HEIDENHAIN TNC 407 (280 580) User Manual - Manual (Page 310)

9-43 TNC 425/TNC 415 B/TNC 407
9 3D Touch Probe Systems
Fig. 9.29: Digitizing a 3D contour with the MEANDER cycle
9.5 Digitizing with the TS 120 Touch Probe
Y
X
Z
Line-by-line digitizing with cycle 6 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 6 MEANDER, the touch probe moves in the
positive direction of the axis entered under DIREC-
TION. 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.
Starting position
• Coordinates from the RANGE cycle:
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.
Input data
• LINE DIRECTION
Coordinate axis in whose positive direction the touch probe moves
from the first contour point.
• LIMIT IN NORMAL LINES DIRECTION
Distance by which the touch probe lifts off the model surface after
each deflection of the stylus during scanning.
Input range: 0 to 5 mm
Recommended input value: Enter an input value between half the
PROBE POINT INTERVAL and the PROBE POINT INTERVAL. The
smaller the ball tip radius, the larger the LIMIT IN NORMAL LINES
DIRECTION should be programmed.
• LINE SPACING
The offset by which the probe moves at the end of each line before
scanning the next line.
Input range: 0 to 5 mm
• MAX. PROBE POINT INTERVAL
Maximum spacing between consecutive digitized positions.
Input range: 0.02 to 5 mm