NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer

The DELMIA 3DEXPERIENCE NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer (NTA) Role enables NC programmers to create and validate multi-axis milling and turning programs. It programs machines to perform advanced milling using 2.5, 3-axis or 5-axis operations combined with turning operations.

Additionally, NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer allows programming of complex multi-tasking mill-turn machines with synchronization and part transfer capabilities.

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer provides a complete range of multi-axis milling strategies, speeding and simplifying the programming of complex multi-cavity parts with high levels of automation. It includes a full set of features for workpiece setup, cutter tool assembly, and toolpath simulation that include material removal, machine-tool simulation and NC code generation.

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer makes it easy to access current information about machining resources, programs, and machine tool setup. NC programmers can capture and leverage enterprise intellectual property and collaborate with other stakeholders as they develop NC toolpath programs.

DELMIA Mill Turn Machining

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer Benefits

Maximize machine tool utilization

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer’s wide range of operations and strategies helps programmers create toolpath programs that minimize non-value-added motion. Optimized NC programs, including high-speed machining features, reduce overall machining cycle time. NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer takes in-process parts into account to generate collision-free tool paths. The 3-to-5 converter option delivers high-speed milling wherever the initial constant tool axis can be held, and high-quality machining without tool change with 5-axis motion locally.

Mitigate risk to production

The realistic presentation of 3D enables programmers to create optimized NC programs in the manufacturing context: NC machine, cutter, tool assemblies, NC accessories and other elements. This provides a better understanding of the manufacturing cell and ensures that the tool path and machining strategy take the tool’s physical environment into account. It reduces the risk of unexpected issues and production delays.

Accelerate NC programming

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer users can quickly author and edit NC programs. NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer delivers dedicated multi-pocket operations for efficient machining of 80 percent of the part with a high level of automation. Powerful operations, such as Flank Contouring or Multi-Axis Curve with Interpolated Tool Axis, give NC Programmers full control for machining very specific areas and allow them to complete their jobs. Intuitive graphic dialog boxes, traffic light indicators for undefined machining parameters, and help icons for each parameter make the process highly efficient. Tool changes and machine rotations are automatically generated and can be visualized in the machining operation definition panel. Copy-and-paste functions help organize programs in the specification tree.

A single design-to-machining solution to understand engineering changes

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer gives NC Programmers an unrivaled level of associativity between product engineering, manufacturing processes, and resources. Companies can manage concurrent engineering and manufacturing flows more effectively and shorten the design-to-manufacturing cycle. NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer offers industry-best support of design changes and design variants and the rapid creation of programs for families of parts. Native implementation links connect machining programs to engineering and manufacturing data. These links can be used to see which machining programs are impacted by engineering or manufacturing changes to ensure that machining data is up to date with engineering changes.

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer Highlights

A Setup Wizard and an immersive, context-based user interface

A toolpath creation wizard and context-based menus are available to enable quick 3D setup and creation of the NC tool path. Traffic lights signal if parameters need to be defined. If a user clicks on a help icon while editing a parameter, an image describing the parameter pops up in the panel. Users can quickly organize programs in the activities process tree using copy-and-paste functions. Tool changes and machine rotations are automatically generated and can be visualized in the activity process tree.

Manage and program machining resources with powerful multi-tasking mill-turn capabilities

NTA lets users manage CNC machines, accessories, tools and tool assemblies in 3D. These resources can be retrieved through standard search capabilities using relevant machining attributes and instantiated in a manufacturing cell. Users can clearly see the impact of changes on the definition of objects such as parts or cutting tools across all NC processes and programs. NTA supports default or customized representation of the cutter and tool assemblies that are used for verification, simulation with material removal, and collision checking. Programmers can author NC programs for complex mill-turn machines with multiple spindles and turrets using synchronization features, balance turning, and part-transfer capabilities. Through an immersive, intuitive interface, users can synchronize operations and passes within an operation and define part-transfer activities.

Automatic association of prismatic machining features with part design

NTA automatically recognizes the prismatic machining features of the product design, significantly reducing toolpath programming time. A manufacturing view of the design part is generated, with all the drilling and milling features that are to be machined. Through this embedded feature-recognition technology, NTA enables toolpath programming for geometrical-machined, feature-creation design parts—even those with no design feature specifications.

Best-in-class machining strategies for efficient programming of turning and mill-turn machines

NTA also offers a full set of high-end turning operations such as roughing, finishing, groove turning, groove finishing, and thread turning for accurate toolpath definition. NC Programmers can also author turning operations to address B- and C-axis interpolations of mill-turn machines.

Creation and optimization of 2.5-axis milling, drilling and probing operations

The tool path can be optimized for high-speed or point-to-point machining and for a full set of axial operations from standard drilling to complex boring and chamfering. Probing operations are very flexible and can be customized with associated user parameters. NTA extends the 2.5-axis capabilities by offering a best-in-class 4-axis pocketing operation that includes a variety of strategies, island management and user-defined lead angle on the tool axis for better cutting conditions. This operation also supports non-cylindrical and non-conical surfaces and revolution surfaces going beyond the 180 degrees.

High-end strategies from roughing to finishing

NTA offers a full set of high-end 3-axis-milling strategies from roughing to finishing, such as sweeping, Z-Level, contour-driven machining and curve machining. Users can select a roughing strategy—such as back-and-forth, helical, concentric or part-offset—based on the material being machined and the shape of the part. NTA takes tool assemblies into account during computation to generate a collision-free tool path. As roughing operations are defined, the in-process part is computed and used as the starting point for the next set of operations. Users can then create a new roughing operation with a smaller diameter tool. This tool path is automatically generated based on material that remains from any previous operation, including roughing. The concentric strategy control the radial engagement to maximize the efficiency on the machine while protecting the cutter. NTA provides a full set of multi-axis milling strategies, including spiral milling, tube machining, curve following, flank contouring, helix, and interpolated axis along the isoparametric mesh.

Dedicated operations that speed the programming of multi-cavity parts

NTA’s unique approach to global and automatic programming of multi-cavity parts, such as thin-walled aerospace structural parts, significantly reduces programming time. The operations that support this approach are Power Machining and Multi-Pocket Flank Contouring. Users need less geometry preparation and fewer surface selections to define machining operations.

Instant Update Technology and advanced design change management

Adjusting parameters in the machining operation, fine-tuning the approach/retract macro, and optimizing path sequencing are achieved almost instantaneously in NTA with this unique technology. NTA, Integrated within the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform, offers NC Programmers a complete associativity with design tools, product engineering, manufacturing processes, and resources. Users are automatically alerted to product design changes and can quickly assess their impact on the machining process. They can easily update the toolpath program.

Powerful simulation capabilities for toolpath validation

NTA’s highly advanced machine simulation module identifies toolpath errors early in the process to shorten programming time. It lets NC programmers develop, optimize and validate machining with maximum efficiency. NTA has the capability to compute volume of gouge in the workpiece, making it easier for users to prioritize and process gouges in machining programs. Near misses defined by the user, are identified, and multiple tool change locations are supported for a more accurate simulation of the machine motions. The simulation context, saved in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, allows the user to organize his review the most convenient way, ensuring traceability of the validation task. It allows users to program, optimize and validate the machining in the most efficient way. It lets NC Programmers identify toolpath errors earlier in the process and shortens programming time.

Seamless NC data generation, including NURBS output

NTA offers seamless generation of APT source and NC Code ISO format through the integrated post-processor execution engine, the library of standard post-processor syntax mapping tables and Post Processor samples. The output formats can easily be customized. The output is generated and managed in the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform. Additional files generated by the post-processor are automatically saved, so all relevant outputs for any part are current and available at the same location. Key information can be exported for reference on the shop floor. NTA supports the NURBS APT file format, providing greater flexibility and precision for machining free-form contours and surfaces. It improves the quality of the machined part while reducing the generated file size.

Wire EDM Machining

NC Mill Turn Machine Programmer allows users to simulate, validate, and program wire Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) processes. Users have the ability to compute the wire EDM path and program the synchronization of each end of the wire to the part contours. Users can implement 2 and 4 axes programming capabilities with dedicated wire EDM strategies, and visualize and validate their program strategy, then produce the machine code to be used in the real machine. As with all DELMIA Machining applications, users can save and re-use best practices by creating the wire EDM paths, storing them in a template, and then re-using the same strategy on other parts to be machined.