Taper Cutting

Learning the basics

8/28/2003
TAPER CUTTING - learning the basics.doc
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Taper Cutting Terminology

CUTTING MODE.

M15 P(0, 1, 10 or 11)

Determines the type of movement that will be generated by the U and V axes.
0 = Use when programming X and Y motion only.. 'T' codes as well as U and V
commands will be ignored when the cutting mode is set to zero.
1 = Use when programming with 'T' codes.
10 = Use when programming the actual upper and lower diamond guide movement.
Certain C.A.M. software will output four axis programs in this format. Programs written in
mode ten format will contain X,Y,U and V values that are much different than the actual
part geometry. If your C.A.M. software requires that you input the upper and lower guide
values relative to the table, then it will be outputting a program in this mode.
11 = Use when a Four axes program contains the X,Y,U and V dimensions to be held in
the work piece material. Programs written in mode eleven will contain X,Y,U and V
values that match part geometry.

When defined within a program, the cutting mode command must be

placed before the G92 code.

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PROGRAM PLANE. (J)

The distance from the table surface to a plane where X and Y program dimensions
are held.
The 'R' address values are also held at this plane.
In the example below, the Program Plane would be +.875.
When defined within a program the J value must be placed on the same block as
the G92 code.

THICKNESS PLANE. ( I )
The signed Incremental distance from the Program plane to a secondary plane
where the tapered surface would end.
Independent corner radii ( K ) are held at this plane.
In a four axis program U and V values will also be held at this plane.
In the example above, the Thickness plane would be -.875.
When defined within a program the I value must be placed on the same block as
the G92 code.

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In the example below, the Program Plane would be +.125

the Thickness plane would be +.875.

In the example below, the Program Plane would be +.750

The Thickness plane would remain at +.875.since it is always dimensioned from the
Program Plane.

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UPPER GUIDE.
The distance from the table surface to the face of the upper die guide.
This value is automatically updated when the Z axis is moved (power Z only).
Often referred to as a 'machine constant'.

SUPPORT DIS.
The 'A' dimension (inch) as read from the UPPER die guide inspection sheet.
Input this dimension when installing a new upper die guide.
Often referred to as a 'machine constant'.
The A dimension for the sample die guide below is .0327
NOTE: If your machine is an iA or an iB model and you are using the new style alignment
block with the Taper Guide Measurement feature, you will NOT have to set this manually.

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LOWER GUIDE.
The distance from the table surface to the pivot point in the lower diamond guide.
Input this value when installing a new lower die guide. This value must be the sum of
the depth micrometer reading (from the top of the table to the top of the lower die guide)
and the A dimension as read from the LOWER die guide inspection sheet. Often
referred to as a 'machine constant'.
The A dimension for the sample die guide below is 0.139
NOTE: If your machine is an iA or an iB model and you are using the new style alignment
block with the Taper Guide Measurement feature, you will NOT have to set this manually.

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Taper program example-1

N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6

%
O0666
G00G40G50G90
S0D0
M15P1
G92X0.00000Y0.00000I1.00000J0.00000
G90G01G42G51X0.Y0.1T9.
X0.5G60R0.125
Y1.1G61R0.125
X-0.5G60R0.125K0.01
Y0.1G61R0.125T5.
X-0.1T9.
M00
X0.
M00
G40G50Y0.T0.
G90G00X0.Y0.
M30
%
TAPER CUTTING - learning the basics.doc
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Taper program example-2

%
O9876(DIE-SAMPLE)
G00G40G50G90
(DIE / RELIEF CONTOUR - 1)
M37B75
S1D1
M15P1
G92X0.00000Y0.00000I-0.62500J0.62500
G90G01G42G52X0.Y0.5T8.
X0.5G61R0.05
Y-0.5R0.05
X-0.5R0.05
Y0.5R0.05
X-0.05
M01
X0.
M00
G40G50Y0.T0.
M00
(DIE / RELIEF CONTOUR - 2)
G90G00X0.Y0.
M38B75
S2D2
M15P1
G92X0.00000Y0.00000I-0.62500J0.62500
G90G01G41G51X0.Y0.5T8.
X-0.5G61R0.05
Y-0.5R0.05
X0.5R0.05
Y0.5R0.05
X0.
G40G50Y0.T0.
(DIE / LAND CONTOUR - 1)
G90G00X0.Y0.
M37B12
S10D10
M15P0
G92X0.00000Y0.00000
G90G01G42X0.Y0.5
X0.5G61R0.05
Y-0.5R0.05
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X-0.5R0.05
Y0.5R0.05
X-0.05
M01
X0.
M00
G40Y0.
M00
(DIE / LAND CONTOUR - 2)
G90G00X0.Y0.
M38B12
S11D11
M15P0
G92X0.00000Y0.00000
G90G01G41X0.Y0.5
X-0.5G61R0.05
Y-0.5R0.05
X0.5R0.05
Y0.5R0.05
X0.
G40Y0.
(DIE / LAND CONTOUR - 3)
G90G00X0.Y0.
M38B12
S12D12
M15P0
G92X0.00000Y0.00000
G90G01G42X0.Y0.5
X0.5G61R0.05
Y-0.5R0.05
X-0.5R0.05
Y0.5R0.05
X0.
G40Y0.
/M50
G90G00X0.Y0.
M30
%

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MANUALLY repairing a wire break while taper cutting.

If it is necessary to cut the wire and jog the machine in order to remove a
part or a slug before continuing to run a taper cutting program, then the following
sequence must be used after the wire has been cut and the part has been removed.
Assuming that the wire has already been cut, the part removed, and now it is
time to rethread the wire.

1. SEND THE MACHINE BACK TO THE START POINT POSITION.

(If there is no danger of a collision, put the machine in JOG mode and press the
ST.PT Return key.)
2. RETHREAD THE WIRE.
(Press the M60 key on the hand held pendant).
3. FOLLOW THE SEQUENCE BELOW:

Edit mode.
Change to the Program screen.
Press the Reset key.
Select Memory mode.

! Select
!
!
!

! Turn on Wire Feed and Wire Tension.

! Press the

H.PT Return key.

! Press the

4 Conditions key.

! Press the

Cycle Start key.

VERT

Never press the VERT. key in the middle of the U and V jog
pad in order to rethread the wire during a taper cut.
This will clear out the taper angle value that is in effect at the
time.
If the vertical key is pressed by mistake, use the above
sequence.
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