Machine control regular parameters

Angle pairs

For a 5-axis machine, the tool axis vector can always be mapped into two different angle pairs. During the tool path generation, SolidCAM calculates for each tool axis orientation both of these two angle pairs; only one of the two has to be chosen for the GCode generation. The following options enable you to choose the angle pair.

Minimum angle change

When this check box is selected, the necessary angle pair is determined automatically in such manner that the angle deviation from the previous tool axis orientation is minimal.

The Start angle type option enables you to define the control over the solution that will be chosen for the first angle pair. The following options are available:

    • Choose between two solutions

With this option you can specify the necessary solution that will be used for the first angle pair. It enables you to choose either the first solution (the First angle pair option) or the second solution (the Second angle pair option).

    • Provide first rotation angle

In this case, SolidCAM chooses an angle pair where the first rotation angle (rotation around the first axis) is closer to the value determined by the Rotation angle value parameter.

    • Provide second rotation angle

In this case, SolidCAM chooses an angle pair where the second rotation angle (rotation around the second axis) is closer to the value determined by the Rotation angle value parameter.

First/Second angle pair

Some machines can only use one of the angle pairs due to mechanical limitations. In this case, the Minimum angle change option must be deactivated and the angle pair will then be chosen as the First angle pair or Second angle pair.

These options are not available when the Minimum angle change check box is selected.

Machine limits

With this option, SolidCAM enables you to use the machine limits defined within the machine definition to limit the tool path movements in translation and/or rotation axis.

  • No limits

All the machine limits defined in the machine definition are ignored.

  • Translation limits

SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for translation movements.

  • Rotation limits

SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for rotation movements.

  • All limits

SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for both translation and rotation movements.

When machine limits are used, the calculated tool path is checked in order to avoid exceeding the machine limits. The check is performed using the angle tolerance defined by the Angle tolerance for using machine limits parameter.

When the Minimum angle change option is used together with machine limits, SolidCAM uses the machine limits to choose the necessary angle pair. Consider that the B-axis movements are limited between 0 and 90°. For each tool axis orientation, SolidCAM offers two angle pairs in the calculated tool path. According to the machine limits, only pairs located in the defined range will be chosen.

For example, SolidCAM offers you both B=-30° and B=+30° as possible solutions. Taking into account the machine limits, the solution B=-30° is not acceptable because it exceeds the defined range; the solution of B=+30° is in range and will be chosen by SolidCAM for further post-processing. If both of the offered angle pairs are in the range of the machine limits, the angle pair with the smallest variation of the angle (from the previous position) is used.

If the machine limits are exceeded, SolidCAM displays an error message.

The default values for the Machine limits option are defined in the VMID file of the CNC-Machine.