Vericut CNC version 7.3 will be among the featured products for CGTech at the 2014 International Machine Tool Show, with its multiple functionalities for machine simulation, verification, and optimization of 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 it also may be integrated with many of the most prominent CAM systems.
A common feature of all recent releases of Vericut CNC software has been a focus on full integration with the CAD/CAM and machine tool industry. As a result Vericut is now at the core of CNC manufacturing across most important industrial sectors, including aerospace, defense, oil-and-gas, power generation, motorsports, automaking/transportation, medical devices and implants, as well as general precision and heavy engineering.
Machine simulation with Vericut detects collisions and near-misses between all machine tool components, such as axis slides, heads, turrets, rotary tables, spindles, tool changers, fixtures, workpieces, cutting tools, and other user-defined objects.
Also, users can set up ‘near-miss zones’ around the components to check for close calls, and detect over-travel errors. Machine movements can even be simulated while stepping or playing backwards in Vericut’s Review Mode.
With Vericut Reviewer, machine tool operators, suppliers, customers, and other production engineers can view animations of the CNC machining process. It is a stand-alone viewer that does not use a license that can play forward and backward while removing and replacing material. For the first time, Reviewer files also operate on an iPad — an application that will be demonstrated at IMTS for the first time.
Integration with CAM Programming, Tooling
As an independent CAM program, Vericut runs as a standalone platform and can simulate the CNC process driven by post-processed NC code. However, in practice, most manufacturers use a CAM system to create CNC part programs. Vericut can be integrated with all leading CAM systems including Dassault Systemes CATIA, Siemens PLM NX, Delcam PowerMill and FeatureCAM, Vero EdgeCAM, DP Technologies Esprit, CNC Software MasterCAM and Open Mind HyperMill.
The verification provided by Vericut lets users view and analyze the geometry of the cut part. Models can be cross-sectioned multiple times at any orientation, to check areas that would be impossible to see in a solid model (such as the intersection of drilled holes).
As with all software programs, the accuracy of the data input will directly affect the output. So, an accurate model of the cutting tool and holder is required for the effective and accurate simulation of the machining process. Major cutting tool manufacturers, (e.g., Sandvik, Kennametal and Iscar) now make 3D solid model data available, and Vericut can read in this model data for use in the simulation process.
Also, Vericut interfaces with tool management systems, such as TDM Systems and WinTool, for access to databases storing cutting tool information. Pre-setting suppliers, including Zoller and Speroni can interface to the software, so tool offsets and exact dimensions can be applied to the simulation process.
CGTech worked with machine tool users, manufacturers, and distributors to create accurate and effective Virtual Machine Tool configurations. These range from simple 3-axis milling machines to multi-axis machining centers; simple 2-axis lathes to complex mill-turn centers with sub-spindles and robot loading; water jet and laser cutting, and machining/polishing robots.
Vericut will simulate every machine tool brand, the developer noted, including DMG Mori, Mazak, Makino, Matsuura, Hermle, Chiron, Starrag, WFL, Nakamura-Tome and many more.
With the maturation of the various additive manufacturing processes, CGTech has developed programming and simulation of the CNC processes used in that technology, including automated composites fiber-placement and tape-laying.
Automated drilling and fastening machines used for the production of aero-structure components are supported by Vericut Drilling & Fastening (VDAF). It allows the user to visualize and simulate CNC drilling and fastening machines using the same NC program code that will be run on the machine.
Simulation is independent of programming, and VDAF can simulate NC programs from any programming system for any CNC-automated drilling and fastening machine.
Vericut runs on Windows platforms and is delivered as both a 32-bit and 64-bit application. G-codes and CAM center-line (CL) formats are supported.
