Siemens PLM Software

Precisely control tool tilt to avoid

collisions
NX CAM 9: How to use the enhanced Tool Tilt controls on fixed and
variable axis operations

Answers for industry.

About NX CAM
NXTM CAM software has helped many of the worlds learning manufacturers and job shops produce
better parts faster. You can also achieve similar benefits by making use of the unique advantages NX
CAM offers.
This is one of many hands-on demonstrations designed to introduce you to the powerful capabilities in
NX CAM 9. In order to run this demonstration, you will need access to NX CAM 9.
Visit the NX Manufacturing Forum to learn more, ask questions, and share comments about NX CAM.

Hands-on Demonstration: Precisely control tool tilt to avoid collisions

Tilt Tool Axis can make it easier to take advantage of 5 axis machining. With the latest enhancements,
Tilt Tool Axis can now be applied to cavity milling and variable axis operations. Tools without holders are
now supported. Points and curves can be used to control the tool orientation and machine tool axis tilt
limits can be specified. These are the highlights:

More operations are supported

Restrictions on tool types and holders are reduced. There is some functionality for non-ball tools.
Run multiple times without regenerating the operation tool path
Use spherical angles, points, or curves to define the tool orientation
Retract can be specified for collision avoidance
Specify machine tool axis tilt limits

Do you have a question?

Post your questions or comments at the bottom of this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

Prerequisites:
1. You will need access to NX CAM 9 in order to run this demonstration.
2. If you havent done so already, download and unzip Tilt Tool Axis Enhancements parts.7z.
You will find the .7z file attached directly to this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

Demo:
1. Open Tilt Tool Axis 1.prt
2. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Generate.
3. Orient the part to a Front view.
4. Click Verify Tool Path.
5. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.

This operation uses a Relative to Vector tool axis with a Tilt Angle of -25 degrees. Notice that it collides
in the confined space between the walls. This is the problem you will correct using Tilt Tool Axis.
6. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.
Keep Original
7. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
8. Keep Original should appear in the Manual Tilting list.

Keep Original allows the system to control the tool tilt relative to specified machine tool constraints.
You will specify acceptable clearances and tilt ranges and limits. This option basically gives you the
same amount of tool axis control that you had in NX8.5.

9. Select Tilt from the Avoidance Method list.

This will cause the tool to avoid collisions by tilting as opposed to retracting.
10. Type 2.0000 in the Tilt Clearance Angle box.

The Tilt Clearance Angle value controls the allowable deviation between the part and the tool flute. If
the tool has a taper angle, NX adds this value to the taper angle.
The Tilt Clearance Angle value gives controllers with internal smoothing routines the ability to smooth
the tool path. Increasing this value gives the controller more freedom to smooth the tool path, and
decreases the amount of tilt available for NX for avoid collisions.
Note: The time required for NX to find a collision-free tilting solution increases as the Tilt Clearance
Angle value increases, and a large value can make it impossible for NX to find a collision free solution
for the tool path. The Tilt Clearance Angle value should be as small as possible, but large enough to
give the controller some freedom for the smoothing routine. Where necessary, NX will retract the tool to
avoid violating this value.
11. Type 0.0000 in the Min Angle box and 35.0000 in the Max Angle box.

This is the allowable tilt range (machine tool axis tilt limit) measured from the ZM axis.

If necessary, the tool will retract to avoid violating this range. Previously, Max Angle limited the search
range by referencing the initial tool axis. Now, Max Angle is measured against the tool axis at the
current location.
12. Click OK. Processing will take a few seconds.
13. Click Verify Tool Path.
14. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.

The tool path is now collision free.

15. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

User Defined
User Defined gives you manual control of the tool tilt. Points and curves can be used to control the tool
orientation and machine tool axis tilt limits can be specified.
First, you will display the curves you will need to control the tilt.
1. Select MenuEditShow and HideShow.
2. Click Select All.
3. Click OK.
4. Select MenuEditObject Display.
5. Select the part in the graphics window and click OK.
6. Move the Translucency slider to 50.
7. Click OK.
8. Rotate the view so you can clearly see the shape of the four red curves.

Note: If the part does not appear translucent as illustrated above, select Menu
PreferencesVisualization, click the Visual tab, and click Translucency to turn it on.
9. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
10. Click Continue.
11. Select User Defined from the Manual Tilting list.

Tool Tilt Method

The Tool Tilt Method options work in the same way as those used to define the tool axis for variable
axis operations. In this example, you will select a curve to control the tool tilt.
The Toward Curve and Away from Curve options let you use a curve to control the tool tilt direction.
For these options, NX looks downward along the +ZM axis to see the curve. Usually, the Toward Curve
option is used when the tilt geometry is above the tool path, and the Away from Curve option is used
when the tilt geometry is below the tool path.

Toward Curve

Away from Curve

12. Select Away From Curve from the Tool Tilt Method list.

13. Click Specify Curve.

14. Select the second curve from the top of the part as illustrated below.

Note: If any other curve is currently selected (i.e. the top curve), hold down the Shift key and click on
the curve to deselect it. Specify Curve should indicate that only one curve is selected.

Shortest Distance
NX calculates the rotation around +ZM by measuring the shortest distance along a projection vector
perpendicular to +ZM from a reference point on the defined curve to the tool path. The Shortest
Distance setting controls how NX measures the distance.

Shortest Distance = 2D
Shortest Distance = 3D
1 Reference point, 2 Defined curve, 3 Tool path, 4 Shortest distance

For this example, setting Shortest Distance to 2D is most appropriate.

15. Select 2D from the Shortest Distance list.

Tilt Rule
Tilt Rule determines how the Tilt Angle is referenced from the selected curve. The Toward Snap option
controls the tool tilt by hinging on the curve when the centerline intersects the curve, tilting the tool in
the opposite direction. The Toward Snap option is more appropriate when the Tool Tilt Method is set to
Toward Curve and will be discussed in detail later. In this case, the Tool Tilt Method is set to Away from
Curve and the tool does not touch the curve, so it is best for the Tilt Rule to measure the Tilt Angle in
a direction Away from the selected curve.

16. Select Away from the Tilt Rule list.

The Avoidance Method determines how the system responds to collisions. To avoid violating the
specified Clearance values, the system will either tilt or retract the tool.
17. Select Tilt from the Avoidance Method list.

18. In the Rotary Axis section of the dialog box, be sure +ZM is specified as the Main MCS Axis. This
is the axis around which the part will rotate on the machine tool.

19. Type 0.0000 in the Min Angle box and 90.0000 in the Max Angle box. This is the allowable tilt
range measured from the ZM axis.

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20. Type 2.0000 in the Degrees Per Step box. A small value specified here will prevent sudden severe
changes in the tool tilt over very short distances.

21. Click OK. Processing will take a few seconds.

22. Click Verify Tool Path.
23. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.
A collision-free tool path is produced. The tool tilt reaches 90 degrees when the tool is at the shortest
distance from the curve.

24. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

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Tilt Angle
Next, you will observe how the specified Tilt Rule measures the Tilt Angle away from the selected
curve.
25. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
26. Click Continue.
Remember, earlier you specified Away as the Tilt Rule.

You will type in a Tilt Angle value that will use this Tilt Rule to tilt away from the control curve.
27. Type 25.0000 in the Tilt Angle box.

The Tilt Angle is measured away from the control curve 25 degrees from a zero tool tilt while never
exceeding the Max Angle (in this case, Max Angle = 90).

28. Click OK.

29. When the tool path processing is finished, click Verify Tool Path.
30. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.
31. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

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Now you will change the Avoidance Method to Retract and observe the change in behavior.
32. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
33. Click Continue.
34. Select Retract from the Avoidance Method list.

35. Click OK.

The tool retracts to avoid collisions. As you see, this is not an appropriate avoidance method for this
tool path.

Tilting the tool axis multiple times may cause a performance slowdown. Regenerating the tool path can
correct this.
36. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Generate.
37. Click Overwrite Path.
Next, you will reduce the Max Angle and observe how the tilt of the tool is further constrained.
38. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
39. Set the Avoidance Method back to Tilt.

40. Type 0.0000 in the Tilt Angle box.

41. Type 65.0000 in the Max Angle box.

42. Click OK.

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43. When the tool path processing is finished, click Verify Tool Path.
Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.

44. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

Now you will change the control curve and observe the behavior.
45. Right-click VARIABLE_CONTOUR_OPERATION and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.
46. Click Continue.
47. Click Specify Curve.
48. Hold down the Shift key and click on the currently selected curve to deselect it.

49. Select the bottom curve as illustrated below.

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50. Type 90.0000 in the Max Angle box.

51. Click OK.
52. When the tool path processing is finished, click Verify Tool Path.
53. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.

In this case, the tool never tilts to the 90 degree maximum because it never reaches the ZM level of the
control curve.
54. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.
Now you can explore how Tilt Tool Axis is used in the other operations in this part.
55. When you are finished, close the part without saving.

Check Tool above Ball

Turning off the collision checking option in the operation allows you to generate a tool path that
positions the tool without considering tool neck/shank/holder collisions. This enables undercutting in
areas that the tool could otherwise not access. Once the tool path id generated, you can then use Tilt
Tool Axis to create a collision-free tool path that covers this area while considering the limits and
swing/tilt characteristics of the machine tool.
1. Open Tilt Tool Axis 2.prt.
2. Double-click COLLISION_CHECK to edit the operation.
3. Click Display next to Specify Cut Area.
The cut area extends to each fillet.

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4. Click Verify.
5. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.
This tool path does not cut the entire area because it considers tool collision.

6. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

7. Click Cutting Parameters.
8. Click the Containment tab.
9. Click Check Tool above Ball to turn it off.

10. Click OK.

11. Click Generate.
The tool path machines the entire cut area without considering tool neck/shank/holder collisions.

12. Click OK to complete the operation.

Now you can tilt the tool to avoid collisions while keeping this tool path.
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13. Right-click COLLISION_CHECK and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.

14. Click OK in the Tilt Tool Axis dialog box.
15. Click Verify Tool Path.
16. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.
The tool axis tilts to avoid collision with the holder while machining the entire cut area.

17. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

Toward Snap Tilt Rule

The Toward Snap option measures the tilt angle from +ZM towards the control curve. When the tool
traveling at the specified tilt angle approaches the curve, the tool tilt hinges on the curve when the
centerline of the tool and the curve intersect and continues to pivot until the tilt angle (tilting in the
opposite direction) is again reached. The Tilt Angle value for this rule should be larger than zero, or NX
will not tilt the tool. Toward Snap is most appropriate to use when the Tool Tilt Method is set to Toward
Curve.
18. Orient the part to a Right view.

19. Right-click VASC_SURF_SNAP_HIGH and choose Tool PathTilt Tool Axis.

20. Click Continue.

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Toward Curve (1) tilts the tool toward the selected curve (2) at an angle (3) measured from the +ZM
axis (4).

When the tool (traveling at the specified Tilt Angle) reaches the curve, the tool snaps or hinges on the
curve until the Tilt Angle is once again reached, tilting in the opposite direction.

The tool then continues traveling at the specified Tilt Angle until it once again reaches the curve and
begins pivoting.
21. Click Cancel in the Tilt Tool Axis dialog box.
22. Click Verify Tool Path.

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23. Slow down the Animation Speed and click Play.

24. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization.

25. Now you can explore how Tilt Tool Axis is used in the other operations in this part.
26. When you are finished, close the part without saving.

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Notes:
Tool Axis Tilt now supports tools without holders and non-ball tools.
In NX8.5, you would have received the following error when using a tool without a holder. In NX9,
you will no longer see this message.

In NX8.5, you would have received the following error when using a non-ball tool. In NX9, you will
no longer see this message.

When using a non-ball tool, gouges, collisions, and motions outside of the swinging axis limits of the
machine tool are avoided by trimming the tool path and retracting. This is the dialog box you get
when using a non-ball tool:

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This is how Tilt Clearance Angle is measured for various tool types:

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