Different gap distances in radial and axial directions

If the material for rounded corners (e.g. quadrants) is removed with a cylindrical erosion tool, the problem usually occurs that different gap distances are set in the spark generator in the radial and axial tool directions. Therefore, the TCP of the erosion tool cannot be moved along a circular path.

In order to erode rounded corners, the point where the tool contacts the workpiece must be included when calculating the TCP path. The resulting path usually approximates an ellipse.

A reduced B-spline type is used to approximate the ellipse. This spline type is defined using the command #SPLINE TYPE REDBSPLINE.

This type allows a maximum of four programmed points in the NC program between #SPLINE ON and OFF, but this is sufficient to approximate the ellipse if the points are selected appropriately.

Programming Example

Using the reduced B-spline