
6. INTERPOLATION FUNCTION
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Polygonal turning means machining a polygonal figure by rotating the
workpiece and tool at a certain ratio.
Workpiece
Tool
Workpiece
Fig. 6.9 (a) Polygonal turning
By changing conditions which are rotation ratio of workpiece and tool and
number of cutters,the machining figure can be changed to a square or
hexagon. The machining time can be reduced as compared with polygonal
figure machining using C and X axes of the polar coordinate. The
machined figure however, is not exactly polygonal. Generally, polygonal
turning is used for the heads of square and/or hexagon bolts or hexagon
nuts.
Fig. 6.9 (b) Hexagon bolt
This function controls the workpiece (spindle) and tool (rotation tool
axis) so that the relationship between the spindle speed and tool speed is
maintained at a constant ratio specified in a command given to the CNC.
(For the principle of polygonal turning, refer to Section 20.1, Part II of the
“Operator’s Manual (For Lathe).”)
One of the axes (servo axes) controlled by the CNC is assigned as a tool
rotation axis. Either serial spindle or analog spindle can be used as a
workpiece axis (spindle).
Polygonal turning using a servo axis is detailed in the operator’s manual
(for lathe).
This section focuses on supplementary information and examples for the
connection.
A position coder must be mounted on the spindle. However, polygonal
turning requires no additional changes to the spindle connection (See
Section 9.3.).
6.9
POLYGONAL
TURNING
(T SERIES)
Expranations
D Spindle connection