IEEM 215. Manufacturing Processes I Introduction to the ARIX CNC milling machine The image below is our ARIX Milling machine. The machine is controlled by the controller. The control panel has several sets of keys, as shown below. These are described below. Spindle Table Controller Mode keys DISPLAY Edit keys Operating keys Jog keys Function keys Start Stop Some Important safety notes: 1. DO NOT put your hand or other body parts in the machine workspace when spindle is ON. 2. Always wear safety glasses when operating machine. 3. When loading/unloading parts from fixture, turn spindle OFF.
Explanation of mode and Function keys Manual: To execute home, coordinate selection, setup, go and timer function. Teach in: Perform the pattern drilling, pocket mill, facing, frame mill. Program: To edit, manage and simulate the programs, files transfer. Run: To perform automatic operation. Cam: Defines pocket shapes for auto programming [we will not use this mode]. System: Check and set system parameters. Screen off: To turn the display monitor ON/OFF. Leave this On at all times. Function keys: F1-F8 are for sub-functions under each mode operation Explanation of the standard operation keys Lamp Switch: Turn on/off the lamp. Coolant switch: Turn on/off the coolant pump. CCW Spindle: Turn on the spindle in counter clockwise direction. Stop: Turn off the spindle. CW Spindle: Turn on the spindle in clockwise direction. Jog Enable: Enable jog keys for movement of X, Y, Z axes. Each jog motion is a short step motion of that axis, at the current feed rate; Jog speed will turn to G00 after the RAPID key is pressed.
Cycle Start: Start the cycles / program. Stop: Stop the cycles / program. Rapid Enable: Enable the jog speed change to G00 from feed speed. How to use the machine 1. Manual mode operation Make sure the part is fixed securely in fixture. Make sure the tool is fixed securely in the tool holder, and tool holder is secure on spindle. Know the feed rate and spindle speed you will use before starting the machine. Emergency stop Servomotor OFF, ON Joystick: moves X- and Y in + and - directions Z+: move table up Z-: move table down Adjust feed rate Adjust rapid jog speed Adjust Spindle speed (i) Power ON the machine. (ii) Select Manual mode key, to get the following screen display:
(iii) Turn Servo On and press F1/ Home function key and then press Cycle Start to execute home process. (iv) Press Work table up/down Z+ / Z- buttons to adjust working level below Z axis (v) Adjust the feed speed adjust knob to desired value. (vi) Set the machine coordinates with respect to the part. It is common to use three planar faces of the part to set the XY, YZ and XZ planes. To set the X-coordinate of the machine coordinate frame, move the tool till it just touches the plane you want to call the YZ plane on the stock. Manual table movement can be done by four different ways: (a) Press the Jog Enable key, use the joystick for X-, Y- and Z- movements. (b) You can also move the table directly by pressing the jog keys for X- Y- and Z axes. (c) For very fine stepping, use the encoder Encoder Axis select Speed select (d) Directly input the coordinates and spindle RPM using F3 / MDI (manual data input). If your NC program has its axis origin at a corner of the workpiece, then set the Part work coordinates (work zeros) set up by pressing F4 / SETUP. If the coordinates need to be set to some other values, Select Work Coordinate by pressing F2 / WCS, and then set the coordinate values for X- Y- and Z-.
Running a program Import a program file 1. Select Program mode by pressing Program key. 2. Select F1 / File manage. 3. Select F4 / Import to insert file. 4. Select file path from B:\*.* of floppy drive or from [ N ] network by using page up / down and edit keys and confirm by. 5. Press F1 / OK to input the selected file. Work coordinates setup 1. Place and fix the part in the clamp on the worktable. 2. Change tool to the desired end mill if necessary. 3. Adjust the part to a proper Z level below the tool by using worktable adjust buttons Z+ / Z- on control panel. 4. Select Manual mode. 5. Select F2 / Select WCS and F2 again for G54 coordinate system. 6. Go back by pressing key and select F4 / Setup. 7. Jog the part to approach the tool by using jog keys and joystick. 8. Fine adjust to enable the part just in touch the tool by using the hand held encoder for X axis. 9. Select F2 / Set X. 10. Press to go back, select F2 / Select WCS and using edit keys to highlight X axis. 11. Press F1 / Data input. 12. Input the new calculated tool radius compensated value, then confirmed by. 13. Press to go back and repeat steps 6-12 for Y axis. 14. For safety purpose in test run, adjust Z axis so that the tool is kept in a clearance level above the part then select F4 / Set Z. Simulate and run a program file 1. Select Run mode and turn Servo On. 2. Press F1 / Select work file. 3. Select the file by using page up / down and edit keys, then confirm by. 4. Press F5 for Graphical simulation: the tool path will be plotted on the CRT. 5. If there is no error visible, press Cycle start for a test run, check if the tool path is within the desired working area in the first few steps. 6. Press Cycle stop and red Reset edit key. 7. Go back to Manual mode and press F4 / Setup again. 8. Jog and fine adjust the tool just in touch the part in Z axis and press F4 / Set Z for Z work zero. 9. Raise up the tool and go back to Run mode. 10. Turn on Compressed air (for cutting plastic) and Coolant (for cutting metal) if necessary. 11. Press F5 for simulation and then Cycle start to run the program automatically.