Process

To ensure that the cycle is executed successfully, the following requirements must be met.

Within the cycle, the tool is fed incrementally along the Z axis. The starting point here is a start point which has a safety clearance to the blank set by @P13 in the XY plane and is vertically parallel to the Y axis above the spigot centre. The blank is repeatedly approached in a circular movement for each machining height. When the machining direction is clockwise, the approach is counter-clockwise and departure is clockwise. When the machining direction is counter-clockwise, the approach is clockwise and departure is counter-clockwise.

Machining strategy for circular spigot
Machining strategy for circular spigot

Roughing process

At the start, the start point in the XY plane is approached at the height of the retraction plane. The first feed is to the safety plane at rapid traverse along the Z axis followed by a feed to the machining height at the feed rate defined by @P21. At this start point, an iterative feed takes place to the new machining height until the spigot depth @P4 is reached with the addition of the finishing allowance at the base (@P15). The maximum infeed per pass is the maximum infeed in Z at the maximum value defined in @P5.

The blank is first milled linearly for every machining height, i.e. without considering the spigot radius (@P67). The tool then approaches closer to the centre of the spigot in a circular movement each circumferential pass without exceeding the maximum feed in XY (@P6). Linear removal continues until the linear outer dimensions of the circle with the addition of the finishing allowance at the edge (@P16) are removed.

When linear machining is completed, the spigot radius is milled (@P67). Corner removal continues every circumferential pass around the spigot until the correct radius (spigot radius + finishing allowance in XY) is reached.

To avoid jerky movements in the milling path and thus relieve the machine tool, it may be useful to activate polynomial smoothing during roughing. This also leads to an accelerated execution of the milling cycle. The parameterisation of polynomial smoothing should be made dependent on the selected finishing allowance in order to avoid damage to the outer contour. To avoid residue, the maximum infeed in XY must then be reduced.

The milling cycle with polynomial smoothing can be called as follows:

#CONTOUR MODE [DEV, PATH_DEV = V.G.WZ_AKT.R / 10 ]        ( Parameterisation )

G261                                   ( Activation of polynomial smoothing )

L CYCLE [NAME = SysMill... ]                                      ( Roughing )

G260                                 ( Deactivation of polynomial smoothing )

L CYCLE [NAME = SysMill... ]                                     ( Finishing )

M30

Finishing process

The start point mentioned for roughing is also approached as the starting position for finishing. From there, feed continues iteratively up to the new machining height until the spigot depth @P4 is reached. The maximum infeed per pass is the maximum infeed in Z at the maximum value defined in @P5.

A distinction is made between two cases for the milling operation at each machining height: