Adaptive Post-Processing™ & The Evolution of Machine Simulation
ICAM Integrates its Adaptive Post-Processing™ Solution inside NX CAM Under the SEIMENS's PLM Solution Partner Program
Under the terms of this agreement, ICAM has developed a complete graphical user interface to NX CAM and its database allowing for the full integration of ICAM’s Adaptive Post-Processing™ solution within NX CAM. Doing this now provides a familiar and efficient environment for NC programmers to concurrently post-process, optimize tool-path and verify G-code, all within NX CAM and in one simple process.
Adaptive Post-Processing™ is new technology developed by ICAM that changes traditional CNC programming methodology by creating a unique integrated environment for the traditional independent steps of post-processing, tool-path optimization and G-code simulation. This new methodology allows all these steps to be executed simultaneously permitting cross communication among them allowing for automatic toolpath corrections, all in one integrated process, with a single click execution.
This integrated solution allows for the in-process evaluation of feedback from the post-processor, machining simulator and ICAM’s other tool-path optimization technologies to automatically create an optimized NC program for a target CNC machine. This occurs all in one step and in one process allowing NX users to automatically and efficiently reduce NC programming time and machining cycle times as well.
The iterative steps of the traditional serial method of tool-path creation, post-processing, machine simulation and G-code verification, most often generate errors leaving the tedious investigative work as to where the errors occurred in the hands of the NC programmer. ICAM’s Adaptive Post-Processing™ solution not only eliminates these errors while reducing programming time, but also allows the programmer to “create tool-paths for the part” as opposed to the traditional method of programming the part for the machine while worrying about its kinematics and collisions. Creating tool-paths while using Adaptive Post-Processing also eliminates the reprogramming of the part for a new target CNC machine.
More on Adaptive Post-Processing™ for NX CAM Users
Adaptive Post-Processing™ allows NX CAM users to simplify CAM programing by implementing automatic optimization strategies based on machine context. Adaptive Post-Processing™ also allows the post-processor to dynamically and automatically react to the machining simulation output and offer alternative machining strategies. For example, if a target machine uses an asymmetrical head, the post-processor can automatically select the head position to avoid collisions, while concurrently simulating the G-code produced by the updated post-processor.
Adaptive Post-Processing Feature Highlights
- Alternate between Cartesian/Polar strategies based on machine kinematics
- Linearize specific motions based on machine/controller capabilities
- Eliminate “air-cuts” (feed-rate motions when the tool is not cutting material)
- Avoid collisions based on machine kinematics
- Recalculate cutting conditions based on the tool, material parameters and real-time tool engagement with the material
- Easily move 5-axis machining programs between differing CNS machines without the need to modify the tool-path in NX CAM
At any time, the NC programmer has full control over the optimizations taking place in machine and work-piece context. Default parameters can be included in the post-processor and simulator; however, the user always implement “post-processor words” as UDEs that can be applied to refine or decide where and when to execute the automation functions
Adaptive Post-Processing™ allows the NX users to reduce manufacturing process time by 20 to 35%. It also significantly reduces machining cycle time and extends tool life, while calculating safe and collision-free machine movements.
As a SIEMENS PLM Solution Partner, ICAM ensures a seamless integration between its Adaptive Post-Processing™ solution and NX CAM. NX CAM users can execute ICAM’s post-processor inside NX, as he or she would with NX post.
NX CAM users can also take advantage of Adaptive Post-Processing™ via the automatic communication between the NX kernel and ICAM’s machining simulation environment. The part, stock, fixture, tool assemblies, tool compensation are all defined in NX CAM, so there is no need to handle a separate tool database. NX CAM defines the tool-path strategy while ICAM’s Adaptive Post-Processing™ solution optimizes the NX CAM tool-path in work-piece and machine context.
Post-Processing & Simulation Products running Behind CATIA
Under the Original Software Development (OSD) Agreement, ICAM’s CAM-POST® NC Post-Processing technology has been embedded into the open architecture of Dassault Systèmes’ CATIA V5 CAD/CAM/CAE software solution, and other Dassault Systèmes solutions.
The Dassault Systèmes OSD partnership program creates tight development relationships with industry leading software developers based on a long-term synergy plan.
The OSD partner acts as an external R&D division to Dassault Systèmes R&D organization and provides technologies for integration within Dassault Systèmes products.
The OSD program provides a framework for both ICAM Technologies Corporation and Dassault Systèmes to deliver the most robust, comprehensive solution for a wide range of customer manufacturing needs from product creation to development.
- Over 40 years of industry leadership in NC post-processing
- CATIA V5 user community comprised of the foremost aerospace / automotive companies
- Unrivalled CATIA V5 NC machining expertise
- Extensive team of highly skilled Application Engineers
Leading organizations in the aerospace and automotive industries such as Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Ford and Daimler Chrysler have successfully adopted CATIA V5 and CAM-POST products and services to meet their NC manufacturing requirements. This cohesive solution enables CATIA V5 users to develop, manage and execute advanced multi-axis NC post-processors directly within the CATIA V5 in-process NC manufacturing environment.
Integration – The CAM-POST CATIA V5 direct product interface is aimed at facilitating post-processor deployment and management in a streamlined, user-friendly environment. The result is clear, exceptional levels of NC programmer productivity and manufacturing process efficiency.
Optimization – Through ICAM’s advanced technology and best practices, customers are leveraging the benefits offered by CATIA V5 NC to seamlessly transition that value into proven CNC Machine Tool optimization for improved part quality and production output.
Evolution – Through on-going OSD development initiatives with Dassault Systèmes, ICAM’s leading technology will continue to set new standards for product collaboration and enhance the competitive advantages that customers and industry partners heavily depend upon.
Benefits include bottom line cost savings and improvements in the following areas: shortened implementation cycle and learning curve, hands-on results, greater skill retention and software usability and overall NC programmer productivity and manufacturing process efficiency.
The combined integration creates the Digital Product life cycle Pipeline, supporting reuse of corporate knowledge. SolidWorks and SmarTeam Corp., as Dassault Systemes companies, offer respectively 3D design-centric and collaborative PDM software solutions based on Windows and the Internet. Spatial, also part of Dassault Systemes family, is a market-leading provider of world-class 3D software components and services (for 3D modelling, visualization, and interoperability) to meet the requirements of 3D in Internet-based e-commerce and B2B applications.
Integrated Post-Processing & Machine Simulation Behind
ICAM and CNC Software Inc. have signed a Business Partner Agreement allowing for a smoother integration between their two distinctive products. Under this agreement, ICAM has created a graphical user interface to its complete NC post-processing product suite within Mastercam.
All NC post-processors and machine simulations are created using CAM-POST® and Virtual Machine® – ICAM’s advanced NC post-processing and machine tool simulation solutions, respectively.
Customers can leverage ICAM’s extensive NC post-processing expertise with advanced multi-axes machining applications and techniques such as path planning, high-speed machining, tool-tip programming, coordinate frame transformations, NURBS interpolation and arc fitting of point-to-point data, to increase productivity and maximize production efficiency.
Within the context of this partnership, ICAM has developed a Mastercam Extractor featured within the latest version of Virtual Machine. Mastercam Extractor allows for the automatic data extraction of the tool, part and stock including fixtures and holders, as described in Mastercam X2 and later, enabling NC programmers to easily and efficiently create machine simulation sessions.
Deploying Virtual Machine as an integrated option to ICAM post-processors, delivers a powerful machine tool simulation solution providing Mastercam programmers with the means to simulate and test NC programs against collisions and over-travel easily and automatically during post-processing.
Post-Processing & Simulation Products running Behind
ICAM Technologies Corporation and Missler Software have a Marketing Agreement in place that provides ICAM access to TopSolid’Cam’s software architecture in order to develop post-processors using CAM-POST, ICAM’s post-processor development product, for lathe, mill and Mill/Turn machines for Missler’s worldwide customer base.
This business relationship will allow customers to benefit from ICAM’s extensive NC post-processing experience with advanced multi-axes machining applications and techniques such as path planning, high-speed machining, tool-tip programming, coordinate frame transformations, NURBS interpolation and arc fitting of point-to-point data.
According to Arnaud de Boisboissel, International Sales Director for Missler Software “Working with ICAM offers an additional service to our customers – the possibility of working with the leading post-processing developer in the industry. Our customers will now have access to a support network consisting of TopSolid’Cam VARs and ICAM where they can efficiently obtain high-performance post-processors.”
“ICAM has a strong reputation in the NC manufacturing marketplace and we are confident that this partnership will help us increase the market penetration of TopSolid’Cam within the complex machining sector.”
Deploying Virtual Machine® as an integrated productivity tool to ICAM’s NC post-processing technology, delivers a powerful machine tool simulation environment that enables TopSolid’Cam end-users to optimize and test NC programs against collisions and over-travel automatically during post-processing.