[Hudiczius]

Hello,

Here is a place where users of NOVUM CNC simulators can share their ideas and ask questions.
At my company we have been using these types of CNC simulators since 2004. We have got 4 simulators for milling machines (3 horizontal machines and 1 gantry machine).
These are designed and developed for our specific demands, including the construction of the kinematic models of our machine tools, and are capable of controlling different angle heads, turning heads (D'Andrea-type), processing sub-programs,macros and so on...

[cncmichael]

We use around 14 Novum simulators in our company.

These can, for example, represent the following machines:

Vertex lathes with lunettes and tailstock

Machining centers with various units, e.g. CNC angle head

Vertical lathes with two rams



These can simulate all cycles such as drilling cycles or Cycle800.

All "self-written cycles" can also be simulated.

[Baselashraf]

What machining heads can you simulate, and are they involved in the collision test?

[cncmichael]

I worked with a lot of machining heads, with at least 80 different heads. Because they worked in tight spaces, collision testing was vital. There were no real collisions on the machine tools.

I have attached some pictures of these.

[Buithucyen]

Should I use simulator programs to test CNC programs or CAM programs ?

[cncmichael]

I think simulations, especially Novum, are very useful.

For me, CAM software only makes sense if you want the "chain" to be continuous, from engineering to the machine.

I don't know of any CAM software that can do all parts equally well.

CAM software is usually much too big, since it has to be able to do everything, determine interfaces, applications, machining strategies, etc.

[Hudiczius]

We only use Novum CNC simulators for CNC programming, and that’s perfect for us, even though we have very complicated parts.

[sztecso64]

I think companies prefer to buy CAM programs, even if they are much more expensive because they are also able to do simulations and companies no longer spend money on simulators.

[cncmichael]

I have been involved with NC programming for about 35 years, the last 25 years as a CNC programmer. My company typically produces single and small series, we produce large parts, sometimes longer than 10 meters, very complex, very expensive, often worth more than 100,000 euros, mainly turbine and generator parts, strict accuracy and deadline requirements. Before 2005, before buying the first simulators, we had problems with high error costs, since then we have almost never had such problems.

We make limited use of programming systems (CAM), such as EXAPT for programming lathes. Our machine tools work with Sinumerik 840 controls, which offer a high level of programming convenience. We use control cycles for programming and always check NC programs with Novum simulators before commissioning.