Positioning axis

Refers to a motorized axis on CNC-machining centres, which is not an interpolating axis.

Controlled by a program, a positioning axis can take each position within its working range. However, it is not possible to synchronize its movements with other axes. So, usually, the positioning of the positioning axis is done in a separate program step apart from the processing.

Since the linear axes X, Y and Z usually have to be synchronized even for simple processes, positioning axes are often used as a low-cost solution on the additional rotational axes, where it is often only about positioning an angular aggregate in the right angle for following processes.

Alternative term

  • German: "Positionierachse"

Images

C-Achse: Stellachse/ interpolierend
HOMAG, 2009