CADCAM & PRODUCTION IT COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY
Okuma is employing ModuleWorks’ software in its metalcutting
machines and also within its combined addive manufacturing and
subtractive machining hybrid units
MachineWorks Parasolid (solid modelling
kernel) Software Bridge. Parasolid Bridge is
a new library that uses the MachineWorks
feature detection module to analyse the inprocess
stock and then construct a
Parasolid model. This will allow French rm
Janus, which is a Siemens PLM NX solutions
partner, to use the stock model from a
variety of set-ups to support xture design.
Says Janus’ managing director, Franck
Paris: “We are especially interested in the
case where part manufacturing requires
multiple set-ups; our goal was to nd a way
of using the intermediate in-process stock
from the material removal simulation to help
xture design, CMM inspection and
documentation of the intermediate process
steps. After extensive testing, we integrated
MachineWorks and its new Parasolid Bridge
into Siemens NX and we are now happy to
be able to offer it to our customers.”
Dr Fenqiang Lin, managing director of
MachineWorks, describes this development
as offering “game-changing results”.
He adds: “Janus Engineering is our rst
partner to bene t and it’s great to see how
quickly they have been able to productise
this technology for their customers.”
HALF A MILLION CADCAM SEATS
Turning to ModuleWorks (https://is.gd/
yewiju) and it highlights that its toolpath
creation and simulation software
components “are already optimising the
performance and quality of over 500,000
installed seats of CADCAM software around
the world”.
It is the company that seems to have
been most busy recently in Machinery’s area
of interest. It reports that CNC makers
FANUC and Mitsubishi Electric are using the
rm’s software, with FANUC having chosen
material removal simulation software from
the company to provide accurate workpiece
simulation on its CNC controls, while
Mitsubishi Electric is using the same
technology as part of its digitalisation
campaign.
ModuleWorks’ material removal
simulation is multi-axis, multi-purpose
simulation technology that increases
shop oor productivity by enabling operators
to verify NC programs and detect collisions
between the workpiece and the tool shaft/
holder directly on the control prior to
machining. The ModuleWorks simulation
technology also comes with a range of
analytical tools for NC-program optimisation,
it is added. ModuleWorks’ software is from
now on available as an optional feature for
all FANUC iHMI controls.
ModuleWorks is also working with
Okuma. In one project the pair have focused
their attention on a speci c component, a
Pelton wheel. These are used in the hydropower
industry, extracting energy from
fast- owing water to generate electricity.
Their manufacture is a challenge, due to the
wheel’s complicated design. The impulse
blades are usually machined separately and
then mounted onto the rim, which is time
consuming and adds to the production
costs.
The bucket-shaped impulse blades are
situated close together and taper towards
the rim of the wheel, meaning that
navigation between the blades without
causing a collision is complex. There are
also surface quality and topological
precision demands that apply to the
organically shaped blade cavities to ensure
Five-axis programming for dummies?
Bernhard Rind eisch, Tebis (https://is.gd/iyutus) founder and
chairman of the board, says that 5-axis programming “requires
that the NC programmers have the requisite skills, which are
becoming increasingly rare. Therefore, we have modi ed,
simpli ed and extended our 5-axis milling technology over the
years”.
And he states: “Now any CAM user with no CAD experience can
calculate 5-axis NC programs for roughing, face and side nishing,
machining contours and engraving. NC programming is just as
easy as for 3-axis machining operations.”
NC programmers can create 5-axis programs in one of three ways:
By 3-axis NC programming with constant 3D tool tilt direction.
Also known as multi-sided machining, these are not simultaneous
5-axis programs, because only three axes are traversed
simultaneously.
Through automatic conversion of 3-axis programs to
simultaneous 5-axis programs, performed via collision avoidance
and to achieve better cutting conditions through a constant
change in the tool direction. This approach is frequently known as
5-axis avoidance milling.
specialised 5-axis simultaneous NC
functions. In Tebis, this includes
The third possibility involves using
roughing free-form geometries and freeform
pockets – also with curved bottoms
– milling along contour curves, side and
face nishing.
The NC programmer often decides
which approach will be the most
ef cient and generates the best surface
quality for each application. The
availability of milling tools and knowing
the correct cutting data like feed rates
and speeds are also important. NC
automation (Automill) integrated in
Tebis helps to save and optimise programming
expertise, as well as cutting data, in NC templates and
make them available on a continuous basis to NC programmers.
26 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets October 2019
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/iyutus)
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