Vero Software and SPRING Technologies
are celebrating the first anniversary of their partnership in May, which has
led to manufacturers fully simulating how NC programs will perform, before they
start cutting metal on their CNC machines.
With just one mouse click,
relevant NC code data is transferred from inside the market-leading CAM system Edgecam,
to SPRING Technologies’ NCSIMUL machine simulation software, preventing
expensive collisions, optimising the cutting process and reducing cycle time,
whatever the complexity of machines or machining processes.
Engineers simply transfer
information about the generation of NC programs through the Edgecam/NCSIMUL
interface to run a full simulation. As well as safeguarding both the machine
tool and cutting tool, simulations reduce the testing time on machines which
yields higher productivity rates.
Edgecam General Manager Raf
Lobato says: “It allows engineers to simulate and verify NC code produced by
Edgecam, before it is actually sent to the machine tool, giving complete peace
of mind. It simulates the true life tool path before it goes to the NC machine
and verifies it, inspecting the program, verifies the complex movements and
optimises the machining operation settings.”
SPRING Technologies CEO Gilles Battier says: “The
time required to test a program on the NC machine tool is the difference
between the machining time needed for a real part, and the time the test takes.
This difference varies according to the test methods that are used: before machining, on a resin, wood or foam model,
then a real part using the "block by block" method; machining the
real part, but using the "block by block” method; or machining the real
part at reduced speeds.
“However, if a problem occurs immediate action will
have to be taken to modify the program, causing the machine and the operator to
stand idle while this is done. The Edgecam/NCSIMUL interface does away with
this time consuming process, reducing costs and ensuring profitability around the manufacturing operation.”
But
collisions are what all NC programmers and operators fear the most, as Raf
Lobato explains: “The ability to avoid it can, by itself, justify adopting
machining simulation. The breakage of equipment or machinery can be expensive
to repair and leads to lengthy machine downtime, but it can also be a source of
risk for personnel. Therefore everything should be done to eliminate it.
“Though
technological progress has reduced levels of breakage of tools, clamps and
other fixtures, it still happens enough for manufacturers to build it into a
cost analysis. But using Edgecam with its NCSIMUL interface prevents these
costly collisions.”
Gilles Battier concludes: “When we entered into this
partnership a year ago the aim was to give production engineers and
manufacturers a way to optimise their machines with CNC programming to improve
productivity. During the last 12 months we have seen many companies use the
Edgecam/NCSIMUL interface to prevent the risk of collisions and tool breakages,
and reduce testing times to yield higher productivity rates of up to 40%.
“Users range from small production engineering
subcontractors, through to large global corporations manufacturing their own
products.”
ENDS
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About Vero: Vero Software develops and distributes software for aiding
the design and manufacturing process in industry sectors such as automotive,
aerospace, electronic, medical, white goods, stone and woodworking. The company
has direct offices in the UK, Italy, France, Japan, USA, Canada, Netherlands
and China, supplying products to more than 40 countries through its wholly
owned subsidiaries and reseller network. It has more than 120,000 licenses installed. www.vero-software.com
About SPRING Technologies: With more
than 25 years’ industrial experience in the field of manufacturing, SPRING
Technologies has gained worldwide recognition as a software vendor for the
production environment with its global offer NCSIMUL SOLUTIONS and as a PLM
integration services provider regarding the leading solutions on the PLM
market.
SPRING Technologies,
founded in 1983, has a workforce of 100+, and offices in Paris, Geneva,
Toulouse, Frankfurt, Munich, Beijing and Boston. www.springplm.com
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