Simple, powerful CNC solutions

Beckhoff is simplifying the specific application of TwinCAT 3 CNC (TF5200) in the field of electrical discharge machining (EDM) and additive manufacturing with a total of two new functions and two additional technology packages. Online adaptation, extended interpolation and a technology package for additive processes and one for wire and die-sinking EDM machines are available.

TwinCAT 3 CNC Online Adaptation (TF5262) offers TcCOM interfaces for integrating customer-specific modules for online control of interpolation functions:

• Dynamic contour control (DCC) compensates for contour errors caused by physical deformation of the tool by modifying the tool centre point path depending on the current and previous contour element. The normalisation factor, compensation direction and compensation factor are calculated within the TcCOM object.
• Tool radius compensation offers online tool radius compensation based, among other things, on the current tool radius, the path position and the path tangent. Two-path interpolation is also supported here.
• Geometric feed adjustment is used to calculate a feed override factor in order to achieve a constant surface feed.

TwinCAT 3 CNC Extended Interpolation (TF5263) enables the description of two independent contours in one NC channel using two-path interpolation, which is particularly advantageous for wire EDM. In the case of conical coupling, the synchronisation of path 1 and path 2 can also be used to compensate additional blocks inserted by the tool radius correction. The originally programmed connection between the two paths is retained.

TwinCAT 3 CNC AM Plus (TF5291) is a technology package for additive processes. It includes an advanced contour look-ahead function. This provides programmed contour elements to the PLC in advance and can be activated in the NC program or via the PLC interface. On the other hand, TF5291 enables the retrieval of future dynamic data, such as axis positions, speeds and accelerations, at parameterisable points in time.

TwinCAT 3 CNC EDM Plus (TF5292) is a special technology package for wire EDM and die-sinking EDM machines. It combines functions from TF5262, TF5263 and TF5292 with cylindrical correction for wire EDM, a single real-time cycle per channel and with retraction strategies for die-sinking EDM.