CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
13 January 2005
Company News
CGTech To Show Latest Version Of Vericut At WESTEC
CGTech will show off the latest version of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimization software at the WESTEC SME show:
WESTEC
booth 2628
Los Angeles, CA
April 5-7
VERICUT 5.4 features several enhancements designed to increase the ability of manufacturing engineers to inspect, analyze, and document the CNC programming and machining process in order to produce better results and reduce the time spent in the programming and machining cycle.
VERICUT is CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software that enables users to eliminate the process of manually proving-out NC programs. It reduces scrap loss and rework. The program also optimizes NC programs in order to produce the most efficient tool paths possible that both save time and produce higher quality surface finish. VERICUT supports G-codes or native CAM output to simulate milling, drilling, turning, wire EDM, and mill/turn machining operations.
VERICUT features the ability to automatically detect gouges and excess material by virtually "embedding" the design model inside the cut stock and comparing the differences between the two. This AUTO-DIFF function is enhanced in version 5.4 to make accurate comparisons of a large workpiece with the design faster and easier. Especially useful for finding errors and differences on large parts, a new "Compare By Region" option provides the ability to individually check certain areas of the part without having to perform an AUTO-DIFF comparison on the entire model. This dramatically speeds calculation time because the software needs only to focus on the specified area. The region can then be applied over the entire stock model providing for accurate error detection on large parts even when there is limited computer memory available.
VERICUT 5.4 includes tools for creating custom reports, tailored for a specific user/department/company's needs, containing useful process information generated during the simulation. The automatically generated documents can be used for shop floor or in-process documentation, NC programming documentation, or to capture the information generated in the VERICUT session. Produced in standard HTML or PDF format, the layout is highly customizable, including the ability to modify page design, fonts, graphics, tables, pictures, statistics, and add user-defined information critical to documenting the CNC machining process. Using VERICUT's X-Caliper measurement features, the software can output inspection instructions based on the dimensions of the simulated cut stock (wall thickness= .15", for example). VERICUT is the only tool available with the accurate in-process geometry knowledge to automatically generate this type of document!
An enhanced feature for analyzing cutting conditions is included in version 5.4. The Cutting Graph displays feed per minute, feed per tooth, feed per revolution, spindle speed, surface speed, volume removal rate, chip thickness, depth of cut, and width of cut. VERICUT optimizes NC program feed rates to improve surface finish quality and reduce time required on the machine. With the new Cutting Graph Display, users can analyze several cutting conditions in the CNC program, and better compare the performance of cutting conditions from their un-optimized NC programs versus the results from NC programs with optimized feed rates.
VERICUT includes an "X-Caliper" measurement utility that enables users to digitally verify the dimensional accuracy of their cut parts before even loading the NC program on the CNC machine. With this utility, manufacturing engineers can measure features such as stock thicknesses, volumes, distances between features, angles, hole diameters, corner radii, scallop heights, etc. New to version 5.4 is the ability to measure the distance between the cut stock and the "virtually embedded" design model. Users can now cross-section the model and measure the distance between the as-cut material and the design model along the sectioned plane. This provides a tool to determine how much more material needs to be machined from the stock, or verify that the cutter left the correct amount of material on the stock. During cross sectioning, the models can be displayed in solid or translucency to help visualize the results.
Other Enhancements:
Optimization for Hard Materials
Optimizing NC program feed rates when milling hard materials presents unique challenges. Additional optimization strategies designed specifically for milling hard materials are included in version 5.4. These options help VERICUT better determine the ideal feed rates for each "hostile" cutting condition encountered.
• Adjust Feed Rate for Non-Climb detects when the cutter is cutting conventionally and automatically adjusts the feed rates.
• Adjust Feed Rate for Thin Radial Width adjusts feed rates when the cutter encounters unsupported or very narrow width cuts and automatically adjusts the feed rates.
• Adjust Feed Rate for Side-loaded Cut detects situations in which the cutter width is only partially buried in material, creating excessive side cutting force, and potentially severe cutter deflection and automatically adjusts the feed rates to avoid excessive side cutting force.
Smaller Solid Model Files Sizes
VERICUT solid model and in-process file sizes in version 5.4 are typically 2-5 times smaller. This makes loading, manipulating, and saving VERICUT model files faster and easier. Optionally, users can also save the VERICUT solid and preserving the as-cut features. The result is a much more accurate cut model. Retaining the original cut features allows for more accurate measurements and placement when using the cut model in subsequent operations.
Tool Chain Simulation Support
VERICUT now supports simulating tool chains. It uses a sweep profile to define the path of the tool chain and checks interference between tools in adjacent pockets. VERICUT supports tool changers that replace the tool in either the original or "ready" pocket. Additionally, tool chain position motion is simulated concurrently along with cutting simulation. This enables you to simulate and track tool change time. Among other useful purposes, with this feature you can improve the machining process by determining if a cutting operation is forced to wait for a long tool change, and making any necessary modifications.
VERICUT runs under Windows and UNIX. CGTech has subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, France, and Japan, and resellers throughout the world.
For more information, visit the CGTech web site at http://www.cgtech.com or call (949) 753-1050.
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