Product category:
Control systems, DROs, etc, for machine tools
News Release from: Heidenhain (GB) | Subject: ND 780 digital readout system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 January 2006
Price not raised for higher technology
DRO
Suitable for milling and turning machines, a 2- and 3-axis, screen-driven DRO, with graphics, supercedes an existing 2-axis model without any price increase.
With the launch of Heidenhain's latest digital readout system, the ND 780, the company is re-affirming its belief that DROs are 'here to stay' Suitable for milling and turning machines, the ND 780 sets new standards in this sector of the Digital Readout market
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Equipped as standard with an LCD screen and available with two or three axis capability (three axis operation requires the addition of a third linear scale to the machine) the unit enters the market at a much higher level of technology without any price penalty over the two axis model that it supersedes.
Milling and turning operations are simplified thanks in part to the screen-driven operation and graphical and text help screens.
Presented on an LCD screen, which is a first for DROs in this range, the conversational programming, positioning readout, dialogue and input displays are easy to read and understand.
Further reading
Heidenhain CNC for Xaar's customised machinery
For a machine that Loadpoint developed for Xaar, designers made use of the Heidenhain TNC 426 control due to its precise positioning capability while enabling the machine to operate at very high speed
Encoders facilitate high speed placement
A new range of linear encoders has been developed by Heidenhain for linear motor and high axis speed applications.
Other features include Distance to Go, which allows rapid positioning; Sum Display, which allows the user to display the saddle and top slides together or separately; position of linear and circular hole patterns; and probing functions.
"DROs are here to stay," confirms Heidenhain's sales office manager, Stuart Jenkins.
"With over 200 000 manual machines produced on an annual basis the potential market for DROs remains very high.
Many of the manual machines being used today may not be the main money earners but in most companies they still perform a valuable roll and in many instances are 'Production Critical Machines'.
The application of a modern DRO such as the ND 780 significantly improves the flexibility and usability of the machine.
So, while the UK market for DROs remains stable and level the investment in developing products such as the ND 780 is fully justified.
And, with payback times measured in weeks UK manufacturing companies can continue to benefit from retrofitting the latest control units to their existing machines." Key features of the ND 780 are: * LCD flat screen display as standard.
* Two and three axis capability as standard.
* Up to 10 datum points can be stored.
* Up to 16 tools can be stored.
* Distance to Go display with nominal position input in absolute or incremental values.
* On-screen graphical or text help.
* Cutting data calculator.
* Hole pattern calculator.
* Tool radius compensation.
* Probing function for datum point acquisition/setting with KT Edge Finder.
* RS 232 interface.
* Two inputs (pulse or contact) to measured value output. Request a free brochure from Heidenhain (GB) ...
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