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NX Machining: A Complete Solution For Machine Tool Programming
NX Machining: A Complete Solution For Machine Tool Programming
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High-speed machining
Faster to finish
Delivery yesterday may be impossible – but with NX you have the > Maximized
tools to get there faster, more efficiently and at lower cost, while
maintaining the target product quality. machining
Maximum productivity
With process automation, the latest tool path technology and unified
solutions spanning tool design and manufacture, NX can help you
achieve maximum productivity in mold and die work.
Extensive capabilities for efficient die/mold machining include Z-level
roughing, semifinishing, steep and nonsteep area milling, uncut material
The optimized trochoidal
removal, finishing and profiling. Feature-based machining and process-
pattern automatically
based automation can greatly reduce mold and die structure introduces additional loops
programming times. to avoid exceeding permissible
cutting conditions based on
user-specified criteria.
High-speed machining:
hard milling made easy
High-speed machining (HSM) techniques can provide significant savings
in machining hard mold and die metals.
P ROV E N VA L U E
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> Faster
and
finer
Consistent finish in steep and shallow regions
The automatic addition of intermediate tool paths in Z-level in
shallow regions leaves a constant depth of stock in semifinishing,
ensuring uniform cutting in finishing operations.
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Proven multi-axis machining
Comprehensive
NX is the most comprehensive multi-axis NC programming system
available.With proven capability developed from years of experience
in aerospace and related industries, NX offers efficient and accurate
multi-axis machining. It supports a range of methods for defining
precisely controlled tool paths on complex surfaces, with effective
collision and gouge checking.
Flexible
NX includes many flexible methods for defining precisely controlled
tool paths on complex surfaces. Variable-axis milling includes multi-
ple drive methods with a wide range of tool axis control options.
These are coupled with the effective collision and gouge checking
that is essential on many jobs.
Curvature matching is new technology that allows for fewer passes
with larger tools.
P ROV E N VA L U E
> Unmatched
“People say that you have to use a programming language
flexibility
such as APT to get total control over machine function.
But we have total control with NX CAM and it’s much
faster than hand coding.With NX, we can get the tool
to do anything we want, even for something complex
like 5-axis finishing.”
Brian Carlson
NC Programming Manager
Aerospace Dynamics International
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>Total tool
control
NX enables fast, accurate
roughing and finishing of typical
aerospace parts. Geometry selection
is highly automated for easier,
faster programming.
P ROV E N VA L U E
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A complete solution set for multi-function machines
Not all systems can offer both high caliber turning and milling. • Reduces the number of machines needed, as much as 8 to 1
In addition, the programming often requires more complex • Eliminates time costs and possible position errors associated
positioning, work coordinate and tool-axis control. NX has with multiple setups
a highly flexible machining configuration
to accommodate these demands. • Reduces the need for fixturing
• Eliminates transit and wait time between separate machines
Synchronization manager controls
multiple functions
NX provides a dynamic display of each
machining function as a channel on the
display. Start and wait code control the
flow of each phase of the machining
process. Integrated machine tool
simulation provides visual validation Multiple program channels
of the entire process.
NX post builder
Customers and solution implementers can create or edit postprocessors,
working from example configurations and their own specifications.
Standard postprocessors for typical machine and controller configurations
can easily be edited. NX also creates CLS files that can be used as
input to third-party postprocessors.
P ROV E N VA L U E
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Maximizing productivity
Machining simulation
Precise simulation is essential to optimizing the complex interactions
of multiple parts of the machine. NX offers full tool path and
machine tool motion simulation. Motion simulation is driven by
the postprocessed output – and it all happens in the NX
programming environment.
>All in NX
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Programming automation
Process wizards
For everyday use of common tasks, companies can use NX to build P ROV E N VA L U E
process wizards with easy-to-follow steps. Wizards can make complex
software settings based on simple user selections.
Process templates
NX enables programmers to apply predefined process and
setup templates that can be driven by rules.This automates
and speeds the programming task, ensures the use of preferred
methods and tooling and helps the less experienced user.
The user can easily create new templates or modify
existing ones.
Customization
With NX Machining companies can fine-tune the programming
Siemens subsidiary Demag Delaval Industrial
environment for maximum productivity using:
Turbomachinery Ltd. uses knowledge-based
• Tool catalogs
manufacturing applications created with NX
• Machining data tables
to make NC programming an automatic,
• User interface customization
repeatable process.
• Wizards and templates
Incorporating proprietary programming
know-how within templates and process assistants,
The NX Machining Wizard the company now begins NC programming while
Builder provides an easy the design is in progress, eliminating delays of up to
graphical way to construct
three months. NC programmers now support 40
custom wizards to support
your shop best practices. additional CNC machines, and tooling costs have
No programming skills been reduced through standardization.
are required.
> Maximum
A familiar wizard interface
steps the user along a
programmer
predefined programming
process. Wizards like
these can help standardize
productivity
programming operations
and capture knowledge
for the future.
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Feature-based machining
NX programming automation Feature identification
directly builds on manufacturing
• Automatic
features in part models. Feature
• By feature type
recognition, even from imported
wire frame geometry, together
with automatic process selection
and tool path generation, can
reduce programming time by
more than 90 percent compared Method selection
to standard techniques.
• Templates
Feature manager • Rules
The feature manager allows • Parameters
the programmer to easily see all
manufacturing features by type,
detail and programming status.
Manufacturing output
• NC program
• Shop documentation
• Process information
• Analysis
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Machining simulation
Collision detection
NX Machining automatically provides checking for actual or near
collisions between the part, the in-process workpiece, tooling and
fixtures and the machine tool structure.
Simultaneous display
With NX, programmers can review simultaneous metal removal
with a live tool path in the context of a full machine tool simulation,
with dynamic pan and zoom of the view.
> All in
one system
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Image courtesy of Makino
Multiple levels of simulation
Generic simulation
Similar to many systems that utilize an internal tool path, a CL file or
another prepost output to drive the simulation, NX offers a means to
drive its machining simulation from the prepost processor data. For
many machines this provides adequate accuracy.
Postprocessor-driven simulation
For more advanced simulation and higher levels of accuracy for advanced
machines, NX Machining uses the output of the production postprocessor
as G and M codes. This provides a more complete representation of the
machine tool motion and reduces the possibility of errors. For users of
advanced machines such as mill-turns or merging lathes, this is the
preferred solution.
Controller-driven simulation
By adding software within based on the real controller, Siemens can
offer the most accurate representation of the machine tool motion.
Accelerations, speeds and timings as well as controller-specific machining
cycles can be simulated.
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Turning, wire EDM and standard milling
Turning
Turning in NX can use either 2D part profiles or full solid models. It
includes routines for roughing, multiple-pass finishing, grooving, thread
cutting and centerline drilling. Programmers specify parameters such
as feedrate, spindle speed and part clearance. NX turning enables
A- and B-axis tool control. In addition to rich functionality for common
tasks, a special “teach mode” capability provides extra user control
for fine finishing and special cutting situations. NX is very flexible and
allows programming in XY or ZX environments for horizontal,
vertical or inverted vertical orientations.
Wire EDM
Facilitating the cutting of parts in 2-axis and 4-axis modes, the NX wire
EDM programming works from wireframe or solid models. A wide range of
wire operations is available, including multi-pass profiling, wire reversing
and area removal. The package also supports paths that accommodate
glue stops, various wire sizes and power settings. Broad support of wire
EDM packages, includes AGIE Charmilles and many others.
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Postprocessing and shop documentation
Integrated postprocessing
NX includes a post builder capability that graphically creates
postprocessors for 2-axis through 5-axis motion. With the
postprocessor builder, users specify parameters for the
required NC codes and machine tool kinematics required
to interpret the internal NX tool path.
The NX machine tool builder allows the user to add the kinematics
to a 3D assembly model of a the machine – all in NX.
Shop documentation
Process documentation – including setup sheets, operations sequence
information and tool lists – is often a significant time drain and process
bottleneck. NX automatically generates shop documentation and outputs
it in various formats, including ASCII text or html format for shop
floor intranet access.
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NX: supporting a part manufacturing solution
Design to manufacture
With manufacturing extensions the managed environment supports
collaboration between product designers, tool engineers and all
manufacturing disciplines.
P ROVE N VA L U E NC programming
The NX managed environment
“Teamcenter Manufacturing is a powerful and unique product. provides a means to manage NC
No other product offers such extensive and distinctive information programming data, including tool paths,
management functionality that is focused on manufacturing. output code, shop documentation,
It serves as the information management engine for all NX 3 tooling and setup data, all linked to
manufacturing applications. The integrated combination of CAM, the part model.
digital manufacturing and tool design utilizing Teamcenter
Manufacturing as the core component, provides a solution that
is unmatched in the industry.”
Alan Christman, CIMdata vice president and noted authority
on NC software and market trends.
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Fixture designer Tooling manager
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Value added in tool design – maximized in manufacture
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The NX advantage
Throughout its broad product application suite,
NX leverages key attributes that help companies
achieve business objectives of waste reduction, quality
improvement, shorter cycle times and greater product
innovation.These unique attributes directly support
business process initiatives aimed at transforming
product development:
Knowledge-driven automation
With NX, companies can apply product and process
knowledge across all elements of product development
to automate processes and maximize re-use.
System-based modeling
NX structured conceptual models standardize
design practices and allow rapid creation of variants,
transforming development from component-based
design to a systems engineering approach.
About Siemens PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry
Automation Division, is a leading global provider of product lifecy-
cle management (PLM) software and services with nearly
six million licensed seats and 56,000 customers worldwide.
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software works col-
laboratively with companies to deliver open solutions that
help them turn more ideas into successful products. For more
information on Siemens PLM Software products and services,
visit www.siemens.com/plm.