CNC Machines Information

22 November 2010 - AMO Corporation has released the new IP67-rated LMB-410 spar linear encoder at the recently held IMTS 2010 in Chicago, US. The LMB-410 measuring scale comes with a stainless steel carrier, offering robust measuring/position feedback with IP-67 rating and performance similar to a linear optical encoder.

Available through Melbourne-based automation and control specialist CNC Design, the LMB-410, operating on an inductive scanning principle, is best suited for general purpose machines, such as machine tools, medical equipment, printing equipment, and military/aerospace applications. Its IP67 rating makes the scale ideal for dirty or contaminated conditions including being fluid submersible.

Available through Melbourne-based automation and control specialist CNC Design, the LMB-410, operating on an inductive scanning principle, is best suited for general purpose machines, such as machine tools, medical equipment, printing equipment, and military/aerospace applications. Its IP67 rating makes the scale ideal for dirty or contaminated conditions including being fluid submersible.

The LMB-410 is rated for operation that ranges from -10 to +100°C for up to 30-m measuring length and ± 3 μm/m accuracy. The new encoder also meets high-shock, high-speed and vibration specifications.

AMOSIN inductive measuring systems
Any non-guided AMOSIN encoder head can be used with any of the LMB-400 or LMB-100 scale mounting version. The AMOSIN inductive measuring systems are supplied in two principal versions: an open, non-contacting system, or as a guided, encapsulated system.

Operating entirely on an inductive basis, all AMOSIN systems achieve high precisions of up to +/- 3 μm/m, but are nevertheless very well able to resist environmental influences and extremely high resistance to shock and vibration.

The high precision is mainly due to the procedure used to manufacture the rigid steel measuring tape, and to the exceptionally high quality sensor signal, with deviations in the ideal sine wave down to < 0.1 % harmonic content, as a measure of the achievable interpolation precision within the grating pitch.

Inductive scanning – high protection class IP67
Reference marks can be integrated on the measuring tape, and are supplied with a single, multiple, or distance coded patterns. The purely inductive scanning allows for the high protection class IP67 where the operation of the systems is not affected by contamination and pollutants in the form of dust, smoke, or liquids. Optical encoders require a complicated mechanical encapsulating enclosure, are more susceptible to damage and hence commonly incorporate air purging to protect the optical scale – neither which are necessary with the AMOSIN encoders. As a result, AMOSIN encoders require much less maintenance than optical encoders.

Particularly noteworthy is the insensitivity from magnetic interference as there are no magnetic components in the purely inductive scanning and a completely different technology than magnetic encoders. As a result, AMOSIN encoders are not at all sensitive to electromagnetic interference of any kind and have no measurement hysteresis (machine backlash error).

Irvine, California – CGTech has released the next major version of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimization software. VERICUT 7.0 features significant performance-improving enhancements that reduce the time required for manufacturing engineers to develop, analyze, inspect and document the CNC programming and machining process. Instead of focusing on new features or add-on modules, CGTech developer resources have focused on diligent code optimization and customer-driven enhancements.

“VERICUT has been reorganized with a new user interface for maximum efficiency.” said Bill Hasenjaeger, Product Marketing Manager. “Not only is the software extremely stable and significantly faster, it has never been easier to set up a VERICUT project. This release will set a new standard for the world’s most advanced CNC simulation system.”

VERICUT Product/Function Overview:
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 both save time and produce higher quality surface finish. VERICUT simulates all types of CNC machine tools, including those from leading manufacturers such as Mazak, Makino, Matsuura, Hermle, DMG, DIXI, Mori Seiki and Chiron. VERICUT runs standalone, but can also be integrated with leading CAM systems such as Catia V5, NX, Pro/E, MasterCAM, EdgeCAM and GibbsCAM.

GUI UPDATES
CGTech sought to reduce the number of pop-up dialogs for day-to-day VERICUT users and eliminate any confusion associated with “Apply”, “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. As a result, setting up a new project in VERICUT has been simplified. Items formerly in pop-up dialogs have been moved to the Project Tree, where all projects are now configured by using an intuitive configuration panel automatically displayed as the user selects each branch. Actions are immediate, so “Apply” or “Okay” clicks are unnecessary.

The Component Tree has also been merged into the Project Tree but can be optionally hidden, depending on the user’s requirements. Additionally, the Project menu is now much simpler with menu actions moved to the Project Tree. All these updates mean the user can stop hunting through menus to find the dialog the user need; everything the user needs is now in one place.

MOTION CHANGES
VERICUT 7.0’s motion processing is all new. Thousands of development hours have gone toward optimizing VERICUT’s internal code for the fastest, most efficient motion simulation to date. Motion Simulation refers to how VERICUT calculates the motion path from the NC data and animates it. The motion in all view-types is now coordinated and tool images are consistent. Collision tolerance and motion display are independent. When set to stop at a travel limit, the simulation continues the motion with axis clamped, while any cuts during a limit error are painted red. A 5-axis NC block is now one motion and simulation times overall are shorter due to improved efficiency.

It is now possible to pause VERICUT in the middle of an NC block. Pressing Pause halts VERICUT immediately. The busy light is yellow when paused in the middle of an NC block, and displays green when stopped at the end of an NC block. If paused mid-motion the user can complete the current block by pressing the Step button. If paused mid-cycle, pressing the Step button will finish the multi-motion cycle. Several new Step options are available by right-mouse clicking the Step button. These allow the user to step into, over, or to the end of any subroutines used in the user’s NC program sequence.

Users now have more control over Drill Cycles. Options for “Full Motion” & “Bottom Only” add the same cycle time and only control the animation display. “No Motion” removes material and adds cycle time but without any animation, and “Ignore” skips the cycle with no added time. Drill, turn, and pocket cycles stop immediately, and can be continued to the end with Step or Play, while turn cycles prompt the user to finish the cycle or jump to the end.

COLLISION DETECTION
All collision configuration is now done via the collision branch in the Project Tree. 5.x and 6.x collision configurations are upward compatible and read into 7.0. This central location for all collision control eliminates any possibility of duplicate collision checks. All current functionality is maintained. The user can define a near-miss collision with cut stock, and all near-miss and actual collision errors are separated in the logger. Components turn red upon first display of the collision contact, instead of at the end of the colliding motion.

CAM INTEGRATION
VERICUT can read NX Part Files directly when NX is on the same computer. NX parts can be referenced either directly from within VERICUT, or via the NX-to-VERICUT interface.

The CATIA V5–To-VERICUT Interface has been enhanced with many new features for managing tools. The user can merge tools from a template with new tools from the Part Operation, and optionally put all unique tools in one tool library. The user can also use CATIA-referenced STL models. VERICUT holders are now named using the holder names already defined in CATIA. Additional new features include the option to specify work offset subsystems and set model tolerances for the stock, fixture and design models. The interface optionally remembers the last options used. When working with multiple setups, the design model is only output in the first setup and moves with the cut stock.

ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS

* VERICUT and the VERICUT license server are now Vista compatible
* Option to automatically set working directory to current project’s folder
* Optionally write and display thumbnail images in the project and machine files
* Include visible CSYS in Report images
* Adding a new setup renames the currently selected setup and increments its number
* Minimum Cutter Extension option: Do not shorten
* Polar measure in X-caliper
* X-caliper measurement markers stay on screen
* Save machine images and display thumbnail images in both the file selection dialog and in the choice list
* A configurable tool bar gives the user the ability to add/remove individual icons and display them in the order that works best for the user