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Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Managing Change  Don
LaCourse, 3DCADTips.com
Robert Byrnes, VX Corporation
December 8, 2004
reprinted by permission from
Change management is critical to both the
manufacturing and the design engineering groups. If you are implementing
(and integrating) a Numerical Control (NC) application, here are some
tips to consider along the way.
-
Propagation Control
Can changes be fed-forward on demand from the manufacturing group?
It is not uncommon for the NC operators to be creating tool path
information for one version of a part while the design group may be
one or two versions ahead of them. The NC group may want to accept a
new revision as soon as it becomes available, or they may need to
cut a prototype of the previous version before accepting the
changes.
-
Release/Revision
Management
If change propagation will pass from design through NC, is there a
mechanism for release/revision management? Rather than receive
design changes as they appear, it is often more desirable for NC
operators to receive updates when they are ready for them. Control
of updates requires some form of revision management. When NC data
is generated the operators should be able to have confidence in
which updates have been incorporated into their version of the part.
-
Constraining Modes of
Operation
Is there a special mode of operation to ensure that the part design
and the NC data can be synchronized after a change? Some 3D CAD
systems require that designers perform all work in a special mode of
operation for automated change propagation to work. If the design
group follows these rules, are they sufficient to ensure that the
CAM group can efficiently absorb the changes? Beware that special
parametric modes can place rigid constraints on the operator,
removing the ability to work efficiently.
-
Tool Paths and
Process Plans
Will change propagation automatically update tool paths and maintain
process plans? Tool paths should adapt to changes in geometry or
manufacturing parameters. In general, they should update
automatically. In some cases changes are significant enough to
require changes in the manufacturing plan. If conflicts arise it
will be very helpful it there are mechanisms in the NC software to
warn the CAM operator of potential problems.
-
Database Access
It may be important to your organization to allow manufacturing
information in the database to be accessible to your design staff.
Because NC programmers sometimes need to modify geometry, you may
want those modifications incorporated into the design group's
version of the part. This may also include manufacturing constraints
that might be useful for future designs.
About the Authors Robert Byrnes is Vice President of
VX Corporation and a pioneer in the
integration of CAM and CNC with solid modeling applications. He
currently heads the VX CAM development group at VX Corporation.
Don LaCourse is Editor and Founder of
3DCADTips.com, Principal Partner of eDocHelp,
and Contributing Editor for Cadalyst Magazine. Don has over 25 years of
experience in design, documentation and writing about CAD/CAM/CAE issues.
3DCADTips.com is a free, independent and objective information resource for
3D CAD users, administrators, and managers developed exclusively by eDocHelp
and in partnership with Cadalyst Magazine, TenLinks.com and many other 3D
CAD sites.
Its goal is simple but challenging - to continuously provide a wide range of
valuable tips on 3D CAD, CAM and CAE and to bring all application tips on
the web under one roof where they can be contents, indexed, searched and
browsed by you.
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