Video Mode for Material Removal Simulation Using NC Code

task target This task shows you how to simulate the material removed by machining operations in Video mode using NC code.

Note: It is also possible to simulate material removal in Video mode using tool path data. Please refer to Video Mode for Material Removal Simulation Using Tool Path Data for specific information about that operating mode and general information about Video material removal simulation.

scenario 1. Open the Processfinal.CATProcess document. The Setup Editor window appears showing the PPR tree with the Manufacturing Program.

Please note that the machine referenced in the Part Operation uses a default 3-axis machine. This type of machine is not suitable for simulating material removal in Video mode using NC code and so must be changed. It must be a CATProduct representation built using the NC Tool Machine Builder application, for example.

 

Select a Suitable Machine Tool and Set NC Parameters

  2. Double-click Part Operation.1 in the tree, then click Machine in the Part Operation dialog box.
In the Machine Editor:
  1. Click Assign a Machine by File Selection then select the Mill_5axis.CATProduct machine in the ..\startup\Manufacturing\Samples\NCMachineToollib\DEVICES folder.
  2. Select a suitable Controller Emulator and Post Processor: Note that a Controller Emulator/Post Processor vendor must be set in the Tools > Options > Machining > Output tab.
  3. Select a suitable Post Processor words table: Sample PP word tables are delivered with the product in the ..\startup\manufacturing\PPTables folder.
  4. Select ISO (that is, NC code) as NC data type.
  5. Click OK to assign the machine to the Part Operation.
 

Position the Workpiece on the Machine

3. Position the part on the machine table using Workpiece Automatic Mount of the Machine Management toolbar.

Note: You may also need to re-position the Machining axis system. To do this, double-click the green machining axis in the 3D view, and re-position the axis using the dedicated dialog box.

 

Generate Program Tool Path Data and Generate NC Code

  4. Right-click Manufacturing Program.1 in the tree and select Compute Tool Path. Select the Force computation option in the pop-up that appears.

Right-click Manufacturing Program.1 in the tree and select Generate NC Code Interactively. Set the following options in the dialog box that appears.

note   If you generate ISO code and you want to use that code for simulation in another session, then you must save the CATProcess after ISO generation. It is not mandatory to save the CATProcess if the generated ISO code is not to be used for simulation in other sessions.
 

Simulate the Program Using NC Code

  5. Double-click Manufacturing Program.1 in the tree. In the Manufacturing Program dialog box, select the NC Code Based Simulation check box and select the NC code file that you generated in the previous step.

See Manufacturing Program for more information about this dialog box.

6. Select Video . The Setup Editor window switches to a window entitled Video.

Two dialog boxes appear for running the simulation:

Click the control button to run the material removal simulation of the first machining operation (Facing.1).

    As the ISO panel highlights each line of the data while the video simulation represents the code graphically, the Machine Operation field shows the operation associated with the line of code. Conversely, you can select a single line of code, and the geometric data shows the simulation at that point in the code.

  7. Continue the Video simulation for the remainder of the program using the control buttons.
  The ISO Panel is displayed, It has two parts:
  • ISO code area, which contains the line number, a collision icon (if collision is detected), and the ISO data. This part also has a search function and lists the machining operation associated with each ISO line number.
  • Collision Information area, which gives information about any detected collisions.

Please refer to NC Machine Tool Simulation User's Guide for more information about this panel.

end of task