 | |
Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Preferred Capabilities  Don
LaCourse, 3DCADTips.com
Robert Byrnes, VX Corporation
December 9, 2004
reprinted by permission from
Before buying any NC software, ensure that it can do your job. Some
allowance should be made for future growth in your NC capabilities, but
you are unlikely to be satisfied unless it is immediately productive.
-
Solid Support
NC software should support solids. If it cannot read them directly
from your solid modeling system, it should be able to import them,
or recreate them from translated surfaces.
-
Feature Support
NC software should support features. Manufacturing features provide
many benefits: geometry is grouped into a meaningful unit; data
useful to manufacturing can be attached. The NC software should be
able to use the features created with your solid modeling system. If
it does not use them directly it should be able to translate them
into feature types which are more useful to the NC application.
-
Gouge-Free Tools
Paths
Tool path generation utilities should be gouge-free. Gouge-free
refers to tool paths which do not gouge the part. Until the late
1980's there were no NC products available that could provide
gouge-free tool paths. Gouge-free tool path utilities from different
vendors define a range of sophistication and efficiency.
The ability to ensure that the part will not be gouged is extremely
valuable. The indirect benefit of gouge-free tool paths is the
reduction in interaction required from the NC operator. The greater
the amount of automation, the more likely changes in the product
design can be automatically propagated through to manufacturing.
-
Tool Path
Verification
Material removal verification will provide a means to check for
gross gouging of the part or clamps on the machine's work table.
This type of utility can also verify whether sufficient material has
been removed by the tool paths. Such a utility can be stand-alone,
using the NC output, or can be integrated with the solid modeling
database for even greater benefits.
-
Solid Modeling
Integration
If the NC software is integrated within the solid modeling system,
the NC operator can efficiently create accurate representations of
the stock, clamps, and fixtures used. These solids can be used for
tool path generation, verification, and stored for future use.
-
Associable Process
Plans
Manufacturing plans and operations should be associable to part and
feature types. These plans should be achievable so that they can be
re-used with future part designs. This can automate NC plan and tool
path generation.
-
Parametric
Constraints
The NC software should be able to support parametric constraints
just as a solid modeling system. If your site will share information
between all applications, bi-directional communication of geometry,
constraints, and other attributes is necessary.
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.
More Select CAM Articles
|
