NC Milling Machine Programmer

The DELMIA 3DEXPERIENCE NC Milling Machine Programmer (NTX) Role enables NC programmers create and validate multi-axis milling programs, allowing them to perform advanced prismatic milling using 2.5 axis operations and the ability to switch to 5-axis motion. Powerful operations let NC programmers control the machining of complex, highly specific areas.

NC Milling 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 and NC code generation.

NC Milling 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 Multi-axis Machine Simulation

NC Milling Machine Programmer Benefits

Maximize machine tool utilization

The wide range of operations and strategies helps programmers create toolpath programs that minimize non-value-added motions. Programs include high-speed machining features and reduced overall machining cycle time. NC Milling Machine Programmer takes in-process parts into account to generate collision-free tool paths.

Mitigate risk to production

Its 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

Users can quickly author and edit NC programs for multi-axis milling machines. It 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. Users can define and store machining processes for complex operations as dedicated templates and store them in catalogs for reuse. Enterprise IP is capitalized and recycled to make programming more efficient.

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

NC Milling 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 Milling Machine Programmer offers 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, which can be used to determine which machining programs are impacted by engineering or manufacturing changes (e.g. new cutter) and whether machining data is up to date with engineering changes

DELMIA multi-axis robot machining

NC Milling Machine Programmer Highlights

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

NTX immerses users in a realistic environment. A toolpath creation wizard and context-based menus are available to enable quick 3D setup and create 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

Allows users to manage CNC machines, accessories, tools, and tool assemblies. These resources can be retrieved through standard PLM 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. NC Milling Machine Programmer supports default or customized representation of cutter and tool assemblies used for verification, simulation with material removal, and collision checking.

Automatic association of prismatic machining features with part design

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, NTX enables toolpath programming for geometrical-machined, feature-creation design parts—even those with no design feature specifications.

Machining strategies for efficient programming of milling machines

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. NTX 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 180 degrees.

High-end strategies from roughing to finishing

NTX 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. It 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 controls the radial engagement of the cutting tool to maximize the efficiency on the machine while protecting the cutter. NTX provides a full set of multi-axis milling strategies, including spiral milling, tube machining, curve following, flank contouring, helix, and interpolated axis along isoparametric mesh.

Wire EDM Machining

NTX 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, and 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.

Dedicated operations that speed the programming of multi-cavity parts

NTX provides a unique approach to global and automatic programming of multi-cavity parts, such as thin-walled aerospace structural parts, that 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.

Tool path optimization: early resolution of NC machine kinematics errors

NTX lets users identify potential kinematic issues during toolpath computation and automatically correct the tool path when errors are found. Kinematic-related errors such as axis-out-of-limit or singularity issues that are normally discovered downstream during machine-tool simulation or physical test runs are now found and solved at the earliest possible point in the business process to generate huge productivity gains.

Increased productivity from 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 NTX with this unique technology. Built on the3DEXPERIENCE® platform, NTX offers complete associativity with design tools, product engineering, manufacturing processes, and resources. Users are automatically alerted to product design changes. They can quickly assess their impact on the machining process and easily update the toolpath program.

Powerful simulation capabilities for toolpath validation

NTX has the capability to compute volume of gouges in the workpiece, making it easier for users to prioritize and process these gouges in machining programs. Near misses, within the user defined safety distance, are also identified, and multiple tool change locations are also 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 in the most convenient way, and it also ensures traceability of the validated task. It allows users to program, optimize and validate the machining in the most efficient way. NTX lets NC Programmers identify toolpath errors earlier in the process and shortens programming time.

Seamless NC data generation (including NURBS output)

NTX 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 and managed within the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform. Additional files generated by the post-processor are also 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. NTX 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.