Simulating Machine Motion and Integrated Material Removal

This procedure describes how to create a video simulation with NC code.
Before you can run this procedure, take the following steps:

  1. On the Tools > Options > Machining Simulation > NC Machine Tool Simulation > Simulation tab, select the Enable material removal computation during machine simulation check box.

  2. On the Tools > Options > Machining > Output tab, select a Post Processor type for your NC code (e.g., ICAM®).

  3. On the Tools > Options > Machining > Output tab, in the Default File Locations area, specify CATNCCode as the file extension, and select output locations.

  4. Assign an NC machine to the part operation.

  5. In the machine editor dialog box for the NC machine (accessible in NC Machine Tool Simulation by right-clicking the machine on the PPR tree, and selecting machine object > Edit), set the Controller Emulator, Post Processor, and Post Processor words table appropriate for your machine and the Post Processor you selected in Step 1.

    The contents of the lists available on the machine editor dialog box depend on the options selected in Tools > Options > Machining > Output.

  1. Double-click on the manufacturing program in the PPR tree.

    The program dialog box appears (the name of the dialog box is the name of the manufacturing program, e.g., 001).

  2. Select the NC Code Based Simulation check box.

    The options in the Simulation area become available.
    The manufacturing program on the PPR tree has ISO Simulation as part of its name.
    If you alter these selections to return to tool path-based simulation, ISO Simulation ceases to be part of the program's name.
    If you have failed to set up one of the parameters correctly, either in Tools > Options > Machining > Output or in the machine editor dialog box, you receive the following message:
    If you receive this error:

    1. Click OK on the Manufacturing Error message

    2. Select the Tools > Options > Machining > Output and machine editor dialog box as described above.

    3. Try again.

  3. Click Machine Simulation .

    The Process Simulation toolbar appears.
    Updating the stock can impact performance. If you do not want the stock updated during the simulation, clear the Update Stock ON/OFF check box.  When Update Stock ON/OFF is checked, material removal updates occur during machine motion; that is, the stock part is constantly updated. When Update Stock ON/OFF is cleared, stock updates are not be shown during machine motion, but material removal computation is continued in the background. Toggling material removal updates back to ON updates the stock to its current state, and subsequent stock updates resume. You can only toggle the updates back to ON when the simulation has been halted, using Pause .

  4. Do you want to save the result of the simulation in a CATProduct?

    This result can be used as initial stock in another Part Operation or as stock in a roughing operation.
    • If NO, go to next step.
    • If YES, click Save Stock .
      The Save As dialog box appears.  Navigate to the correct directory, and save the .CATProduct file.
      Please note that this command combines CATIA graphic representation (cgr) and WPC information. This helps to avoid open stock problems when used in another setup thanks to precision of the WPC data.

  5. Do you want to associate the machined stock with the Machining Operation that was used to start the simulation?

    Choosing this option means that any subsequent single MO simulation uses this machined stock as its starting stock.
    • If NO, go to the next step.
    • If YES, click Associate Stock with Manufacturing Program .
      Click OK when the Manufacturing Information dialog box appears.

  6. Do you want to perform stock analysis?

    • If NO, go to the next step.
    • If YES, click Stock Analysis .
      See Analyzing Stock for information about using this command and its sub-commands.