The 6 axis post processor- 1

This option can be selected from the post processing menu. Operation of the 6 axis post processor is similar to the standard 4 axis system. The roll and yaw axes are used to keep the tows aligned on the payout eye and to remove twist of the tows between eye and mandrel. This allows wider fibre bands to be used without the band narrowing due to fibre twist when winding across dome ends. Some twist is normally experienced with 4-axis winding. The vertical axis is used to provided greater clearance between the winding head and the mandrel as the head shape on 6 axis machines means that positioning the feed eye close to a dome end is not possible due to head clash with the mandrel shafts. If the vertocal axis is not used a very long payout eye extension is required. The position of the payout head will either be above or below the horizontal plane through the mandrel axis dependant upon the direction of rotation of the mandrel. The direction of rotation is dependant on if the

For 6 axis winding, using the correct value of payout eye extension is essential as when the yaw axis is moved there must be compensation in the carriage and cross-feed axes due to the rotation not being centred on the end of the delivery eye.

Using the six axis post processor and when viewing along the winding axis, the fibre from mandrel to payout point on the head has no component of direction in the 'Y' axis and the fibre makes a 90 degree angle to the payout roller viewed along the axis of the roller. This post processor asks for The 6 axis transformation angle the default value is 90^o. The user can specify the contact angle of the fibre around the payout roller. Values less than 45 degrees are not recommended. The best value is 90 but in some instances where there are problems due to limited vertical travel. Other values beween 45 and 90 can be used to reduce vertical travel.