Realistic simulation on the shop floor

Mobile computing is making rapid progress into manufacturing software, and  recently Spring Technologies announced that its latest release makes it one of the first NC simulation software to offer mobile functionality.

Released in January this year, NCSimul Machine 9 (Windows 8 Pro- and Intel-certified) is Spring Technologies’ flagship software program for machine simulation. The developer calls it “more realistic, more integrated and smarter, a milestone on the road to a production environment in which manufacturers will be able to achieve perfect real-time synchronisation of their physical and virtual machining cycles.”

Now operators can access a realistic graphical representation of the machining process and other relevant data, in realtime, even standing next to a machine in operation.

“In many cases it’s impossible to see what is happening at the tool-workpiece interface,” according to Silver Proisy, U.S. general manager for Spring Technologies. “The doors are closed and high-pressure coolant is splashing in the cabinet interior.

“With NCSimul 9,”he continued, “customers can head out onto  the shop floor with their touchscreen tablet PC equipped with Windows 8 and  Spring’s NC Player (NC simulation viewer), and access all of the program’s features, including  cutting  tool  libraries, current cutting conditions, simulation, other part programs, and all the relevant published documentation.”

Here and now
The hardware and software capability may be available now, but most customers have yet to fully embrace the concept of  real-time  simulation. “We are front runners in this functionality,” according to corporate marketing director Philippe Solignac. “It’s brand new. How and where it’s applied will evolve over time, but we anticipated the need, especially among our customers just entering the field who grew up with technology, who will demand the ability to be on the move and not tied to an office PC. We believe it’s a work lifestyle on the verge of exploding.”

NCSimul Machine 9 incorporates new ribbon  technology  navigation, so users are able to work more efficiently. Tasks are accessed via tabs that break down into tasks and sub-tasks. The new interface has been specifically designed to work on touch screen devices to facilitate mobility. The intuitive  and  context-sensitive  icons  are presented as a rapid access bar, boosting programming productivity.

The “NCSimul Machine hub”apps allow  users to browse any shared jobs available on the enterprise network or Get a realistic graphical representation of the machining process and other NCSIMUL outputs right at the machine toolreplay NC simulations with  one-click. Flexible, project-based management, tree organisation, project/article/sub-article, jobs copied between projects, simplified search  mechanism,  job  templates are among NC Simul Machine  9 ’s  new features.

Also, the software makes use of Intel’s multi-core processors and multithreading. Collision detection and material-removal calculations are performed simultaneously. Algorithms  have  been  revised  and optimised  to  support ISO decoding, probing, and material-removal with tools in 3D, and optimised cutting conditions.

NCSimul  Machine 9 also provides interactive  programming  features that automate  G-code  generation  from  3D motions or allow dynamic editing of the NC program to see the consequences in the 3D view. In addition, the newest 3D functional dimensioning module, particularly geared to sub-contractors,  make it possible for users to add 3D graphics  to workpieces and create a document describing the list of dimeAir Max 1 Master