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Glossary of Terms
Ball End Milling Cutter
- A milling cutter that has a rounded cutting diameter at its
end that is equal to the cutting diameter.
DXF file
- Drawing exchange Format file that was created as a standard to freely
exchange 2 and 3 dimensional drawings between different CAD programs. It basically
represents a shape as a wire frame mesh of x, y, z coordinates (vectors).
Encoder
- Typically an optical device that consists of a disk with 100 to1000 holes on
its periphery. The most common is the incremental encoder that has a small LED light
source on one side of the disk with a diode detector on the other to allow the disk
rotation to be monitored in discrete incremental steps. Hence, a full revolution can be
broken up into 100's or even 1000's of position steps.
G-Code
- The standard machine tool language around the world. It generally consists
of specifying the x, y, z (and a, b or c) coordinates that the machine is to move to.
Such movement can be linear, circular or even special drilling operations. It is the
universal language of all modern machine tools (mills, lathes, edm machines etc.).
M-code
- The standard machine tool codes that are normally used to switch on the
spindle, coolant or auxiliary devices. They can also be used for G-code program
control such as repeating the program or ending it.
Servo Motor
- A motor that is typically a brush or brushless DC type with an optical
encoder attached to it. It is used in what is called a Servo Loop system where position-
ing information is constantly tracked by minimizing the error between the commanded
and real position.
Step Motor
- A motor that derives its motion by receiving input signals (pulses) in a
very specific sequence. The most common type is one that rotates 1.8 degrees for
each input pulse. This provides a very simple way of controlling motion very precisely
with the use of common digital logic circuitry.
STL file
- Stereo Lithography file format that has traditionally been associated with
Stereo Lithography prototyping machines, but is now also being used to represent 3D
surfaces for CNC tool path generating programs.
Tool Path
- A series of vector coordinate positions that define a cutting path. This
cutting path can be a simple 2D or sophisticated 3D (even 4D or more) path used to
machine out the shape of a desired part.
Vector
- A line that has both length and direction. It is usually specified by a starting x,
y, z coordinate position and ending x, y, z coordinate position.
DRO
– Digital Read Outs, shows the axis positions in the interface.
Summary of Contents for SMARTSHOP I MANUAL
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