Rotary Programming

…with Universal Rotary

Mike Cope
Product Technical Specialist
[email protected]
 What is Universal Rotary?

The Universal Rotary program type is designed to operate

on any 4- or 5-axis Hurco machine - regardless of the axis
configuration.

The control will make the necessary movements based on

the axes that it has available.

This means that Universal Rotary programs can be shared

between many machines in the shop, and allows the
operator to use whichever machine is available at the
time…not just the machine that the program was run on
previously.
Programming with Universal Rotary

Make sure the

program type is set to
Universal Rotary in
Program Properties
• INPUT
• PROGRAM MANAGER
• PROGRAM PROPERTIES

Also, make Universal

Rotary the default
programming type in
User Preferences
• AUXILLIARY
• UTILITY SCREEN
• USER PREFERENCES
• CONVERSATIONAL SETTINGS
• SET DEFAULT TO UNIVERSAL
Rotary Orientation Settings

This tutorial
explains each of the
settings for the
USER DEFINED
rotary orientation

You can also select

a specific machine
configuration from
the menu.
NOTE: some AXIS
dimensions (+/-)
values may be
reversed if this
method is used.
Rotary Parameters are used to orient the cylinder
Rotary Parameters are used to orient the cylinder
Use a value of
1.000 for all
settings in the six
outlined fields
(inside RED box).

Think of these
settings as turning
on a control BIT:
1 = ON
0 = OFF

Only one of each

set of three fields
should have a value
of 1.000…the other
two of each group
should remain
0.000.
Axis of Rotation Settings
The AXIS OF
ROTATION settings
are used to dictate
the orientation of
the cylinder for
rotary programming
on a particular
machine (A-axis, C-
axis, B-axis)

Place a value of
1.000 in the field
for the axis that the
rotary axis rotates
around.

Rotary C-axis is
shown in the
example.
Axis of Rotation Settings
Since UNIVERSAL
ROTARY programs
are designed to run
on ANY machine
configuration, this
setting must be
changed if the
machine
configuration
changes.

For example: the

previous slide
showed a C-axis
machine
configuration. This
slide shows an A-
axis machine
configuration.
Zero Angle Settings
The ZERO ANGLE
settings are used to
determine where 0°
is located on the
cylinder.

In this C-axis
machine example,
the 0° location is at
the 12 o’clock
position…because
from the center of
the cylinder, the 0°
is located in the
positive Y-axis
direction on the
cylinder.

See following slides

for diagram
 Zero Angle Settings
C-Axis

VECTOR X = 1.000
0°
VECTOR X = -1.000

VECTOR Y = 1.000
VECTOR Y = 1.000
VECTOR Y = -1.000

VECTOR X = 1.000
0° VECTOR X = -1.000 0°

VECTOR Y = -1.000
0°
 Zero Angle Settings
A-Axis

VECTOR Y = -1.000
0°
VECTOR Y = 1.000

VECTOR Z = 1.000
VECTOR Z = 1.000
VECTOR Z = -1.000

VECTOR Y = -1.000
0° VECTOR Y = 1.000 0°

VECTOR Z = -1.000
0°
 Zero Angle Settings
B-Axis

VECTOR X = -1.000
0°
VECTOR X = 1.000

VECTOR Z = 1.000
VECTOR Z = 1.000
VECTOR Z = -1.000

VECTOR X = -1.000
0° VECTOR X = 1.000 0°

VECTOR Z = -1.000
0°
Cylinder Origin Point Settings
The ORIGIN POINT
is used to define
the center of the
cylinder, if the
center is not the
part zero location.
Enter absolute
values into the field
to define the exact
XYZ center point of
the cylinder that
the rotary features
are to be machined
on.
The cylinder does
NOT need to be
located on the
centerline of the
axis.
Cylinder Radius Data Settings
The CYLINDER
RADIUS DATA
settings are used to
determine the Z-
axis start point for
each block. If the
default setting is
used, the RADIUS
START location in
each block will be
used.
If USER DEFINED is
used, then the
operator will be
allowed to enter a
value in the RADIUS
field…and that will
be used for each
feature machined.
Tool Vector Angle Settings
The TOOL VECTOR
ANGLE field is used
to position the tool
to the correct
orientation for
machining.
For most needs, the
tool should be
perpendicular (or
oriented 90° to the
cylinder).
When programming
ROTARY MILLING
functions, this
positioning will
happen
automatically - NO
ROTARY POSITION
block is necessary.
Off Centerline Distance Settings

The OFF CL
DISTANCE field can
be used to pull the
tool off of the
centerline of the
cylinder when
machining.

A positive or
negative value can
be used, depending
on needs.
 Machine Configuration Settings
• Typical C-Axis Machine
Configuration
• 0° is at 3 O’clock
Position
 Machine Configuration Settings
• Typical A-Axis Machine
Configuration
• 0° is at 12 O’clock – top
of cylinder
Typical C-Axis Machine
Configuration
Typical Rotary A-Axis
Machine Configuration

Just by changing the

cylinder orientation in
Rotary Parameters - the
same program will run
Tool Vector Angle Settings
AXIS fields are
distances along the
cylinder length
where features are
located.
ANGLE fields are
degrees around the
circumference of
the part – where
does a feature start,
and how far and
what direction does
it wrap.
RADIUS START &
BOTTOM are
distances
programmed from
the center of the
cylinder.
 1.000”

2.000”

Rotary C-Axis Machine

Configuration
 2.000”

1.000”
Rotary A-Axis Machine
Configuration