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AppxE-CNC Setups - 12142006 PDF
AppxE-CNC Setups - 12142006 PDF
E CNC Setups
Parts must be located precisely and held securely during the machining
process. Work holding devices are referred to as fixtures. A fixture can
be as simple as a vise with hard jaws. Very complex fixtures, like those
used in the aerospace industry, may cost many thousands of dollars and be
designed by highly experienced tooling engineers.
For example, many parts can be accurately located and held in a vise. If
the part is machined on several sides, pay careful attention to the order
each face is machined and how the part is flipped between operations.
Size and type of material and cutting forces also affect fixture choice. A
foam or plastic visual prototype may be simply glued or taped down.
More substantial parts can be bolted, clamped, or held with a vacuum.
CNC A basic vise setup uses a vise, step jaws, vise stop, and stock material
Setups machined to size. The back edge of the fixed step jaw is dial indicated
Vise
parallel to the machine x-axis. The vise stop sets a limit to slide the stock
against as fresh stock material is loaded.
Vise Fixed
Stop Jaw
Movable
Back Edge of Jaw
Fixed Jaw
Parallel To
Machine X-Axis
Step
Jaws
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The following diagram shows the layout of a typical VMC and location of
the spindle when the machine is at its Home Position.
Y
Y
X
X
Top Iso
Z Z
X Y
Front Side
CNC programs are written in terms of the tool tip motion; not table
motion. For example, a command of X1.0 moves the tool to the right
(though on a VMC the table will move to the left).
Fixture Your probably noticed that when the machine is at its home position, its
Offsets
coordinate system datum is far away from the part datum. Here is why.
When you first power-up a CNC machine, it has no idea where the spindle
is located in the workspace. The machine finds its position during the
startup-home process by simply driving each machine axis towards its
(-) limit. Just before the machine hits an axis limit, it trips a micro-switch.
This signals the control that the axis is at a known location; called the
Machine Home. Home is usually defined as the center-face of the
spindle when the machine is at its (-) axes limits.
Once homed, the machine keeps track of its position by counting how far
each axis moves in reference to Home. Coordinates in reference to
Machine Home are called Machine Coordinates.
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CNC Setups
Any point on the part or fixture can be used to find the part datum, as long
as you can reliably measure its position.
The fixed (back) vise jaw is dial indicated parallel to the machine X-axis.
A Vise Stop, in this case an adjustable rod, allows stock material to be
loaded into the vise in the exact same position each time.
The part datum must be located precisely; typically +/- .001 or less. There
are many ways to find the part datum. In this example, the XY-Datum is
easily found using and Edge Finder to locate the back and left edges of the
part.
Vise
Fixed
Stop
Jaw
Movable
Back Edge of Jaw
Fixed Jaw
Parallel To
X
Back
Edge
Stock c ut
Z
Step
Jaws
Fixture The coordinate system is shifted from Machine Home to the Part Datum
Offset using a Fixture Offset. A fixture offset is simply a record machine
Registers
(G54-G59) control keeps of the distance between the Machine Home position and the
Part Datum point. Each time the NC program commands a move, the
control checks this record, or Register, and internally adds this value to
that move.
Fixture offsets are usually assigned G-codes G54 thru G59, though some
machines allocate more. Each fixture offset has a XYZ shift value. When
a fixture offset G-code appears in the NC program, the control looks at the
register values for that offset, and adds these values to any subsequent
moves.
In this example, the G54 offset register is called on line (N2) of the NC
program. This line of code moves the center of the spindle from the
Machine Home position to directly above the Part Datum.
Fixture Offset Table On Control
Mac hine G54 X12.6830 Y -7.1590 Z00.0000
Home G55 X 00.0000 Y00.0000 Z00.0000
Shift_X G56 X 00.0000 Y00.0000 Z00.0000
N1 G57 X 00.0000 Y00.0000 Z00.0000
G58 X 00.0000 Y00.0000 Z00.0000
Shift_Y
N2
-7.159
12.683
N1
N2 G54
Part Tool
Datum Motion
Sample NC Program
N1 T1 M6
N2 G90 G54 G0 X0. Y0.
N3 S7200 M3
N4 G43 H1 Z1. M8
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You probably noticed that the fixture offset in this example was used only Tool
to shift the datum in X-Y, not Z. This is because the Z shift distance Length
Offsets
changes depending on the tool length — how far the tool extends below (H)
the center-face of the spindle. Most tools are different lengths. Length
may even change when you replace a worn or broken tool.
The H-value is called in the G-code file with the first rapid move to depth
along with a G43 (Read Tool Height Offset Register). This causes the
machine to look at the H-register value and add this to the move.
Tool Offset Ta ble On Control
Tool# Height (H) Dia (D)
1 -11.913 00.0000
Mac hine 2 00.000 00.0000
Home N2 3 00.0000 00.000
N4
Part Shift_Z
Datum N5
Tool
Length
Home Z-Datum
To
Part Z-Datum Shift_Z
(-11.913)
Sample NC Program
N1 T1 M6 N4
N2 G90 G54 G0 X0. Y0.
N5
N3 S7200 M3
N4 G43 H1 Z1. M8
N5 Z0. F3.
The previous illustration shows the simplest way to use tool length offsets.
This method is widely used in prototype and short production work.
The tool is jogged to the Part Z-Datum (in this case, the top of the
part).
The incremental distance moved in Z from the home position to
the top of the part is recorded and entered in the appropriate Tool
Length Register.
This value represents the shift in Z from the machine home to the
Z-Datum of the part.
The value is usually negative; the machine subtracts this value
from the Z-position of the spindle, shifting the tool down towards
the part.
Another method uses what is called preset tooling. This is used more
often in larger companies and long production run work:
The tool length (distance from the center-face of the spindle to the
tip of the tool) is accurately measured in the tool room.
This gage length is entered in the tool-offset register as a positive
value.
The fixture offset Z-value represents the distance from the center-
face of the spindle to the part Z-datum.
Internally, the control first subtracts the fixture offset from a
command move. It then adds the tool gage length to the move.
Some machines have automatic tool probes which measure the length
automatically. Follow the instructions in the machine operator manual
for use of tool and fixture offsets with a probe.
There are other ways to use fixture and tool offsets. They all work, and
companies have good reasons to adopt a particular method. But, once
you understand how fixture and tool offsets work, will easily adapt to
whatever method your company or school uses.
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Plate work refers to machining sheets or plates of material. The material CNC
is manufactured to a specified thickness that is the same as the finish Setups
thickness of the part, so no facing operation is required.
The purpose of the fixture plate is to accurately locate the stock material
and then keep the part from moving during machining.
The illustration below shows a typical fixture plate. The fixture base is
machined flat, square, and parallel. Notice the plate is engraved with the
part name and coordinates of the part datum in reference to the upper-left
corner. This makes it easier to reuse the fixture plate.
A) Fixture Base
B) Clamp (2X)
E C) Dowel Pin (3X)
D) Washer (2X)
E) Bolt (4X)
D
Example The fixture plate below shows the setup just before the first machining
Fixture operation. After the holes are drilled and bolts inserted through the part,
Plate
the dowel pins and clamps should be removed if there is any possibility of
a collision with the tool or holder.
Stock Material
Aluminum Sheet
5.0 x 2.5 x .063
Aluminum Base
6.0 x 5.0 x .625
Clamp
.5 x 1 x .25 Dowel Pin
.250 x .625
Bolt
1/4-20 x .75 Reamed Hole
.251 x .375 Deep
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De-burr all sharp edges and holes so the stock lies flat on
the surface and is not scratched.
Stock Sheet aluminum stock that is within specification in
thickness.
Component Specification
Components
Specifications Fixture 6061-T6 Aluminum
Plate Width: 6.00
Height: 4.25
Thickness: .625 (5/8)
Stock 6061-T6 Sheet Aluminum
Width: 6.00
Height: 4.25
Thickness: .063
Dowel Pins Ground Steel
Diameter: .250
Height: .625 (5/8)
Install: .375 Deep
McMaster-Carr p/n:
Washers Aluminum
ID:.266
OD:.50
Thickness: .064
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CNC Setups
The following steps show how a simple fixture plate may be setup and Process
Overview
used on a vertical machining center.
Setup
1) Fixture can be clamped to
machine table or clamped in a
vise.
2) Vise fixed jaw is aligned with
machine X-axis.
3) Left-Back edge of fixture can
be located as a reference point.
Step 4: Contour OD
1) Machine OD with 3/16 End
Mill.
2) Provide sufficient lead-in to
Clear stock.
Exercise care when handling parts, and keep a clean work area.
Remember
Strive to deliver quality in everything you do. Parts that are
properly de-burred and are not marred in any way by mishandling
are the mark of a professional machinist.
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In cases where you need to position a plate with existing holes, never rely Shoulder
Bolts
on threaded holes to locate the part. Instead us Shoulder Bolts (aka
Stripper Bolts).
Counterbore a hole in the fixture plate the diameter of the bolt shank.
Drill and tap a hole in the bottom of this counterbore to screw in the
shoulder bolt.
Shoulder Bolt
Ground Shank
Located in Counterbore Hole
Notes:
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