Reference system on milling machines, Designation of the axes on milling machines, 1 f undamentals – HEIDENHAIN TNC 320 (340 55x-04) ISO programming User Manual
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HEIDENHAIN TNC 320
71
3.1 F
undamentals
Reference system on milling machines
When using a milling machine, you orient tool movements to the 
Cartesian coordinate system. The illustration at right shows how the 
Cartesian coordinate system describes the machine axes. The figure 
illustrates the right-hand rule for remembering the three axis 
directions: the middle finger points in the positive direction of the tool 
axis from the workpiece toward the tool (the Z axis), the thumb points 
in the positive X direction, and the index finger in the positive Y 
direction.
The TNC 320 can control up to 5 axes optionally. The axes U, V and W 
are secondary linear axes parallel to the main axes X, Y and Z, 
respectively. Rotary axes are designated as A, B and C. The illustration 
at lower right shows the assignment of secondary axes and rotary 
axes to the main axes.
Designation of the axes on milling machines
The X, Y and Z axes on your milling machine are also referred to as tool 
axis, principal axis (1st axis) and minor axis (2nd axis). The assignment 
of the tool axis is decisive for the assignment of the principal and 
minor axes.
+X
+Y
+Z
+X
+Z
+Y
W+
C+
B+
V+
A+
U+
Y
X
Z
Tool axis
Principal axis
Minor axis
X
Y
Z
Y
Z
X
Z
X
Y
