.

Base Attributes

These attributes provide general information.

MFG_NAME (Name)

Type: String

Associates a name to the resource.

MFG_COMMENT (Comment)

Type: String

Associates a comment to the resource.

Numerical Control Attributes

These attributes characterize the machine controller and have an impact on the output format.

MFG_PP_WORD_TBL (Post Processor words table)

Type: String

Specifies the name of the PP Words table used to create PP Words syntaxes.

MFG_OUTPUT_TYPE (NC data type)

Type: String

Specifies the type of NC data output by the app. It can take the following values: APT (APT source, this is the default), CLF-3000 (clfile record types 3000 and 5000 are output), CLF-15000 (clfile record type 15000 is output), ISO.

MFG_OUTPUT_FRMT (NC data format)

Type: String

Specifies the format of the NC data output. It can take the following values: POINT (X,Y,Z point coordinates, by default), AXIS (X,Y,Z,I,J,K point coordinates and tool axis components).

MFG_STRT_PT_SYNT (Home point strategy)

Type: String

Specifies the type of trajectory on the start point: None or GOTO or FROM.

MFG_MAX_FEEDRATE (Max machining feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum machining feedrate. An error is reported if the feedrate exceeds this value.

MFG_RAPID_FEED (Rapid feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the rapid feedrate. This is used to compute the total machining time and may replace the RAPID instruction in output APT files.

MFG_AXIAL_RADIAL_MOVE (Axial/Radial movement)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate automatically axial and radial movements to avoid collisions in axial operations.

MFG_INT_LIN_3D (3D linear interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D linear interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_2D (2D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 2D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_3D (3D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_R_MIN_CIRC (Min interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_R_MAX_CIRC (Max interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_MIN_DISC (Min discretization step)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum distance between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.

Note: The app compares the minimum discretization step and the machining tolerance. The larger of the two values is taken as the minimum distance between two points. When you generate NC data, any points that are spaced at a distance less than this value are eliminated from the output file. As a result, the output may not be as smooth as the tool path in the session if this descretization step is coarser than the machining tolerance of the operation.

MFG_MIN_ANGLE (Min discretization angle)

Type: Real

Specifies minimum angle between tool axis at two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve. The points whose tool axis orientation does not meet this criteria are deleted.

MFG_NURBS_OUTPUT (3D Nurbs interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate NURBS data in an APT output file.

MFG_ROTABL_OUTPUT (ROTABL output in cycle)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to output ROTABL statement inside Axial operation cycle statement

Rotary Table Attributes

These attributes provide information on the rotary table and have an impact on table rotation capabilities.

MFG_X_ROT_CENTER (Center point X)

Type: Real

Defines the X coordinate of the center of rotation of the rotary table with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Y_ROT_CENTER (Center point Y)

Type: Real

Defines the Y coordinate of the center of rotation of the rotary table with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Z_ROT_CENTER (Center point Z)

Type: Real

Defines the Z coordinate of the center of rotation of the rotary table with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_INIT_ROT_POS (Initial position)

Type: Real

If the machine has a rotary table, specifies the initial angular position of the rotary table.

MFG_ROTARY_ANGLE (Rotary angle)

Type: Real

If the machine has a rotary table, specifies the rotary angle.

MFG_ROTARY_AXIS (Rotary axis)

Type: String

If the machine has a rotary table, specifies which axis (A, B, or C) of the reference machining axis system is parallel to the rotary axis.

MFG_ROT_DIR (Rotary direction)

Type: String

Defines the rotary direction that the machine can accept: CLW (Clockwise), CCLW (counterclockwise), or BOTH (Shortest).

MFG_ROT_TYP (Rotary type)

Type: String

Defines the rotary angle as absolute. This is the only ABS (Absolute) possible value in the current version.

Spindle Attributes

These attributes provide information on the spindle definition.

MFG_X_HOME_POS (Home point X)

Type: Real

Defines the X coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Y_HOME_POS (Home point Y)

Type: Real

Defines the Y coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Z_HOME_POS (Home point Z)

Type: Real

Defines the Z coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_X_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation I)

Type: Real

Specifies the I component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Y_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation J)

Type: Real

Specifies the J component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Z_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation K)

Type: Real

Specifies the K component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

5-Axis Machine

Mfg5AxisMachine resource attributes are described below.

Base Attributes

These attributes provide general information.

MFG_NAME (Name)

Type: String

Associates a name to the resource.

MFG_COMMENT (Comment)

Type: String

Associates a comment to the resource.

Numerical Control Attributes

These attributes characterize the machine controller and have an impact on the output format.

MFG_PP_WORD_TBL (Post Processor words table)

Type: String

Specifies the name of the PP Words table used to create PP Words syntaxes.

MFG_OUTPUT_TYPE (NC data type)

Type: String

Specifies the type of NC data output by the app. It can take the following values: APT (APT source, this is the default), CLF-3000 (clfile record types 3000 and 5000 are output), CLF-15000 (clfile record type 15000 is output), ISO.

MFG_OUTPUT_FRMT (NC data format)

Type: String

Specifies the format of the NC data output. It can take the following values: POINT (X,Y,Z point coordinates, by default), AXIS (X,Y,Z,I,J,K point coordinates and tool axis components).

MFG_STRT_PT_SYNT (Home point strategy)

Type: String

Specifies the type of trajectory on the start point: None or GOTO or FROM.

MFG_MAX_FEEDRATE (Max machining feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum machining feedrate. An error is reported if the feedrate exceeds this value.

MFG_RAPID_FEED (Rapid feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the rapid feedrate. This is used to compute the total machining time and may replace the RAPID instruction in output APT files.

MFG_AXIAL_RADIAL_MOVE (Axial/Radial movement)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate automatically axial and radial movements to avoid collisions in axial operations.

MFG_INT_LIN_3D (3D linear interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D linear interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_2D (2D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 2D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_3D (3D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_R_MIN_CIRC (Min interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_R_MAX_CIRC (Max interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_MIN_DISC (Min discretization step)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum distance between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.

Note: The app compares the minimum discretization step and the machining tolerance. The larger of the two values is taken as the minimum distance between two points. When you generate NC data, any points that are spaced at a distance less than this value are eliminated from the output file. As a result, the output may not be as smooth as the tool path in the session if this descretization step is coarser than the machining tolerance of the operation.

MFG_MIN_ANGLE (Min discretization angle)

Type: Real

Specifies minimum angle between tool axis at two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve. The points whose tool axis orientation does not meet this criteria are deleted.

MFG_NURBS_OUTPUT (3D Nurbs interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate NURBS data in an APT output file.

MFG_DUPLICATE_TOOL_MODE (Duplicate tools on heads)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to duplicate tools when using multiple spindle heads.

Spindle Attributes

These attributes provide information on the spindle definition.

MFG_X_HOME_POS (Home point X)

Type: Real

Defines the X coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Y_HOME_POS (Home point Y)

Type: Real

Defines the Y coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_Z_HOME_POS (Home point Z)

Type: Real

Defines the Z coordinate of the home point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Note: This point is taken into account when replaying a table rotation if this rotation is located at the first position of the program.

MFG_X_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation I)

Type: Real

Specifies the I component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Y_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation J)

Type: Real

Specifies the J component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Z_INIT_SPNDL (Orientation K)

Type: Real

Specifies the K component of the initial spindle orientation with respect to the reference machining axis system.

Mill-Turn Machine

The Mill-Turn Machine resource attributes are described below. These machines are used as multi-slide lathe machines (that is, capability to add turrets and spindles) when the Multi-Slide Turning Machining product is installed.

Base Attributes

These attributes provide general information.

MFG_NAME (Name)

Type: String

Associates a name to the resource.

MFG_COMMENT (Comment)

Type: String

Associates a comment to the resource.

Numerical Control Attributes

These attributes characterize the machine controller and have an impact on the output format.

MFG_PP_WORD_TBL (Post Processor words table)

Type: String

Specifies the name of the PP Words table used to create PP Words syntaxes.

MFG_OUTPUT_TYPE (NC data type)

Type: String

Specifies the type of NC data output by the app. It can take the following values: APT (APT source, this is the default), CLF-3000 (clfile record types 3000 and 5000 are output), CLF-15000 (clfile record type 15000 is output), ISO.

MFG_OUTPUT_FRMT (NC data format)

Type: String

Specifies the format of the NC data output. It can take the following values: POINT (X,Y,Z point coordinates, by default), AXIS (X,Y,Z,I,J,K point coordinates and tool axis components).

MFG_STRT_PT_SYNT (Home point strategy)

Type: String

Specifies the type of trajectory on the start point: None or GOTO or FROM.

MFG_MAX_FEEDRATE (Max machining feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum machining feedrate. An error is reported if the feedrate exceeds this value.

MFG_RAPID_FEED (Rapid feedrate)

Type: Real

Specifies the rapid feedrate. This is used to compute the total machining time and may replace the RAPID instruction in output APT files.

MFG_AXIAL_RADIAL_MOVE (Axial/Radial movement)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies the ability to generate automatically axial and radial movements to avoid collisions in axial operations.

MFG_INT_LIN_3D (3D linear interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D linear interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_2D (2D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 2D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_INT_CIRC_3D (3D circular interpolation)

Type: Boolean (Yes/No)

Specifies if the machine is able to make a 3D circular interpolation between 2 points.

MFG_R_MIN_CIRC (Min interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_R_MAX_CIRC (Max interpolation radius)

Type: Real

Specifies the maximum radius of circular interpolation that the machine is able to achieve.

MFG_MIN_DISC (Min discretization step)

Type: Real

Specifies the minimum distance between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.

Note: The app compares the minimum discretization step and the machining tolerance. The larger of the two values is taken as the minimum distance between two points. When you generate NC data, any points that are spaced at a distance less than this value are eliminated from the output file. As a result, the output may not be as smooth as the tool path in the session if this descretization step is coarser than the machining tolerance of the operation.

MFG_MIN_ANGLE (Min discretization angle)

Type: Real

Specifies minimum angle between tool axis at two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve. The points whose tool axis orientation does not meet this criteria are deleted.

Spindle Attributes

These attributes provide information on the spindle and have an impact on spindle capabilities.

MfgLmtSpindleName (Spindle name)

Defines the name of the spindle, output in NC code.

MfgLmtSpindleNumber (Spindle number)

Defines the number of the spindle, output in NC code.

PAS (Part axis system)

Defines the Part axis system on a spindle.

MFG_LATHE_RAD_AX (Radial axis)

Type: String

Possible values: X Y Z

Defines the radial axis, which is generally the X axis. Combined with the spindle axis, it defines the programming working plane, where the selected geometry is projected.

MFG_LATHE_SPN_AX (Spindle axis)

Type: String

Possible values: X Y Z

Defines the spindle and C axes, which is generally the Z axis. Combined with the radial axis, it defines the programming working plane where the selected geometry is projected.

MFG_LATHE_MAX_SPNDL_SPEED (Max spindle speed)

Type: Real

Defines the maximum speed of the spindle. It is used in time computations when machining at constant cutting speed.

Turret Attributes

These attributes provide information on the turret definition and have an impact on turret capabilities.

MfgLmtTurretName (Turret name)

Defines the name of the turret, output in NC code.

MfgLmtTurretNumber (Turret number)

Defines the number of the turret, output in NC code.

TAS (Turning Tool axis system)

Defines the Turning Tool axis system on a turret.

Turret type
Defines the turret type as: Rotary Turret (default setting), Mill Turret, turret that has B-axis capability.
MFG_LATHE_RAD_AX (Radial axis)

Type: String

Possible values: X Y Z.

For a given turret, defines the radial axis of the Turning Tool axis system, which is generally the X axis. Combined with the axial axis, it defines the plane where the Turning tooling is represented.

MFG_LATHE_AX_AX (Axial axis)

Type: String

Possible values: X Y Z

Defines the axial axis of the Turning Tool axis system, which is generally the Z axis. Combined with the radial axis, it defines the plane where the Turning tooling is represented.

MFG_X_TOOL_POS (Tool change point X)

Defines the X coordinate of the tool change point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Y_TOOL_POS (Tool change point Y)

Defines the Y coordinate of the tool change point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

MFG_Z_TOOL_POS (Tool change point Z)

Defines the Z coordinate of the tool change point with respect to the reference machining axis system.

See Creating a Generic Machine and Managing Its Parameters