CIMCO Machine Simulation Setup and configuration guide

Transcription

1 CIMCO Machine Simulation Setup and configuration guide

2 Contents Introduction to Machine Simulation Geometry Manager Simulation interface Simulation Report... 6 Setting up Machine Simulation Installation Install a CIMCO Machine Bundle Selecting a valid Machine configuration Defining a machine Adjusting the Workpiece Simulation Report How to define a machine Tool setup Appendix 1: Icons Page 2 of 33

3 Introduction to Machine Simulation Machine Simulation is an add on to CIMCO Edit which is used for simulating the manufacturing process of a workpiece within the environment of a machine. The simulation allows you to observe the toolpath and highlights any collisions or outer limit moves found within the CNC program. Machine Simulation is accessed by clicking on the icon in the Backplot tab. In Machine Simulation, the CNC program is displayed in the left pane of the window. The simulation is shown in the centre and the Geometry Manager, used for defining a machine and for viewing the Simulation Report, is found in the right pane. During Machine Simulation the NC block being processed is highlighted. You can use full screen to make the machine simulation fill the entire screen without showing the CNC program. You can also skip through the NC codes by using the options: Jump to next tool Jump to next cutting pass Jump to next move Dynamic zoom, pan, rotate and measuring functions can be used to analyze the simulation. Page 3 of 33

4 1. Geometry Manager The Geometry Manager is used for defining (building) a machine and adding a workpiece. The Geometry Manager contains the elements described below. Shows head of machine and all additional axis that are applied. Right-clicking this icon allows for machine parts to be added and setting visibility. Shows the table of the machine and all additional axis that are applied. Right-clicking this icon allows for machine parts to be added and setting visibility. Shows the base of the machine and all additional axis that are applied. Right-clicking this icon allows for machine parts to be added and setting visibility. Shows that a workpiece has been added to the simulation. The workpiece can be added by right-clicking on any of the axis lines located within the Geometry Manager. Identifies the axis that will have a linear movement during the machine simulation. Identifies the axis that will have a rotary movement during the machine simulation. Page 4 of 33

5 2. Simulation interface The Simulation interface is used for controlling the simulation and contains the functions described below. Start/Stop simulation Click to start/stop the simulation. Pause simulation Click to pause the simulation. Jump to next move Click to jump to the next linear or rotary move. Jump to next cutting pass Click to jump to the next linear or rotary move. Jump to next Z-level Click to jump to the Z-level in the CNC program. Jump to next tool Click to jump to the next tool change. Show/hide information bar Click to either show or hide the interface, this will expand the backplot window when hidden. Speed and direction slider Drag this slider from its midpoint to the right to forward from slow to fast. Drag from midpoint to the left to reverse the simulation from slow to fast. Simulation progress slider (0-100%) Drag this slider to set a new starting point for the simulation. Page 5 of 33

6 3. Simulation Report The Simulation Report provides information about collisions and limits. The Simulation Report allows you to view all Collisions and outer Limit movements detected within the CNC program. By clicking on any of the detected collisions or limits, the corresponding line within the CNC program will be highlighted. When the line causing the collision or outer limit is corrected, the Simulation Report will automtically update, removing the collision or outer limit. To view the Simulation Report, click on the Simulation Report tab located to the left of the Geometry Manager tab. Page 6 of 33

7 3.1. Collisions Click on the icon to reveal a list if all the Collisons and Limits that have been detected. z Click on any Collision in the list to select it. The selected Collision will then be highlighted. Once a Collision has been selected the corrosponding line in the CNC program, that is causing a collision, will become highlighted. The line in the CNC program can then be adjusted and the Simulation Report will automatically update, removing the collision from the Simulation Report if it does not cause any more problems. Click on the icon to reveal additional information about the selected Collision including Distance start and end, Time start and end, Point start and end and Line start and end. Page 7 of 33

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9 Setting up Machine Simulation Installing the CIMCO Machine Simulation software that comes as an add-on to CIMCO Edit activates Machine Simulation. For Machine Simulation to work properly, you need a virtual representation of the machine you are simulating. Such a representation in CIMCO Machine Simulation is called a Machine Definition and includes information about kinematics, STL files for graphical 3D models and collision control. Machine Definitions can be configured using the Geometry Manager and saved to a CIMCO Machine Bundle file (.CimcoSimBundle) for future use. Bundle files provided by CIMCO can be installed by double-clicking them, which opens CIMCO Edit and copies the unpacked files to the Editor's installation folder. Haas Machine bundle files are included in the Machine Simulation installation and can be used to test Machine Simulation along with this guide. Additional machines require a license to simulate those machines within the Machine Simulation. Please note: To be able to use any Machine Definition, the license you have must contain the specific machine. A machine license is bound specifically to that machine's definition. The STL files needed to build and define a specific machine can be provided by CIMCO along with an updated license. Page 9 of 33

10 1. Installation Install CIMCO Edit with CIMCO Machine Simulation by going to - and downloading the latest version of the software. Once downloaded, locate the installer file and double-click it to begin the installation process. Select the language you want to use and click OK to confirm. Page 10 of 33

11 Select Next to begin the installation. Tick to accept the terms of license agreement and click Next to confirm. ' Page 11 of 33

12 Tick to accept the available install options and click Next to confirm. Select Typical for setup type and click Next to confirm. Page 12 of 33

13 Click Install to begin installing CIMCO Edit with Machine Simulation. Click Finish to complete the CIMCO Edit with Machine Simulation installation. The CIMCO Edit icon will now be availble on your desktop and ready to open. Page 13 of 33

14 2. Install a CIMCO Machine Bundle The following steps explain how to install a CIMCO Machine Bundle file. With CIMCO Edit open, click the Open button in the Editor tab. Navigate to the CIMCO Machine Bundle file, select it and click Open. The machine bundle file will install and you will be given notification once installation has completed. Bundles can also be installed by simply double-clicking a bundle file outside of CIMCO Edit. Once installed, you might have to restart CIMCO Edit in order for the machines in the bundle file to become available. This depends on what version of Machine Simulation you currently have. Please note: In the release version you will not have to close and then re-open CIMCO Edit after you have installed a Machine Bundle. Page 14 of 33

15 If the Machine Bundle file(s) have not been installed, only the default machines will be available in the Machine configuration dropdown menu. If the machines have been installed, they will be listed and available. Image above: Machine configuration before installation. Image above: Machine configuration after installation. To access Machine Simulation, open a valid CNC program and select a Machine configuration - then click the Machine Simulation option in the Backplot tab. Image above: Accessing Machine Simulation Page 15 of 33

16 3. Selecting a valid Machine configuration As mentioned, a valid Machine configuration must be chosen in order to activate Machine Simulation. If a wrong machine is chosen, Machine Simulation will not be accessible and the option will remain grey. Once a valid machine is chosen, Machine Simulation will be accessible. Page 16 of 33

17 4. Defining a machine In case the Machine configuration you need is not included in the configuration, you can define a new one manually. Click on the Backplot tab and then access Machine Simulation. Locate the Geometry Manager to the right of the backplot. To define a new machine you need to import all its parts. To do this, complete the following steps. In the Geometry Manager, right-click the Base icon and select the option Add Machine Part. Locate the stl file containing the model geometry for the Base and click Open. Stl files come as apart of a machine bundle file. Continue to do this for all of the other headings (Head, Table, etc.) located in the Geometry Manager until each one is added (text becomes bold when a part is added). Once all parts have been imported the machine can be saved by right-clicking on Head and selecting the option Save Machine. Page 17 of 33

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19 5. Adjusting the Workpiece Within the Geometry Manager, right-click and select Add Workpiece. Locate the file (valid for machine simulation) and click Open to add it. To make adjustments to the workpiece you need to click on the workpiece located under the heading Workpieces in the Geometry Manager. The Properties table will then appear in the lower part of the Geometry Manager. There are four properties you can modify to make the appropriate adjustments to the workpiece. Translation Adjust the workpiece along the X, Y and Z axis. Rotation (Euler) Adjust the workpiece and rotate it around the Z, X and Z axis. Colour Change the colour of any elements located in the Geometry Manager. By changing the colour of the workpiece it would allow you to better distinguish between the Workpiece and other machine parts when viewing the machine simulation. Unit System Change the unit of measurement. Page 19 of 33

20 The following explains how the four properties are used to adjust the workpiece. Translation Click the small icon to expand the properties of Translation. By clicking on the X, Y and Z, location adjustments can be made to the workpiece allowing it to be moved along the X,Y and Z axis. Rotation Click the small icon to expand the properties of Rotation. By clicking on the Z, X and Z, location adjustments can be made to the workpiece allowing it to be rotated along the Z, X and Z axis. Page 20 of 33

21 Colour To change the colour of the workpiece, click on the icon [...] located to the right, within the Colour property. Select the colour you want and click OK to confirm. Unit System To change the unit of measurement, click on the dropdown to the right, within the Unit System property. Select the unit measurement you want. Page 21 of 33

22 6. Simulation Report Once a machine simulation is configured and running, the Simulation Report provides information about collisions and limitations within the CNC program. To view the Simulation Report, click on the Simulation Report tab located to the left of the Geometry Manager tab Collisions Click on the small icon to reveal all the Collisions and Limits that have been detected. All collisions found within the CNC program will appear in the Simulation Report. For each collision, the report shows the corresponding line within the CNC program that has been found to be causing a collision. Clicking on any Collision will highlight the corresponding line in the CNC program. The highlighted line can then be adjusted and the Simulation Report will automatically update, removing the collision from the Simulation Report. Page 22 of 33

23 For further information about each collision click on the small arrow icon, located to the left of each colision. This will show additional information regarding the collision that has been selected. Page 23 of 33

24 6.2. Limits Click on the small icon to reveal all the Limits that have been detected. All limits found within the CNC program will appear in the Simulation Report. The report shows the limit and the corresponding line within the CNC program. Clicking on any of the limits will highlight the corresponding line in the CNC program where the limit has occurred. The highlighted line can then be adjusted and the Simulation Report will automatically update, removing the limit from the Simulation Report. Page 24 of 33

25 For further information about each limit, click on the small arrow icon, located to the left of each Limit. This will show additional information about the limit that has been selected. Page 25 of 33

26 How to define a machine After a CNC program has been opened the next step is to define a machine. Click on the Backplot tab and then access Machine Simulation. Locate the Geometry Manager to the right of the backplot. To define a machine, all the separate parts that make up the machine must be imported. To do this, complete the following steps. 1. Right click Base and select the option Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case it is Table.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. 2. Right-click Table > C and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case it is C_Axis.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. Page 26 of 33

27 1. Right-click Table -> A and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case it is A_Axis.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. 2. Right-click Head -> Z and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case it is Z_Axis.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. Page 27 of 33

28 1. To insert the Spindle, right-click Head -> Z and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the correct STL file. In this case it is Spindle.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. 2. Right-click Head -> X and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case X_Axis.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. Page 28 of 33

29 1. Right-click Head -> Y and select Add Machine Part. Locate and select the corresponding STL file. In this case Y_Axis.stl. Click Open to add the machine part. 2. Once all of the machine parts have been added, the machine can be saved. Page 29 of 33

30 3. To save the machine, right-click Head, locate Save Machine and click to save. 4. By saving the machine, once all its parts have been defined, the machine can be used by selecting it in the Machine Configuration within the ribbon bar under Editor. This way the machine can easily be reused without having to define all its parts again. Page 30 of 33

31 Tool setup A tool description line, located at the beginning of an NC file, can be scanned to automatically configure the tool for use in the simulation. Information about the scanned tool can be found in the Tool Setup dialog. Tool descriptions are formatted in the following way: Tool Name TOOL229 Tool Type END MILL SPHERE Tool Measurements D = Diameter CR = Corner Radius FL = Flute Length SL = Shaft Length BL = Body Length AD = Arbor Diameter Page 31 of 33

32 Tool scanning To set up tool scanning go to the Backplot tab and select Backplot Setup - then select Tool Scanning from the tree-menu. Tool setup To edit or create tools, select the Backplot tab and click Tool Setup. A dialog will open that allows you to edit the tool that has been scanned or create/edit new tools and holders. Page 32 of 33

33 Appendix 1: Icons Icon Function Play simulation Pause simulation Jump to next move Jump to next cutting pass Jump to next Z-level Jump to next tool Show / hide information bar Adjusts the speed of the machine simulation Adjusts the position of the start point for machine simulation Head of the machine Table of the machine Base of the machine Workpiece Linear movement Rotational movement Page 33 of 33