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 "right-
hand rule" is illustrated for remembering the three axis directions: the
+Z
+ Y
+ X
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 iTNC 530 can control up to 9 axes. 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
+Z
shows the assignment of secondary axes and rotary axes to the main
+X
axes.
+Y
Z
Y
W+
C+
B+
V+
X
A+
U+
HEIDENHAIN iTNC 530
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