Table of Contents

Building Virtual Machine Tools

Complete the following steps to build and use virtual machine tools:

  1. Use the mechanism builder to create the topological structure.

    1. Specific Branch names in the topology structure need to be set with corresponding motion axis keywords.
      • Linear motion axis keywords corresponding to motion modes are X, Y, Z.
      • Rotary motion axis keywords corresponding to motion modes are A, B, C.
    2. Specific Anchor names in the topology structure need to be set with corresponding keywords.
      • Keyword O is the ground anchor.
      • Keyword base is the base.
      • Keyword t is the tool-end anchor. Used for connecting tools.
      • Keyword w is the worktable-end anchor. Used for connecting fixtures or workpieces.

    Note

    Keywords are case-sensitive.

  2. Set geometric shapes for anchors. This is optional.

  3. Save the topology structure as a machine tool file.

Best Practices

The most convenient approach is to assemble the machine in CAD software, position the moving elements at the machine origin1, then:

  • Export individual main component STL files from the same coordinate system. Then set these STLs into anchors.
  • Measure the coordinates of tool-end anchor, worktable-end anchor, and any point on the rotary motion axis pivot relative to the output coordinate system in CAD software, then input these coordinates into the topology structure.
  • Due to relative motion, the motion axis direction settings from base to worktable-end are generally negative.

Too many STL meshes will reduce software opening speed and collision detection speed.

Example: Small Five-axis Vertical Milling Machine

Example: B1.zip

Target virtual milling machine: B1-with-anchors

Topology structure: B1-topo

Building Horizontal Machine Tools

  1. Create topology structure according to machine tool motion axis coordinates.
  2. Lay down the machine: set rotation in the connection between ground anchor and machine base anchor, axis direction (0,1,1)(must be normalized), angle 180 degrees.

  1. Machine Origin is the position where all machine coordinates (MC, Machine Coordinate) are 0, generally the home position.↩