You can create the CNC programs for your lathes in the complete digital Tebis manufacturing environment to quickly and reliably manufacture simple or complex components. The models of the blank, workpiece and tool assembly on which every calculation is based – from the cutter to the tool holder – provide you with more reliable collision-checked CNC programs. Your lathes can be in continuous operation, because the CNC programs aren’t generated in the NC control. The right CAD/CAM strategy therefore gives you the full benefit of the especially high material removal rate in turning.
This video shows the turning of a complex spiral mandrel in tool steel. Many roughing, finishing and downward machining operations can be programmed quickly and easily with collision checking so that the machine can work effectively. Here we’re using a milling/turning machine, because extensive milling and drilling operations are also required to complete the component.
Tebis has all the necessary functions for longitudinal, planar and contour-parallel CNC turning of contours and grooves and for end-face drilling – including off-center drilling. You can just as easily prepare CNC programs for turning cylindrical, tapered or planar threads. Tebis automatically detects whether areas have to be turned from the inside or outside.
If an area can’t be completely turned with one tilt direction, you can define multiple tilt directions during CNC programming. Your machines will work nonstop. If there could be a collision between a tool assembly and the part during CNC turning, Tebis automatically reduces the corresponding areas. This gives you collision-checked CNC programs for turning in the calculation stage.
You can program positioning movements with the shortest path in CNC turning so that retracts and stepovers require less time. Your processes remain safe because automatic collision checking is also performed. If desired, you can also integrate a finishing cut in roughing that also removes the residual stock cusps between the roughing paths.
You can interrupt CNC turning after a freely definable path length so that the chip is broken in time when working with soft and ductile materials like copper and aluminum. This allows you to turn different materials even at very high speeds and maintain the carefully defined cutting data. Full-cut detection in grooving ensures a longer cutter life. You decide what happens if the cutter is in full contact: for example, clearing chips or retracting at feed rate.
Parts can be cut off from bar stock with a special function for automated machining on lathes or turning-milling centers. You can quickly and easily define the optimal cutting conditions for feed rate and speed upon material exit. You can easily cut the part off straight and finish its contour at the same time without having to design auxiliary geometry. You can deburr the part and turn the bar side-flat during cutoff. This allows you to immediately manufacture the next part with the bar stock. The cut-off part can be transferred to the second spindle or taken up by the part gripper/catcher – all automatically controlled and reliably simulated.
It’s best to define where in the CNC program machine components like clamping elements, tailstocks with quills or steady rests will open or close during CNC programming. This saves you time-consuming adjustments on the machine. This is controlled in the Tebis Job Manager in the same way as the entire CNC automation for turning with templates.
Tebis uses a blank model to determine the location of the material to be machined during CNC turning. With material tracking activated, this blank is updated in real time following each cut. This allows you to visually follow the manufacturing progress at all times and realistically simulate all turning operations.