9.

10 TCPM FUNCTION

9.10 TCPM FUNCTION (Software Option 2)

(Software Option 2)
Function
B
The machine geometry must be entered in machine
parameters or in kinematic tables.
Z
For tilted axes with Hirth coupling: X
Only change the position of the tilted axis after retracting
the tool. Otherwise you might damage the contour. Z

Before positioning with M91 or M92 and before a TOOL CALL:

Reset TCPM FUNCTION
To avoid contour gouging you must use only spherical
cutters with TCPM FUNCTION.
X
The tool length must refer to the spherical center of the
tool tip.
If TCPM FUNCTION is active, the TNC shows the symbol
in the status display.

TCPM FUNCTION is an improvement on the M128 function, with which

you can define the behavior of the TNC when positioning the rotary
axes. In contrast to M128, with TCPM FUNCTION you can define the mode
of action of various functions:
 Mode of action of the programmed feed rate: F TCP / F CONT
 Interpretation if the rotary axis coordinates programmed in the NC
program: AXIS POS / AXIS SPAT
 Type of interpolation between start and target position:
PATHCTRL AXIS / PATHCTRL VECTOR

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 Mode of action of the programmed feed rate
9.10 TCPM FUNCTION (Software Option 2)

The TNC provides two functions for defining the mode of action of the
programmed feed rate:
F TCP determines that the programmed feed rate is
interpreted as the actual relative velocity between the
tool point (tool center point) and the workpiece.
F CONT determines that the programmed feed rate is
interpreted as the contouring feed rate of the axis
programmed in the respective NC block.

Example NC blocks:
...
13 FUNCTION TCPM F TCP ... Feed rate refers to the tool point.
14 FUNCTION TCPM F CONT ... Feed rate is interpreted as the speed of the tool
along the contour
...

458 9 Programming: Special Functions

Interpretation of the programmed rotary axis

9.10 TCPM FUNCTION (Software Option 2)

coordinates
Up to now, machines with 45° swivel heads or 45° tilting tables could
not easily set the angle of inclination or a tool orientation with respect
to the machine-based coordinate system (spatial angle). This function
could only be realized through specially written programs with normal
vectors (LN blocks).
The TNC now provides the following function:
 AXIS POS determines that the TNC interprets the
programmed coordinates of rotary axes as the
nominal position of the respective axis.
 AXIS SPAT determines that the TNC interprets the
programmed coordinates of rotary axes as the spatial
angle.

AXIS POS should only be used if your machine is equipped

with equipped with Cartesian rotary axes. With 45° swivel
heads/tilting tables, AXIS POS may also result in incorrect
axis positions.
AXIS SPAT: The rotary axis coordinates entered in the
positioning block are spatial angles that are given with
respect to the machine-based coordinate system
(absolute spatial angle).
If you switch on FUNCTION TCPM with AXIS SPAT, either all
rotary axes must be at 0° or all three spatial angles must
be programmed in the inclination angle definition.

Example NC blocks:
...
13 FUNCTION TCPM F TCP AXIS POS ... Rotary axis coordinates are axis angle
14 FUNCTION TCPM F TCP AXIS SPAT ... Rotary axis coordinates are spatial angle
...
20 L B+45 F MAX Set tool orientation to B+45 degrees (spatial angle)

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 Interpolation type between the starting and end
9.10 TCPM FUNCTION (Software Option 2)

position
The TNC provides two functions for defining the type of interpolation
between the starting and end position:
 PATHCTRL AXIS determines that the tool point between
the starting and end position of the respective NC
block moves on a straight line (Face Milling). The
direction of the tool axis at the starting and end
position corresponds to the respective programmed
values, but the tool circumference does not describe
a defined path between starting and end position. The
surface produced by milling with the tool
circumference (Peripheral Milling), depends on the
machine geometry.
 PATHCTRL VECTOR determines that the tool point
between the starting and end position of the
respective NC block moves on a straight line and also
that the direction of the tool axis between starting and
end position is interpolated so that a plane results
from machining at the tool circumference (Peripheral
Milling)

With PATHCTRL VECTOR, remember:

Any defined tool orientation is generally accessible
through two different tilting angle positions. The TNC uses
the solution over the shortest available path—starting
from the current position. Therefore, with 5-axis
machining it may happen that the TNC moves in the rotary
axes to end positions that are not programmed.
To attain the most continuous multiaxis movement
possible, define Cycle 32 with a Tolerance for rotary
axes (see “TOLERANCE (Cycle 32, software option 2)” on
page 431). The tolerance of the rotary axes should be
about the same as the tolerance of the contouring
deviation that is also defined in Cycle 32. The greater the
tolerance for the rotary axes is defined, the greater are the
contour deviations during peripheral milling.

Example NC blocks:
...
13 FUNCTION TCPM F TCP AXIS SPAT PATHCTRL AXIS Tool tip moves along a straight line
14 FUNCTION TCPM F TCP AXIS POS PATHCTRL VECTOR Tool tip and tool directional vector move in one plane
...

460 9 Programming: Special Functions

Reset FUNCION TCPM

9.10 TCPM FUNCTION (Software Option 2)

 FUNCTION RESET TCPM is to be used if you want to
purposely reset the function within a program .

Example NC block:
...
25 FUNCTION RESET TCPM Reset FUNCION TCPM
...

The TNC automatically resets FUNCTION TCPM if you select

a new program in a program run mode.

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