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Rotary Axis, Land Width Control & Auto-Cornering Software
Available with an MDSI-OpenCNC Control System
G&W-Services Inc. in collaboration with MDSI of Ann Arbor, Michigan, introduce new Rotary 4th Axis, Land Width Control and Auto-Cornering features integrated within an OpenCNC control system. These new software options provide similar features and operation to the original BostoMaticâ Rotary Axis and Engraving software package, previously available only on proprietary BostoMatic® control systems.
Thanks to this unique optional software package integrated within MDSI’s OpenCNC control software, the rotary 4th axis is programmed much like a linear axis. For complex rotary dies, barrels, cams, and other intricate rotary pieces, the programmer treats the part as an unwrapped cylinder, similar to normal 3 dimensional XYZ programming. The CNC then automatically scales all rotary motion and feed rates to account for the actual part surface circumference.
In the past with traditional rotary axis interfaces, laborious calculations were required to determine actual part surface movement. Now, with part surface scaling, once the true diameter or circumference is entered into the CNC, all surface movements correspond directly to programmed values. As the 4th axis is treated as a linear, full use of Cutter Diameter Compensation, Circular and Helical Interpolation, Mirror Image, Axis Scaling, Plane Rotation and other CNC features normally associated only with XYZ axis programming are available for use with the rotary 4th axis.
Rotary Axis Feature Highlights:
- G25 command – A Axis Diameter
- The value programmed with G25 defines the diameter of the cylinder.
- OpenCNC uses this value for all Y/A distance and feed rate calculations.
- The machine must be in G130 mode Y/A Interchange OFF when this command executes.
- Axes can be at any location when G25 is turned on.
- The G25 value is modal until changed by another G25 command.
- The default diameter/circumference is restored on a complete sequencer reset.
- The default A diameter will be 10” / pi = 3.1831
- Input commands allowed from: Part Programs, Subroutine Programs / Files or MDI Mode
- G125 command – A Axis Circumference
- The value programmed with G125 defines the circumference of the cylinder.
- OpenCNC uses this value for all Y/A distance and feed rate calculations.
- The machine must be in G130 mode Y/A Interchange OFF when this command executes.
- Axes can be at any location when G125 is turned on.
- The G125 value is modal until changed by another G125 command.
- The default diameter/circumference is restored on a complete sequencer reset.
- The default A circumference will be 10”
- Input commands allowed from: Part Programs, Subroutine Programs / Files or MDI Mode
- G130/131 -Y/A Axis Interchange
- The G131 code interchanges all Y and A axis moves within a part program. Allowing the customer to program in a flat XY plane and then wrap the part profile around a cylinder.
- G131 is modal until cancelled by a G130 or a complete sequencer reset.
- Cutter compensation and tool length compensation work in conjunction with this feature.
- Plane selection and circular interpolation work in any plane G17, G18, G19.
When Y/A interchange is active, A axis will replace the Y axis in these planes.
- Mirror Image, Scaling, Part Rotation, Retrace & Withdraw work with this feature.
- Cutter compensation, tool length offsets, and fixture offsets must be turned off when G131
is activated and the G131 must be cancelled before the end of a part program.
- Position Display axis letters are not modified when the axes are switched.
- Input commands allowed from: Part Programs, Subroutine Programs / Files or MDI Mode
- G150/151 Land Width Control
- This feature provides dynamic 3 axis cutter diameter compensation when machining in the G131 mode, maintaining the part program centerline aligned with TDC of the A axis cylinder, thus eliminating inherent size variation between lands that run parallel and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
Under the normal rules for CDC and Y/A interchange, CDC would normally be applied only to the A axis motion. However, when Landwidth Control is enabled with Y/A interchange, CDC joining moves and dynamic compensation is applied to both the Y and A axes. Positioning the tool off TDC of the A axis cylinder and allowing the program centerline to maintain its position on TDC. Additional considerations are performed for the Z axis to maintain a correct depth of cut relative to the G25 diameter and G155 programmed depth of cut, tool diameter and angle values.
Engraving Feature Highlights:
- G152/153 Auto Cornering Feature
- The Auto Cornering Feature provides modifications of normal cutter compensation joining logic by adding additional moves to compensate for angled tools. This feature inserts blocks that generate 3-axis transitional moves that ramp an angled tool into and up an inside corner then returns the tool back to its initial joining position. Resulting in an automatically sharpened corner for character engraving or rotary cutting die lands.
- G155 - Depth of Cut G Code
- The G155 code lets the part program define the depth of the current machining operation. This capability is required to allow the control to perform land width control and auto cornering.
- This value is modal until changed by another depth of cut G code command or by a complete sequencer reset. A complete sequencer reset will set this value to zero.
- Tool Table Modifications
- The OpenCNC tool tables have been modified to allow the operator to define the draft angle for each tool. The tool diameter entry for each tool defines the bottom diameter dimension (tip off). These values, along with the programmed depth of cut, are used for CDC computations when utilizing Auto Cornering or Land Width Control features.
- The input format of the tool table is modified to allow for an angle per tool. When in diameter input mode the angle will be the inclusive angle of the tool. Two examples are shown below.
- On-line Jog
- This feature allows the user to execute an on-line jog while running a part program, thus creating a blending move. When the control is in an on-line jog mode, a delta jog command will cause the axes to move updating the machine coordinate position but not the part coordinate position. Thus allowing the user to determine the amount of on-line jog applied and make any required adjustments to the part program starting positions, fixture or tool offsets values.
Available Options & Pricing:
Standard:
Now with all 4-Axis software systems ordered, G25 and G131 will be included along with the standard software package supplied to enhance G&W-Services OpenCNC Control Package’s compatibility with existing BostoMatic® Machine Systems.
Option 1: Auto Cornering and Land Width Control
For rotary axis customers, this option may be purchased in addition to the standard 4-Axis software package and includes all available rotary axis and engraving features.
G25, G125, G130/131, G150/151, G152/153, G155
Angle and Diameter Tool Table Entry, On-Line Jog Feature
Option Price $3,000.00
BostoMatic end users now have the ultimate solution for their old and obsolete SPC-II and BDC3200 CNC controls, while still retaining their rigid, high quality and accurate BostoMatic 4-Axis machinery. By retrofitting their equipment with a G&W-Services OpenCNC control package they are stepping up to a state-of-the-art, Windows based PC control system and into the 21st century.
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"G&W-Services is the premier BostoMatic support company providing retrofits, rebuilds and repair parts along with
new equipment to the BostoMatic family."
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