MILLPWRoffers several circular milling functions that let you program pockets, frames and rings quickly and easily.
• If you want to program a finish cut, press the MOREsoftkey.
Enter the amount of material to be removed during the finish cut.
Enter the feed rate for the finish cut.
Select the finish cut's direction. Press the CWsoftkey for a clock-wise direction or the CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
Enter a stepover percentage (how much you want your tool to overlap on each pass).
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If the tool size and type listed in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
INSIDE FRAME OUTSIDE
FRAME
To program a circular frame:
• Press the CIRCLEkey.
• Press the FRAME softkey.
• Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the center point.
• Enter the begin and end depths for the Z-axis.
• Enter either the number of passes OR the distance
between each pass. “Pass” refers to the cuts that are used to machine the pocket to its “End” depth.
Frame
A circular frame is determined by its center point and radius. The direction will determine if you’re climb cutting or conventional cutting. The tool offset will determine if you are cut-ting an inside or outside frame.
• Enter the Z-axis feed rate.
• Enter the radius.
• For the direction, press the CWsoftkey for clockwise or the CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
• Select the appropriate tool offset.
• Enter the table’s feed rate.
• If you would like to program a finish cut, press the MORE
softkey.
Enter the amount of material to be removed during the finish cut.
Enter the feed rate for the finish cut.
Select the finish cut's direction. Press the CWsoftkey for a clockwise direction or the CCWsoftkey for a counter-clock-wise direction.
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If the tool size and type in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
Ring
A ring is a circular pocket with a circular island in the center. A ring is determined by its center point, outside
radius (radius of the pocket) and inside radius (radius of the island).
The direction of the cut on the inside radius will determine whether you are climb cutting or conventional cutting.
MILLPWRwill reverse the tool direction on the outside radius so that the cutting direction stays the same.
To program a ring:
• Press the CIRCLEkey.
• Press the RINGsoftkey.
• Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the center point.
• For “Direction,” press the CWsoftkey for clockwise or the
CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
• Enter the table’s feed rate.
• If you would like to program a finish cut, press the MORE
softkey.
Enter the amount of material to be removed during the finish cut.
Enter the feed rate for the finish cut.
Select the finish cut's direction. Press the CWsoftkey for clockwise or the CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
Enter a stepover percentage (how much you want your tool to overlap on each pass).
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If your tool size and type listed in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
Helix
A helix is a spiral-like form that winds at a uniform angle. A helix can be defined two ways:
• By the radius, depth and pitch
• By the radius, depth and number of revolutions
To program a helix:
• Press the CIRCLEkey.
• Press the HELIX softkey.
• Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the center point.
• Enter the begin and end depths for the Z-axis.
• Enter the radius.
• For “Direction,” press the CWsoftkey for clockwise or the
CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
• (Optional) Enter the pitch.
• Choose INSIDEor OUTSIDEoffset.
• Enter the table’s feed rate.
• If you need to program a start angle and/or a number of revolutions, press the MOREsoftkey.
Start Angle
Enter the angle where the helix begins (3 o’clock position is 0 degrees; 12 o’clock position is 90 degrees).
Revolutions
Enter the number of revolutions.
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If your tool size and type listed in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
Row of Holes
A row of holes, can be programmed two ways:
• By entering the coordinates of the first and last hole
• By entering the coordinates of the first hole, the spacing between each hole and the row’s angle
The “From” point refers to the center of the first hole, while the “To” point is the center of the last hole. Any additional holes will be spaced equally between these two.
You’ll also be prompted for peck and tool retract values. “Peck” lets you break chips and reduce chip buildup during drilling operations. “Tool Retract” allows you to pro-gram MILLPWRto raise the tool at regular intervals.
To program a row of holes:
• Press the HOLESkey.
Hole Patterns
MILLPWR includes several built-in routines that let you program hole patterns quickly and easily.
• Now either:
Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the center of the last hole in the “To” field; or
Press the MOREsoftkey and enter the distance you want between each hole (from center point to center point) in the “Hole
Spacing” field. Also enter the angle of the row of holes.
• Enter the begin and end depths for the Z-axis.
• (Optional) Enter either the number of pecks OR the distance between each peck.
• Select the DRILL, BOREor POSITIONsoftkey.
• Enter the Z-axis feed rate.
• Enter the number of holes you want to include in the row.
• If you want the tool to retract:
Enter either the number of retracts OR the distance between each retract.
Enter the length of time (in seconds) that you want the quill to dwell (pause) during each retract.
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If the tool size and type listed in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
Drill - The quill
Hole Frame and Hole Array
Hole frame and hole array patterns require the same information, but their patterns differ slightly. Hole frames limit holes to the outside edge of a rectangular shape, while hole arrays allow holes along the outside edge and throughout the center.
Hole frames and hole arrays can be defined three ways:
• By the position of the 1STCorner, size, and the number of holes
• By the position of the 1STCorner, position of the 2ND(diagonal) Corner, and number of holes
• By the position of the 1STCorner, hole spacing, and number of holes
Hole Frame Hole Array
To create a hole frame or hole array:
• Press the HOLESkey.
• Press the FRAMEsoftkey to program a hole frame;
press the ARRAYsoftkey to program a hole array.
• Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for your 1ST corner into the "From" field.
• In the “Size” field, enter the lengths along the X- and Y-axes.
• Enter the begin and end depths for the Z-axis.
• (Optional) Enter either the number of pecks OR the distance between each peck.
• Select the DRILL, BORE or POSITIONsoftkey.
• Enter the Z-axis feed rate.
• In the "Holes" field, enter the number of holes you want to include along the X- and Y-axes.
• If you would like to program a retract, 2NDcorner, hole spacing and/or tilt angle, press the MORE
softkey.
Tool Retract
Enter either the number of retracts OR the distance between each retract.
Enter the length of time (in seconds) that you want the quill to dwell (pause) during each retract.
Drill - The quill
2NDCorner
Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the 2NDCorner (located diagonally from the 1STcorner).
Hole Spacing
Specify the spacing between holes along the X- and Y-axes.
Tilt Angle
Enter a tilt angle, if needed.
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If the tool size and type listed in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).
Bolthole Circle Patterns
A bolthole circle pattern is defined by its center point, radius and number of holes. You can program partial bolthole patterns by pressing the MOREsoftkey and entering a start angle and an end angle.
To program a bolthole circle pattern:
• Press the HOLESkey.
• Press the BOLT CIRCLEsoftkey.
• Enter the X- and Y-axes coordinates for the bolthole circle pattern’s center point.
• Enter the begin and end depths of the cut for the Z-axis.
• (Optional) Enter either the number of pecks OR the distance between each peck.
• Select the DRILL, BOREor POSITIONsoftkey.
• Enter the Z-axis feed rate.
• Enter the radius of the hole pattern.
• For "Direction,” select the direction you want to cut.
Press the CWsoftkey for clockwise or the CCWsoftkey for a counter-clockwise direction.
• Enter the number of holes you want to include in the circle.
• If you need to program a tool retract, start angle and/or end angle, press the MOREsoftkey.
Tool Retract
Enter the number of tool retracts or the distance between each retract. Enter the length of time (in seconds) that you want the tool to dwell (pause).
Start Angle
Enter the start angle of the first hole in the bolthole circle pattern (refer to graphic, below).
End Angle
Enter the end angle of the last hole in the bolthole circle pattern (refer to graphic, below).
• Press the USEkey.
Note: If the tool size and type in the "Tool" field are incorrect, change the tool settings before running your program (refer to Programming a Tool Step).