HEIDENHAIN's TNC 320 is a fullfunction control that incorporates the best features of HEIDENHAIN's high-end flagship iTNC 530 control, including the ability to control five axes, at a lower cost. Reasons include the TNC 320's analog drive interface, making it ideal for interfacing to existing drive systems on retrofit applications, and its onepiece construction that minimizes cable runs.
According to the company, the TNC 320 sports a 15 in. TFT color flat-panel display (1024 × 768 pixels) boasting unparalleled programming graphics and on-screen user support. Its main computer has a large number of onboard cycles to simplify most machining operations, from drilling and milling to workpiece probing. HEIDENHAIN conversational programming is standard and G-code programming is possible with the addition of a USB keyboard.
The compact flash memory card, along with its insensitivity to vibration and shock, stores the PLC program and commissioning information, and offers more user memory for NC files. Data interfaces include RS 232 as well as USB and ETHERNET as standard. The TNC 320 is the first HEIDENHAIN control that is based on the new NC Kernel software platform. This provides several benefits including a new powerful interface between PLC and NC, allowing the elimination of redundant operations. Detailed help can be called for each parameter by simply pressing a button. The TNC 320 also has expandable I/O capabilities making it viable for more complex machine applications.