VERICUT Is At The Heart Of The CNC Manufacturing Process

At MACH 2014 the latest version of VERICUT, V7.3, will be featured on CGTech’s stand 4021, Hall 4. VERICUT CNC machine simulation, verification and optimisation 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. See the VERICUT Virtual Machining Gallery at www.cgtech.com/vmg

A common feature of all recent releases of the software has been the focus on full integration with the CAD/CAM and machine tool industry. As a result VERICUT is now at the heart of the  CNC manufacturing process for many of the world’s leading engineering businesses in all industry sectors, including aerospace and defence, oil and gas, power generation, petrochemical and fluid processing, motorsport, automotive and transport, medical device and implant, 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. Setting 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 VERlCUT‘s Review Mode.

With VERICUT Reviewer shopfloor personnel, 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. New for MACH, the Reviewer files will also be able to operate on an iPad.

Integration with CAM CNC Programming

As an independent system, VERICUT can run standalone and simulate the CNC process driven by post-processed NC code. However, in practice, most manufacturing companies 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 enables users to view and analyse 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).

Integration with cutting tool suppliers and Tool Management Systems

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. Leading cutting tool manufacturers, such as Sandvik, Kennametal and Iscar, now make 3D solid model data available to users and VERICUT has tools to read in this model data for use in the simulation process. VERICUT also interfaces with tool management systems such as TDM Systems and WinTool for access to databases holding cutting tool information. Pre-setting suppliers including Zoller and Speroni can also interface to the software, so tool offsets and exact dimensions can be applied to the simulation process.

Simulation of all types and machine tool brands

CGTech has worked with end users and machine tool manufacturers and distributors to create accurate and effective Virtual Machine Tool configurations. These range from simple 3-axis milling machines to multi-axis machining centres; simple 2-axis lathes to complex mill-turn centres with sub-spindles and robot loading; water jet and laser cutting, and machining/polishing robots.

VERICUT simulates every machine tool brand, including DMG Mori-Seiki, MAZAK, Makino, Matsuura, Hermle, Chiron, Starrag, DS Technologies, WFL, Nakamura-Tome and more.

Other Products

With the growth of the various additive manufacturing processes CGTech has developed programming and simulation of the CNC processes used in this technology area, including automated composites fibre placement and tape laying.

The automated drilling and fastening machines used for the production of aero-structure components are also supported by VERICUT Drilling & Fastening (VDAF). It allows the user to visualise 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.

With the modular format of VERICUT the software provides flexibility, so companies purchase only the capabilities they need. It is easy to add modules as required as CGTech provides a license that gives immediate access. VERICUT runs on Windows platforms and is delivered as both a 32-bit and 64-bit application. G-codes and CAM centre-line (CL) formats are supported.