HEIDENHAIN TNC 407 (280 580) User Manual - Manual (Page 295)

TNC 425/TNC 415 B/TNC 407 9-28
9 3D Touch Probe Systems
Line-by-line digitizing with cycle 16 MEANDER
The MEANDER cycle scans and digitizes a 3D
contour in a back-and-forth series of parallel lines.
This process is particularly useful for digitizing
relatively flat surfaces. The HEIDENHAIN evaluation
software SUSA can only process data resulting
from digitizing in the MEANDER cycle.
In cycle 16 MEANDER, the touch probe moves in
the positive direction of the axis entered under
DIRECTION. When the touch probe reaches the
MAX coordinate on this axis, it moves by the line
spacing (L.SPAC) in the positive direction of the
other axis in the working plane (i.e. in the column
direction). It then moves back in the negative line
direction, and at the other end moves again by the
programmed L.SPAC. This process repeats itself
until the entire range has been scanned.
Once the entire range is scanned, the touch probe
returns to the CLEARANCE HEIGHT.
By entering a scanning angle you can select the
most efficient direction for scanning asymmetric
ranges, in which the lines to be scanned are as long
as possible.
Starting position
• Coordinates from cycle 5 RANGE or cycle 15 RANGE (TABLE):
X and Y coordinates of the MIN point
Z coordinate = CLEARANCE HEIGHT
• Automatically move to the starting position:
first in Z to CLEARANCE HEIGHT, then in X and Y
Contour approach
The touch probe moves in the negative Z direction toward the model.
When it makes contact, the TNC stores position coordinates.
Fig. 9.22: Digitizing a 3D contour with the MEANDER cycle
Y
X
Z
9.4 Digitizing with a Measuring Touch Probe