solidcam_back_spindle_guide.pdf

7/27/2019 SolidCAM_Back_Spindle_Guide.PDF

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SolidCAM2006 R10.1

Back Spindle in Turning

and Turn-Mill

1995-2006 SolidCAM

All Rights Reserved.


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SolidCAM2006 R10.1

Back Spindle

Contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................5

2. Working with back spindle ..............................................................................6

2.1 Operation-sequence #1: General use ....................................................6

2.2 Operation-sequence #2: Optimized tool use .......................................8

2.3 Operation-sequence #3: Long parts machining ..................................9

3. CAM-Part Denition.................................................................................... 10

3.1 Coordinate System denition .............................................................. 10

3.2 Clamp denition .................................................................................... 11

4. Back Spindle Operation ............................................................................... 13

4.1 Parameters ............................................................................................... 14

4.2 Eject sub-operation ............................................................................... 17

4.3 Connect sub-operation ......................................................................... 18

4.4 PullOut sub-operation .......................................................................... 20

4.5 CutOff sub-operation ........................................................................... 21

4.6 MoveBack sub-operation ...................................................................... 235. Back spindle activation in a SolidCAM Operation .................................. 24

6. Back Spindle display in the SolidCAM Manager ...................................... 24

7. Tool use in back spindle ............................................................................... 25

7.1 Turning Tool ........................................................................................... 25

7.2 Milling Tool ............................................................................................ 28


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Turning and Turn-Mill


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SolidCAM2006 R10.1

Back Spindle

1. Introduction

SolidCAM2006 R10.1 supports the use of the back spindle in Turning and Turn-Mill modules. The new functionality enables you to use the back spindle of your

CNC machine for the following applications:

Turning and Milling machining with the part clamped either in the mainor back spindles. The part is automatically transferred between spindles,thus enabling you to complete the part from both sides in a single setup.

The back spindle can be used as the tail stock for the additional supportof long parts. Both spindles are used simultaneously.

The back spindle can be used also for pulling out parts from the backspindle, like a bar feeder.

The back_spindle.prt exercise illustrates the use of the back spindle functionalityfor the Turn-Mill machining.


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6 SolidCAM2006 R10.1


2. Working with back spindle

Each milling or turning operation can be performed with the part clamped eitherin the main or back spindle. Once dened, the operation can be moved to the

other spindle.

The Back Spindle operation (see topic ) controls the back spindle use. SolidCAMenables you to perform two types of Back Spindle operations:

Operation with transfer. This operation enables you to transfer theCAM-Part from the main spindle to the back spindle.

Operation without transfer. This operation enables you to use the main

and back spindles simultaneously for the CAM-Part machining.

There are several typical operation-sequences for working with the back spindlein SolidCAM:

2.1 Operation-sequence #1: General use

There are three optional stages in this operation sequence:

1. SolidCAM Operations with Main spindle. At this stage onlythe main spindle is used for the milling and turning operations;this is the standard way of working in SolidCAM when theback spindle is nonexistent.


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Back Spindle

2. SolidCAM Operation with both spindles. At this stage bothspindles are connected; the back spindle works as a tail stock.This stage starts with a Back spindle operation withouttransfer.

3. SolidCAM Operations with Back spindle. At this stage theoperations are performed with the back spindle only. Thisstage starts with a Back spindle operation with transfer.


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2.2 Operation-sequence #2: Optimized tool use

SolidCAM enables you to dene a combined sequence of operations that uses

intermittently the main and back spindles. Each operation in the sequence is relatedeither to the main or back spindle. The Back spindle operation with transfer must

be applied at the beginning or at the end of the sequence.

With this sequence the combined operations on the back and main spindles enableyou to avoid unnecessary tool change (the same tool can work with the main andback spindles). At the beginning/end of all the operations the nished part is

ejected from the back spindle and the partly machined part is transferred from themain spindle to the back spindle

Machining with the main and back spindle

Transferring the part to the back spindle


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2. Operation-sequence #: Long parts machining

In this sequence the back spindle is used as a tail stock. All the operations areperformed with the part clamped by both spindles . The Back spindle operationwithout transfer must be applied at the start of the operations sequence.

Using the PullOut sub-operation (see topic .), SolidCAM enables you tominimize the distance between spindle chucks and to perform the machining closeto the main spindle chuck. This method enables you to minimize the effect on themachining caused by the bend deformation of the long part.

Bend deformation

Shortening the distance between chucks


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. CAM-Part Definition

.1 Coordinate System definition

During the Coordinate System denition process, SolidCAM automatically createsMachine CoordSys #. This Coordinate System is used for facial milling operationswith the back spindle.

The origin point of Machine CoordSys # is located at the intersection of therevolution axis and the back face of the part. The axes directions of the MachineCoordSys # are the following:

The X-axis ofMachine CoordSys # is directed in the opposite directionof the X-axis ofMachine CoordSys #1.

The Z-axis ofMachine CoordSys # is directed in the opposite directionof the Z-axis ofMachine CoordSys #1.

For turning operations, Machine CoordSys #1 is used for the operations with the

back spindle as well as with the main spindle; the turning tool movements arelocated in the ZX plane. Machine CoordSys #1 is also used for the facial millingoperations with the main spindle.

CoordSys #1

CoordSys #4

X

X

Z

Z

Y

Y


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Back Spindle

.2 Clamp definition

SolidCAM enables you to dene different clamps for main

and back spindles using the corresponding buttons in theCAM-Part Data dialog box. Same as the clamp for the main

spindle, the clamp for the back spindle should either intersector have a common edge with the part geometry.

Main Spindle

Back Spindle

Stock Material


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. Part Settings

The Part settings related to the back spindle are set via the Back Spindle page ofthe Part Settings dialog box.

Start with part in Back Spindle.

This option enables you to specify the initial part position. If the part

is clamped in the back spindle at the beginning of the machining, youhave to activate this option.

Single Pieces.

When this option is activated, SolidCAM performs the machining ofthe part from a single piece of stock material; the cutoff procedure isnot performed.

When this option is inactive, SolidCAM performs the machining ofthe part from the bar stock. The cutoff procedure is performed whenthe part is transferred from the main spindle to the back spindle. Thebar feeder is used to move the bar in preparation for the next partmachining.


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. Back Spindle Operation

The Back Spindle operation controls the back spindle use; SolidCAM enables youto perform two types of Back Spindle operations:

Operation with transfer. This operation enables you to transfer theCAM-Part from the main spindle to the back spindle.

Operation without transfer. This operation enables you to use the mainand back spindlessimultaneously for theCAM-Part machining.

The Back Spindle Operationdialog box enables you todene the general parameters

of the operation and thespecic parameters of the sub-

operations.


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.1 Parameters

This page enables you to dene a number of general parameters of the Back

Spindle Operation.

Spindles Running

When this option is activated, the Back Spindle operation will beperformed with both spindles revolving; the spindles revolution speedsare synchronized before the operation.

Control spindle operation

This option enables you to dene the orientation of the spindles

before the operation. The Main Spindle C-angle parameter denes theinitial rotation angle of the main spindle around the Z-axis of theCoordinate System. The Back Spindle C-angle parameter denesthe initial rotation angle of the back spindle around the Z-axis of theCoordinate System.


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Using these parameters you can orient the chuck so that the jaws willbe coincident to the model faces to perform better clamping.

C-angle =0 C-angle =40

PartJaws


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Activate Air

This option enables you to turn on the air-blast cleaning of the jawsand chuck of the back spindle.

Feed

This parameter denes the feed of the back spindle movements during

the operation.

Spin

This parameter denes the spin rate of the spindles revolution during

the operation. This parameter is relevant only when the SpindlesRunning option is chosen.

Dwell time

This parameter denes the dwell time for opening/closing of the

jaws.

Offset number

This parameter denes the offset number for the Back spindle.

Check torque

SolidCAM enables you to check the torque during the Back Spindleoperation. When the torque is out of range (dened byMin. Torque

Limit and Max. Torque Limit), the machining is stopped.

Checking the torque enables you to prevent collisions between the partand back spindle during the operation. With some CNC-machines,the torque checking enables you to provide the close contact between

chuck and ank faces of the part.


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.2 Eject sub-operation

This sub-operation ejects the part the from the back spindle at the start of theBack Spindle Operation.

This sub-operation is enabled when the Start with part in Back Spindle option ischosen for the CAM-Part (see topic .)


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. Connect sub-operation

The Connect page enables you to dene the parameters of the spindle connectingto the part during the Back Spindle operation.

Rapid move upto

This parameter enables you to specify the absolute Z-coordinate up towhich the rapid movement will be performed.

The Pick button enables you to dene the parameter directly on themodel.

Rapid movementFeed movement

Rapid move upto


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Clamp upto

This parameter enables you to specify the absolute Z-coordinate ofthe front face of the jaws relative to the Coordinate System.


When the back spindle is already connected, the Connectsub-operation is unavailable.

Clamp upto


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. PullOut sub-operation

The PullOut sub-operation enables you use the back spindle to pull out the partfrom the main spindle.

Pull out upto

This parameter enables you to dene the incremental value of the pull

out.


Pull out upto


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. CutOff sub-operation

The CutOff sub-operation enables you to cut off the part.

This sub-operation is available only when the Single Pieces option is not chosenfor the CAM-Part and the Back Spindle Operation with transfer is performed.

The CutOff operation is similar to the Grooving operation with the Cut option.

Geometry

Dene the geometry for the cut off operation.

Tool

Dene/choose the grooving tool for the cut off operation from the

Part Tool Table.

Use cycle

When this option is chosen, the cut off operation is performed using

the built-in cycles of the CNC-machine.


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Cut Data

The Cut dialog box is displayed enabling you to dene the technologyparameters of the cut off operation.

For more information on the grooving technology parameters, refer tothe SolidCAM Turning User Guide


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.6 MoveBack sub-operation

The MoveBack sub-operation enables you to perform the retreat movement of theback spindle. If the Operation without transfer is chosen the retreat movement isperformed without the part. If the Operation with transfer is chosen, the retreatmovement is performed with the part clamped in the back spindle.

Retreat upto

This parameter enables you to specify the absolute Z-coordinate up towhich the retreat movement is performed with the working feed. From

this oordinate the rapid movement is performed.


Rapid movementFeed movement

Retreat upto


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. Back spindle activation in a SolidCAM Operation

The Back Spindle option is added to the Geometry group of each SolidCAMoperation.

This option enables you to specify the spindle that is used with the currentoperation.

When the Back spindle option is inactive, the Machine CoordSys # cannot be

chosen for the operation. When the Back spindle option is activated, the MachineCoordSys #1 cannot be chosen for the operation.

6. Back Spindle display in the SolidCAM Manager

In the SolidCAM Manager, operations related to the main/back spindle arepreceded by the corresponding main and back spindle icons.


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. Tool use in back spindle

SolidCAM provides you with extended functionality for tool denition in order to

enable you to use the tools effectively with the back spindle.

.1 Turning Tool

Tool Number/Position

Turning and Turn-Mill machines enableyou to place a number of tools in thesame position of the tool magazine usinga special holder. Each tool clamped onsuch holder has its own offset numberin the table of the CNC-controller.

With the combination of the Tool Number/Position parameters,SolidCAM enables you to dene several tools (milling and turning)

using the same holder. The Tool Number species the number of thetool magazine position where the tool holder is located. With thePosition you can dene the offset number of the current tool.

When you dene a new tool with an already existing tool number, a

newPosition is automatically assigned.


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Spin direction

This parameter enables you to dene the spindle orientation when

working with a CNC-Controller with B-axis support.

Application direction

The Application direction parameter enables you to rotate the tool toperform the machining from different sides.

Tools with the same geometry, but with different rotation, can bemounted on the same tool holder; the Tool Number of such tools isthe same.

When the CNC-controller with B-axis is used, SolidCAM enables youto change the Application direction for the specic operation with theTurning Tool data dialog box.

Application direction = 0

Application direction = 90

Left Tool OrientationRight Tool Orientation

Spin direction = 0 Spin direction = 90


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Change type

Change type option enables you to dene the way the tools are

changed.

Linear. The tool change is performed with a linear movement of thetool holder. This method is suitable for tools mounted on the sametool holder. TheXand Z parameters dene the coordinates where thetool change will be performed. The First movement option enablesyou to choose the rst movement axis (X or Z)

Turret. This option enables you to change the tool using the turret. TheX and Z parameters enables you to dene the location where the tool

is changed.

This option is available only for CNC-Controllers that havea turret mechanism for the tool change.

B-axis. The tool is changed using the B-axis.

This option is available only for CNC-Controllers with B-axis support.

The Change type parameter assigned to the tool can be changed forthe specic operation using the Turning Tool Data dialog box.

X

Z


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.2 Milling Tool

Direction

The Direction parameter enables you to dene the position of themilling tool on a holder/turret.

From Face. The tool is oriented to perform the facial machiningof the part in the main spindle.

The milling tool with the From Face direction can be usedonly with the suitable coordinate system (Machine CoordSys#1).


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From Back. The tool is oriented to perform the facialmachining of the part in back spindle.

The milling tool with the From Back direction can be usedonly with the suitable coordinate system (Machine CoordSys#).

From OD. The tool is oriented to perform the radial machiningof the part in the main and back spindle.

The milling tool with the From OD direction can be used onlywith the suitable coordinate system (Machine CoordSys #2).


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On B-axis. The tool is oriented using the B-axis to performthe facial and radial machining of the part.

The milling tool with the On B-axis direction can be usedwith all coordinate systems.

This option is available only for CNC-Controllers withthe B-axis support.


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solidcam_back_spindle_guide.pdf

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