CNC combines functionality and user-friendliness

An ACI product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 25, 2002

Anilam will highlight the multi-axis digital 6000M CNC for vertical machining centre applications at MACH 2002.

As well as spotlighting a number of performance enhancements across its range of milling and turning controls, Anilam will also highlight the multi-axis digital 6000M CNC for vertical machining centre applications at MACH 2002.

The 6000M CNC breaks new ground in control technology by combining Anilam's conversational Machinist Language programming routines with G Code programming to create a CNC that has an unrivalled level of functionality and user-friendliness within a single system.

With the two-/three-axis milling series 3000M and the three-/four-/five-axis analogue 5000M series CNC on show alongside the two-/three-axis 4200T turning system, the stand will demonstrate how all Anilam controls now feature a minimum 8Mbyte RAM (up to 64Mbyte) and networking capability that now features auto-sensing at 100Mbit/s for data transmission.

The result has been improvements of up to 50% in program verification, for example, thanks to the new processor, and performance improvements of 15% in the processing of 8000-block programs featuring 0.003in step-over increments.

Designed for vertical machining centre applications, the new three- to four-axis digital 6000 Series is supplied as a complete OEM package with a range of nine axis motors rated from 3 to 20.5Nm and ten spindle motors covering the power range 4.5 to 22kW.

These suit the high traverse speeds of up to 30 m/min and the up to 7500rev/min spindle speeds common on such machines.

The 6000 Series CNC boasts a powerful 586 DX4 133 PC processor and 16Mbyte of RAM, plus a 12in TFT screen.

The control has enhanced mould and die capability (scaling, mirror image, modal corner rounding/chamfering, for example) as well as a host of canned cycles including mould rotation and draft angle.

It also features a CAM programming mode for interactive programming using icons (moves shown as they are being programmed), menu-driven tooling, tool compensation and interference checking, and built-in post-processor.

Simulation graphic functions embrace rapid, feed and compensated moves (colour differentiated) isometric views, auto part fit, window zoom and static tool display, for instance.

The canned cycles also include: irregular pockets; geometry; and bolt hole pattern and drill cycles.

The control also features Anilam's integral programmable intelligence, so there is no need for a separate PLC unit and, compared to older CNC systems accompanied by a separate bank of drives, these are now housed in one compact module.

Prior to launch, Anilam put the new control through its paces on an automotive test piece requiring a series of blended straight lines, slopes, curves and angles.

Using a 10mm ball nose cutter at a spindle speed of 8500rev/min and feed rates of 10m/min, the part was completed in 14.5min - compared with 24min using an earlier generation CNC - while meeting the user's surface finish tolerance requirements of +/-10um.

All straight line machining was performed at 7m/min, while the control used its 30-block look-ahead capability to slow the feed down to 4m/min to achieve the required tight curves and sharp angles.

An intermediate speed of 6m/min was used to process the remaining round edges and curves.

The result was a test piece machined at high speed to the user's satisfaction.