Beckhoff enhances TwinCAT 3 CNC with new features for Additive Manufacturing
October 17, 2024
Beckhoff Automation GmbH, headquartered in Verl, Germany, has shared two new functions and two additional technology packages to streamline the application of its TwinCAT 3 CNC software package. These latest features include online adaptation and extended interpolation, plus a technology package for Additive Manufacturing processes and another for wire-erosion and die-sinking EDM machines.
TwinCAT 3 CNC AM Plus (TF5291) is a technology package for additive processes. Its extended contour preview is said to make programmed contour elements available to the PLC in advance and can be activated in the NC programme or via the PLC interface. The TF5291 also makes it possible to access future dynamic data, such as axis positions, velocities, and accelerations, at configurable intervals.
TwinCAT 3 CNC Online Adaption (TF5262) offers TcCOM interfaces for integrating customer-specific modules for the online control of interpolation functions:
- Dynamic contour control (DCC) compensates for contour errors caused by physical deformation of the toolbox by modifying the tool centre point path based on the current and previous contour elements. The normalisation factor, compensation direction, and compensation factor are all calculated within the TcCOM object.
- The tool radius compensation function offers online tool radius compensation based on factors such as the current tool radius, path position, and path tangent. Two-path interpolation is also supported here.
- The geometric feed rate adjustment is used to calculate a feed override factor to achieve a constant surface feed.
TwinCAT 3 CNC Extended Interpolation (TF5263) enables two-path interpolation, allowing two independent contours to be described in a single NC channel, which is particularly advantageous for EDM wire erosion. With conical coupling, the synchronisation of path 1 and path 2 can also be used to compensate for additional blocks inserted by the tool radius compensation. The originally programmed connection between the two paths remains unchanged.
TwinCAT 3 CNC EDM Plus (TF5292) is a special technology package for wire-erosion and die-sinking EDM machines. It combines functions from the TF5262, TF5263, and TF5292 with cylindrical compensation for EDM wire erosion, a single real-time cycle per channel, and retraction strategies for die-sinking EDM.
