iTNC 530 - TNC 640 - DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH

Open for Communication
– Program Offl ine and Enjoy the Advantages of the iTNC
Frequently, 5-axis programs are written on
offl ine CAM systems and then transferred
to the control over a data line. Here, too,
iTNC 530 performance comes to the fore.
The fast data transfer over the Ethernet
interface functions safely and reliably, even
with large 3-D programs. You can make full
use of the iTNC 530’s ease of use—even
for offl ine programming.
The iTNC 530 works very well together
with all CAM systems. HEIDENHAIN
intensively supports the manufacturers of
postprocessors for the best possible use of
the iTNC 530’s powerful features.
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Programs created offl ine
NC programs for fi ve-axis operations are
normally written on CAM systems. The
workpiece geometry is described in the
CAD system, while the required technology
data is added in the CAM system. The
technology data specify the methods (such
as milling, drilling, or boring), the strategy
(area pocket clearance, plunge milling, etc.),
and the parameters (spindle speed, feed
rate, etc.) for machining the workpiece. A
postprocessor uses the geometry and
technology data to create an executable
program, which is then usually transferred
over the company network to the
iTNC 530.
In principle, postprocessors generate two
types of NC programs, both of which can
be run by the iTNC 530:
Machine-specifi c NC programs take the
respective machine confi guration into
account and include all coordinates of
the NC axes on that machine.
Machine-neutral NC programs defi ne the
contour and use vectors to defi ne the
respective tool position on the contour.
The iTNC 530 then uses the information
to calculate the axis positions of the
actual machine axes. The key benefi t
here is that you can run such NC
programs on various machines with
differing axis confi gurations.
The postprocessor is the link between
the CAM system and the CNC control.
Standard features on all prevalent CAM
systems include post-processors for DIN/
ISO format as well as for the proven and
user-friendly HEIDENHAIN conversational
format. This enables you to use special
TNC functions that are available only in
conversational format. Examples are:
Tool Center Point Management (TCPM)
Structuring function
Special Q-parameter functions
Program optimization is also easy. As
usual, the conversational programming is
graphically supported. And of course you
can use all proven setup functions of the
iTNC 530 to quickly and economically
locate the workpiece.
CAM systems don’t always generate
programs optimized for the machining
process. Therefore, the iTNC 530 offers a
point fi lter for smoothing externally created
NC programs. The fi lter function creates a
copy of the original program, and then adds
any points required by the parameters that
you set. This smoothes the contour to
allow the program to run more quickly and
with less jerk.