FeatureCAM supports tilting-head machines that have the following capabilities:
- 3D coordinate transforms -
the control must allow programming of 2.5D features in the X and Y planes. This means the depths of features are always in the Z or -Z directions.
- Tool length offset -
the touch-off point (or zero point) of the tool must move with the rotated tool.
- 5-axis positioning on machines with tilting head - the machine needs to have
automatic correction of tool length offset and
3D coordinate transformation. This is because
FeatureCAM outputs the toolpath in a coordinate system that has the same Z direction as the Setup, so the machine needs
3D coordinate transformation to transform the toolpath back into the machine's coordinate system. Also, because the tool length offset changes from the tilting of the tool, the machine needs
automatic correction of tool length offset to correct that.
In terms of the coordinate system that
FeatureCAM uses to output the toolpath, it will have the same Z direction as the Setup but the X and Y directions may not be the same as the Setup. This is because
FeatureCAM is restricted by the configuration of the rotary axes on the machine. Imagine the tool has a coordinate system attached to it which rotates with the rotary axes. From the initial position (0 for both rotary axes), the machine rotates to match Ztool with Zsetup. After the rotations, Ztool now matches Zsetup but Xtool and Ytool may not match Xsetup and Ysetup.
- 5-axis simultaneous on machines with tilting head - the machine only needs to have
automatic correction of tool length offset.
FeatureCAM outputs the toolpath in the machine's coordinate system so no need for
3D coordinate transformation. However,
automatic correction of tool length offset is still needed because of the tilting of the tool.