Hermle C30U Siemens 840 post processor

[johansvanholm12]

Hi, 

I´m looking at a used Hermle C30U with the Siemens 840D cnc. Does anyone have a Postprocessor that works for this machine? Or is it safe to use the generic siemens post to start with and modify it in order to have it working with the machine specific functions?

Thank you

/Johan

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

I would likely start with the Siemens 840D generic or perhaps the Hermle C12U.

Either way, you're likely going to need post processor edits. 

[johansvanholm12]

Great. 
thank you

[AdamKunzo]

Hi Johan,

I took a look at post processor list I have for Hermle machines and all of them are for heidenhain 530/640.

Anyway, if'd like to get a help with custom post processor, send me a message. I offer post processor modification as a service and I can sort out this for you.

[johansvanholm12]

Hi,

I’ll keep that in mind. I haven’t bought the machine yet since it seems to be missing key options for 5-axis simultaneous operations.

/Johan

[johansvanholm12]

Hi again, 

So I ended up buying the Hermle, both the machine and control are new to me so I´ve been trying out my PP changes in the air until I feel confident enough to do some actual machining.

I´ve noticed some things maybe you could help me with.

First problem:

I have built a machine model that I use for simulation/collision control. The A and C axis orientation are set "From Coordinate".

After testing a wrapped toolpath the simulation turns the A-axis in + direction. I have set the A-axis preference to negative so the PP post a rotation in - direction. If I set A-axis custom orientation with X-1 I get the machine simulation to show the right rotation, but using this setting and run the code in the machine I get very strange movements. How do I get the machine simulation to show the same movements as the machine?

Second problem: This machine will not accept CYCLE832, instead Hermle has their own Cycle called TOL_5. I have replaced CYCLE832 with TOL_5 in the PP and added some values for testing. This seem to work in adaptive/multi axis strategies but it also post TOL_5() in drilling and tapping operations. This causes the machine to alarm. How do I change the PP so it doesn´t post TOL_5 for drilling and tapping?

I also have a problem with safe retract, I have set in the machine builder the Z-home position to 300, this way the PP posts a G0 SUPA Z300 D0, but when I rotate the working plane it doesn´t retract the Z-axis to the same position. This I have just tested briefly so I need to test some more before I know what to actually ask for 🙂

I´ll attach machine model, post processor and test sample

Thank you

/Johan

[johansvanholm12]

Edit, I think I have found the simulation problem, the A-axis turns in the wrong direction, A-90 is when I have the table facing towards me and not the back of the machine, how do you invert an axis in the machine builder?

Thank you

[a.laasW8M6T]

Hi, you can change the orientation to Custom and put -1 to invert the axis

[johansvanholm12]

Hi, 

Yes, by doing this the PP outputs a different code. 

With "from coordinate"

N24 G0 A-90 C=DC(-50.374412)
N25 M25
N26 CYCLE800(1,"",0,27,0,0,0,-50.374412,0,-90,0,0,0,-1)
N27 G0 X0 Y18.318
N28 CYCLE800()
N29 TRAORI
N30 M8
N31 G0 X42.36257 Y35.07724 Z-18.318 A-90 C=DC(-50.374412)

With custom setting X-1

N24 G0 A-90 C=DC(129.625588)
N25 M25
N26 CYCLE800(1,"",0,27,0,0,0,129.625588,0,90,0,0,0,-1)
N27 G0 X0 Y-18.318
N28 CYCLE800()
N29 TRAORI
N30 M8
N31 G0 X42.36257 Y35.07724 Z-18.318 A-90 C=DC(129.625588)

This causes very strange movements in the machine. 

Thanks

/Johan

[a.laasW8M6T]

For the Smoothing you can add a check to see if the cycle type is drilling and disable smoothing:

function setSmoothing(mode) {
  smoothingSettings = settings.smoothing;
  if (mode == smoothing.isActive && (!mode || !smoothing.isDifferent) && !smoothing.force) {
    return; // return if smoothing is already active or is not different
  }

  if (mode && hasParameter("operation-strategy") && (getParameter("operation-strategy") != "drill")) { // enable smoothing
    if (false) { // set to false when you want to use the alternative version for TOL_5 output 'TOL_5(0.01)'
      writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");
    } else {
      writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");
    }
  } else { // disable smoothing
    writeBlock("TOL_5()");
  }

See change to line 7 above

I don't really know anything about Siemens controls so I can't be much help there but I do notice that there is no Swivel data record present in your Cycle 800

You probably need to enter it here

I'm also not sure what the correct cycle800 mode should be for your machine 

[johansvanholm12]

Thank you for quick reply. I think I found the problem on the machine simulation. My 3d machine origin was 180deg rotated, I made a new machine model with the origin correct and now it looks ok. I need to make some tests by the machine to verify, but it looks promising. 

Regarding the smoothing.

I made the following change in the PP:

function setSmoothing(mode) {
smoothingSettings = settings.smoothing;
if (mode == smoothing.isActive && (!mode || !smoothing.isDifferent) && !smoothing.force) {
return; // return if smoothing is already active or is not different
}

if (mode && hasParameter("operation-strategy") && (getParameter("operation-strategy") != "drill")) { // enable smoothing
if (false) { // set to false when you want to use the alternative version for TOL_5 output 'TOL_5(0.01)'
writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");
} else {
writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");

But it still outputs:

MSG ("Drill1")
N15 T1069
N16 M6
N17 D1
N18 T2080
N19 TOL_5()
N20 S4613 M3

Is there any other way to have it completely remove the TOL_5 for drilling/tapping?

I´m not a Post processor expert so maybe I did something wrong?

Thank you

[a.laasW8M6T]

No, I had mistakenly thought it would accept the TOL_5() as disabled.

You can rearrange the Logic like so to disable the output completely when using drilling cycles

function setSmoothing(mode) {
  smoothingSettings = settings.smoothing;
  if (mode == smoothing.isActive && (!mode || !smoothing.isDifferent) && !smoothing.force) {
    return; // return if smoothing is already active or is not different
  }

  if (mode) { // enable smoothing
    if (false) { // set to false when you want to use the alternative version for TOL_5 output 'TOL_5(0.01)'
      writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");
    } else {
      writeBlock("TOL_5(" + xyzFormat.format(smoothing.level) + ")");
    }
  } else { 
    if (hasParameter("operation-strategy") && (getParameter("operation-strategy") != "drill")){// disable smoothing
    writeBlock("TOL_5()");
        }
  }
  smoothing.isActive = mode;
  smoothing.force = false;
  smoothing.isDifferent = false;
}

[johansvanholm12]

Hi, 

This worked fine. Now I can continue testing the PP.

Thank you very much for the help.

/Johan