Siemens PLM Software

SIM 08 Mill 5 AX
OOTB - Simulation Sample Documentation
1 General Information ........................................................................................................1
1.1 Open and close a door ..............................................................................................1
1.2 Using hard- and soft limits........................................................................................2
2 Kinematic and Setup Definitions .....................................................................................4
2.1 Axes settings and directions......................................................................................4
2.2 Kinematic chain definition........................................................................................4
3 CSE Driver settings ........................................................................................................5
3.1 Tool length compensation in turning mode ...............................................................5
3.2 Initial settings and machine datum ............................................................................5
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1 General Information
The SIM08 OOTB example contains two special modifications. Both are included in the tool
change mechanism. The first one is the usage of hard- and soft limits and the second one is the
motion of a non NC driven axis to open and close a door

1.1 Open and close a door

The tool change process contains the movement of the Y-axis into the tool change area. To be
more realistic the machining area is foreclosed to the tool change area by two doors. The Y-
axis have to wait until the doors are open to move back to the tool change position.

To mimic such a motion there is the AC command “move” available. In Fanuc and Heidenhain
the door motion is in the tool change subprogram included.

In Sinumerik there is an extra subprogram DOOR.spf available. Included is a FOR-loop to

open and close the doors.
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1.2 Using hard- and soft limits

Quite often machine tools will have more than one set of axis limits when they operate. One set
the hard/max limits, which includes all possible reachable positions. Another set, the soft limits,
which defines e.g. the machining area, which should not be collided, when machining a part.

The SIM08 OOTB example uses hard- and soft limits for the tool change motion. Both sets,
hard- and soft limits, are defined in the kinematic model.

+Y -

Soft-limits

Hard-limits
Machining Area Toolchange Area
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With CSE/AC command activateSoftLimitCheck(bool) the soft limits are temporarily

deactivated so that it´s possible to move the Y-Axis into the tool change area outside the
machining area.

In line 20 of the toolchange.spf (Sinumerik) the soft limits will be deactivated, so that the Y
axis can move to the tool change position outside the soft limit range without any limit
violations.

When the tool mounting process is finished and the doors are closed (Line 67), the soft limits
are reactivated (Line 71). In case of limit violation of the soft limits an alarm comes up.
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2 Kinematic and Setup Definitions

Since the introduction of cycle800 for turning in Sinumerik controller there are several points
which needs to be considered when using this functionality

2.1 Axes settings and directions

All rotary axes have to follow the right hand rule. They rotate around the geo axes in machine
coordinates (movement direction). For proper turning functionality the direction of the tool
spindle must also be considered and set in that way that the X direction of the tool mount
“looks” into the tool spindle or in in other words in Z-direction of the initial turning coordinate
system.

The Y-direction of the tool mount junction defines the direction of the cutting edge of a turning
tool. This must be defined in that way that it has to be the same direction as the X direction of
the initial turning work coordinate system.

2.2 Kinematic chain definition

Ensure the correct selection of tool end definition in kinematic chain setup. The junction of
the selected tool end must be ideally the tool mount junction.
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3 CSE Driver settings

The MCF file includes an additional CCF file SinumerikOperate_Addon_TTAC.CCF which
contains all variables, metacodes and methods for cycle800 turning.

3.1 Tool length compensation in turning mode

The sim 08 OOTB NC simulation sample for cycle800 turning follows the rules for axes
directions and orientations which are defined in chapter 2. For correct tool length compensation
in turning mode change either the order or the signs in method GMe_SetToolLengthOrientation
if the initial turning work coordinate system is different. Q Correction includes the tool offset
in Y direction of the tool mount junction and L Correction includes the tool offset in Z direction
of the tool mount junction. The order within the vector definition follows the X-Y-Z direction
of the initial turning work coordinate system.

3.2 Initial settings and machine datum

For cycle800 turning the machine kit is setup with a set of machine datums which must be set
correctly with kinematic information. The relevant machine datums are set in
CHAN_DATA.def and TC_KIN.def