CHICAGO, IMTS, Sept. 8, 2004 – CGTech is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. for the purpose of tightly integrating VERICUT® software with Siemens’ machine controls.
Siemens Automation and Drives Division, and CGTech, the developers of VERICUT CNC Machine Simulation software, are working together to integrate the core motion logic of the Siemens SINUMERIK 840D control (the “NC Kernel” or NCK) and VERICUT.
VERICUT is a stand-alone software program that verifies the accuracy of NC programs before running them on the machine tool. It simulates the NC machining process to detect errors and correct areas of inefficiency, enabling NC manufacturers to run perfect and efficient first-time parts without resorting to the time-consuming and expensive manual prove-out process.
The Siemens SINUMERIK 840D is a sophisticated CNC system offering a wide range of specialized functions for milling, drilling, turning, grinding and handling technologies. The control offers users innovative features which provide for increased productivity on the manufacturing floor – especially the challenging segments of high velocity and 5-axis machining. The Siemens Virtual Numerical Control Kernel, or VNCK, is software that is used for part simulation and verification. It contains the “numerical control” of the computer numerical control and is run directly on a PC. It is fully configurable like the one already integrated into the hardware of the Siemens SINUMERIK CNC. Implemented as a stand-alone Windows program, the 840D control’s NC kernel motion logic is built inside the VNCK. The VNCK communicates with VERICUT, and drives the VERICUT simulation by moving VERICUT’s virtual machine axes using the same motion algorithms used by the actual control’s electronics.
“We are excited about our collaboration with CGTech,” says Rajas Sukthankar, manager, marketing and business development. “Siemens and CGTech are technology leaders in their respective fields…. Together, we have developed a product based on the SINUMERIK 840D NC Kernel that simulates the actual machining conditions needed to cut test parts on an industrial PC.”
According to Bill Hasenjaeger, CGTech’s Product Manager, “The VNCK/VERICUT integration is another facet of the long-standing close relationship between Siemens, CGTech, and our mutual customers. CGTech has been emulating the Siemens 840D control since 1996, developing critical technologies that allow us to accurately and correctly simulate CNC machines that use the 840D control. The connection to the VNCK provides a new method to drive VERICUT’s CNC machine simulation, ensuring correct motion simulation for 100% of the 840D control’s advanced features, unique motion control techniques and high-level programming options.”
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. provides electrical, engineering and automation solutions, along with a broad range of electrical and electronic products, software, and services to clients worldwide. Its technologies range from computer numerical controllers to process control, industrial software and integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems. A team of more than 9,400 engineers, designers, field service technicians and diverse professionals draw on the global support and expertise of more than 400,000 professionals at Siemens-affiliated companies worldwide.
In business since 1988, CGTech has earned the recognition as the leader in NC simulation and verification technology. Today, headquartered in Irvine, Ca. with offices worldwide, CGTech’s software is used by companies of all sizes, universities, trade schools, and government agencies. For more information on CGTech and VERICUT, visit cgtech.com.
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For more information, contact: Bryan Jacobs (949) 753-1050 info@cgtech.com
CGTech, OptiPath, and VERICUT are registered trademarks of CGTech.
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With VERICUT, engineers at Stellex Monitor modeled the Sidewinder and Spar Mill machines.
Tell Tool of Westfield, Mass., has integrated VERICUT CNC simulation software into its numerical control program prove-out process.
VERICUT enabled us to start ordinary production after a minimum of time. Since this product is new for Volvo Aero Norge and our company had never before had parts with similar machining complexity, it is difficult to estimate the amount of cost saving.
Before implementing VERICUT, the company experienced the usual time-consuming and expensive manufacturing problems related to NC program prove-outs such as scrap loss, broken tooling, and a danger of occasional machine crash.
Over the last two years, AH has used Machine Simulation to speed the implementation of several new 5-axis machine tools.
VERICUT showed the NC programmers leftover or heavy stock." And the software detected a couple of places where the depth of cut was too large and tools were shanking out," said Collings. They then went back and corrected the errors in the tool path before
Dassault, Seclin initially purchased VERICUT in order to reduce the number of manual prove-outs using polystyrene material, which represented a significant expense in terms of time and money.
VERICUT enabled the designers and programmers see exactly what they were building as and in-process model in different stages of the machining cycle.
We utilized VERICUT to verify the CNC programs for cutting the tooling before they were sent to the machine control,
To protect their investment, they have been using VERICUT since 1996. They have two people to verify the accuracy of their G-code files.
"When we first started using OptiPath we concentrated on the feed rate option; now we use the constant chip thickness capability. With jobs up to 200 hours long, 50% saving is significant like having another machine tool."
The entire process took less than two hours and no manpower was required, whereas, creating the same pattern manually (the old way), would have taken one of our designers several days.
The verification process stays ahead of the actual machine position in the NC code being verified. Opera-tors can see errors before they occur.
The bottom line? Using VERICUT has made Supreme's existing machine tools more productive. Enthusiasm is up, delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.
Using VERICUT to compare the electrode burn with the mold cavity ensures that we have all the correct clearances in the electrodes and that we have 100% clean-up." says Allen.
If I was using VERICUT at the time I would've caught the problem, and had a chance to fix it before it damaged the part.
Now I rarely see the potential crashes because the students find and correct them before I review the work. Catching those costly problems is a non-event now!
VERICUT can change speeds and feeds according to cutting conditions including difference in material and tooling. It is done automatically; the programmer does not have to make even one manual insert into the code."
Flying shrapnel from shattered cutting tools and components is avoided by using VERICUT to test student programs before they are run on NC machines.
The NC programmers at Ingersoll also rely on the simulation software to prevent mistakes when programming complex, five-axis parts.
After creating the NC programs in Mastercam, they began simulating the machining process in VERICUT by simulating the G-code data. There often can be a difference between the motion as programmed and the code after it's run through the post processor
After selecting VERICUT for third-party verification, each NC programmer attended two days of basic training where they experienced first-hand the type of results they could expect to achieve.
The program simulates milling, drilling, turning, wire EDM, and mill/turn machining operations using both G-codes and CAM output.
VERICUT provides simulation capabilities for the all the 3-5 axis and wire EDM parts, with focused control over the orientation of our 5-axis machine tool including the cutters used on that machine.
The inspection probe is created as a tool in VERICUT so the complete in- cycle gauging sequence is checked for collisions.
The bottom was machined first. This effort took about 24 hours from start to finish. By using VERICUT software from CGTech, Elliot was able to test the NC program for any problems before it was ever cut on the machine.
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With data exported from NX, Vericut simulates the cutting process on the shop floor utilizing the machine G-code to detect any issues prior to NC Program release.
