Home / IMTS 2014: Controls & CAD/CAM

IMTS 2014: Controls & CAD/CAM

Here is the world of custom automation and the latest software that is needed to extract the maximum efficiency from your machine tool and optimize your plant operations with cost efficiency.

Posted: August 4, 2014

Booth E-3345: Verisurf AUTOMATE is graphical object oriented sequencing and CMM probe path generation software that quickly and easily creates automated inspection plans, executes them and generates reports. AUTOMATE has intelligent sequence tree objects that support drag and drop re-ordered and are easily edited with logical right click options. Probe points and paths can be created and edited dynamically on CAD features or surfaces including specialized routines for helical and radial features.

Booth E-3346: As a result of the CGTech-Kennametal partnership, VERICUT users can directly download a Kennametal tool assembly and use it within VERICUT software with significantly fewer steps compared to manually configuring a tool for use in a simulation session.

Booth E-5135: Forming the latest addition to NUM’s market-leading Flexium+ CNC platform, the dual channel Flexium+ 8 CNC kernel provides an exceptionally high level of control flexibility. At any time, either CNC channel can be used to control a spindle motor and four simultaneously interpolated axes – and control can be passed on-the-fly from one channel to the other. This simplifies the design of complex machines with multiple synchronization requirements, such as thread or gear cutters, and in many cases eliminates the need for a second CNC kernel.

Booth E-5010: The 808 rounds out the growing family of CNC models from Siemens, which now spans the range from the most basic 3-axis machines to most advanced five-axis machining centers, with full robotic integration, secondary ops management and transfer line capability, all on a single control, the 840D – still the benchmark by which all other CNC technology in the market is judged.

Booth E-3267: NCSIMUL Player 9.2 from SPRING Technologies will be embedded on a fully rugged, mobile Panasonic Toughpad IP65 and shown how it is connected to machine tool controllers such as Fanuc CNCs. With this capability, shop floor operators and managers are able to interact remotely – in 3D and in real time using intuitive touch controls – with one or several CNC machines and their machining processes, as they execute the CNC program on the machine. 3D animations of CNC machining processes, as well as related work instruction sheets are directly accessible from the mobile application.

ADVANCED SIMULATION SOFTWARE/TOOLING INTEGRATION
In Booth E-3346, CGTech (Irvine, CA), the developer of VERICUT® software for simulating CNC machine tools, will be demonstrating new integration with Kennametal’s NOVO® application. Online catalogs and tool selectors have become common options for manufacturers looking for the latest tool solutions for their production process, but NOVO goes far beyond the concept of the online catalog by integrating Kennametal’s application engineering and production experience.

“Simulation speed is very important to our customers, but so is the amount of time spent preparing a simulation and its accurate representation of the physical process,” said CGTech product marketing manager Bill Hasenjaeger. “We continually look for new ways to reduce the time to setup VERICUT and ensure it correctly mimics the operations.” CGTech will be demonstrating this new capability using the latest version of VERICUT, version 7.3. VERICUT CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software simulates all types of CNC machining, including drilling and trimming of composite parts, water jet, riveting, robots, mill/turn and parallel kinematic/hexapods. It operates independently, but can also be integrated with leading CAM systems.

http://youtu.be/5hgP7UJXWVQ
A demonstration of the how the free NOVO™ application from Kennametal makes it simple to import 3D tool assemblies into your VERICUT tool library.

Headquartered in Irvine, CGTech specializes in numerical control (NC/CNC) simulation, verification, optimization and analysis software technology for manufacturing. Since 1988, its VERICUT® software has become the industry standard for simulating CNC machining in order to detect errors, potential collisions or areas of inefficiency. With offices worldwide, VERICUT software is used by companies of all sizes, universities/trade schools, and government agencies. cgtech.com

MACHINE TOOL CNC HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FOR COMPLEX GEOMETRY
In Booth E-5135, exciting new developments in machine tool CNC hardware and software technology will be demonstrated by NUM Corporation (Naperville, IL), including a highly cost-effective dual channel CNC kernel for designers of small to medium size machines with up to five axes, a functional safety architecture that can easily be scaled to suit any type of machine, and new grinding software for complex geometry tools.

NUM will also be providing software demonstrations of complete conversational and cycle solutions developed specifically for the North American market. Based on Flexium+ systems, these include solutions for gear hobbing, shaping and grinding, OD/ID grinding and metal spinning.

The functional safety architecture, known as NUMSAFE, is compatible with all NUM Flexium+ CNC systems. It provides machine builders with a highly flexible means of implementing functional safety functions and can be scaled to suit almost any type of machine tool, regardless of complexity or the number of axes. Key benefits include minimal additional hardware and wiring – the safety PLC and safety I/O modules can be contained within the same standard terminal as other elements of the control system – and simple software development using the same powerful tools that are used to commission the CNC, PLC, drives and I/O modules.

For the first time in the U.S., NUM will be showing the new version of its market-leading NUMROTO tool grinding software, which now includes functions for complex geometry tools such as multi-helical end mills with variable width flute areas. In addition, the software now accommodates several new types of gash out on drills and form cutters, allowing the grinding wheel to follow the tool’s ballnose- or corner-radius in order to create a defined rake angle along the radius and the gash out. The software’s integrated automatic product documentation function has also been enhanced so that it can import detailed views from the Flexium 3D simulator, to create extremely realistic drawings of the tool. www.num.com

VERSION MANAGEMENT TAKES ERP DOCUMENT CONTROL TO NEW LEVEL
To avoid costly mistakes, manufacturing firms must have the latest versions of spec sheets, drawings and other customer documents during production. In Booth E-3117, managing this critical task just got easier with Version Management System (VMS) from Global Shop Solutions, Inc. (The Woodlands, TX), a leading provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for discrete manufacturers.

“VMS is an add-on to our patented Document Control^™ ERP module, which electronically attaches documents to jobs and work centers,” says Dusty Alexander, the president and CEO of Global Shop Solutions. “It offers several new document security features to ensure production workers have the most current version for every job.” To streamline the document management process, VMS includes the following enhancements:

Files are stored directly in the database, adding more security for greater protection of document/data integrity
Multiple versions of files can be stored simultaneously, allowing for a version history of each file
Users can easily reference or roll back to older file versions to see historical changes on all documents
Check-In/Check-Out functionality makes it impossible for two users to change a file at the same time
Users can protect their information with individual and group level permissions, and limit document exposure with print and email security options

“With VMS, manufacturers can manage and protect their job documents more efficiently and effectively,” adds Alexander. “More important, they can avoid the time and expense of remakes that often occur when building parts with the wrong documentation.” Version Management System is available in the 2014.1 release of Global Shop Solutions One-System ERP Software.

Headquartered in The Woodlands, Global Shop Solutions helps discrete manufacturers streamline operations, increase sales, improve quality and on-time delivery, and lower costs. The firm’s unique combination of manufacturing knowledge, software expertise and commitment to customer service has produced more successful ERP implementations than any of its competitors. Serving customers throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, Global Shop Solutions is the ERP software of choice for manufacturers that want to gain more control over their business while accelerating growth and profitability. www.globalshopsolutions.com