Additive processes are now common-place in CAM applications. Multi-axis machines and robots are becoming equipped with additive heads that enable new parts to be built from scratch or existing parts to be repaired. The complexity is similar to 5-axis milling where a full machine simulation is needed to oversee all the processes. AddSim lets you simulate the process of adding material. With this hybrid technology you can seamlessly switch between adding and subtracting material for any type of machine, tool and process.

The CNC Simulator is a software component for CNC kinematics simulation. It can be integrated directly onto the HMI or CNC control to provide material removal simulation, toolpath analysis and support for all operating modes. Look-ahead axis data calculated from the CNC controller enables in-time collision avoidance.

The ModuleWorks real-time Collision Avoidance System (CAS) protects your high-value production machines against operator and programming errors. Integrated directly onto the CNC controller/HMI, this component avoids collisions in real-time during in-progress machining processes. Delivered with its own user interface, the ModuleWorks CAS can be integrated either as a modularized component or a standalone product. Out-of-the-box solutions are also available, for example for FANUC or Siemens controllers. The machine builder enables OEMs to easily create kinematic machine models. The Job Setup user interface supports 3D data import for fast and efficient set up of tools, stocks and fixtures.

The cutting simulation component provides fast, high-accuracy verification of stock removal for mill, turn and combined mill-turn applications, plus a full range of toolpath-behavior analysis tools for segment length/type, feedrate and height allowing toolpaths to be refined for optimum finish and quality.

The machine simulation component offers high-performance toolpath simulation for milling, turning and combined mill-turn applications with full machine simulation. The full kinematic machine builder can simulate an unlimited number of axes which means it supports a wide range of different types of machines. Collision detection lets you correct the toolpaths prior to NC code generation.

The Stock Manager tracks and stores the current status of the rest material. It enables users to obtain the rest material stock for consecutive toolpath calculations or an intermediate stock model for the simulation. The stock manager can handle multiple workpieces and complex multi-stock simulations.

Being able to view and make simple changes to an NC file is very useful on the shop floor. The ModuleWorks NC Editor is a powerful shop floor editing tool that can be easily configured for almost any CNC control. The color coded textual and graphical view of the NC-code and an NC-code orientated set of navigation and editing features make it easy to validate and fine tune NC programs.

The Post Processor Framework (PPF) lets you script the NC-output for any custom machine tool. PPF uses ModuleWorks MultiXPost as a front-end component to resolve any machine kinematic. Alternatively, you can use the API to integrate the software into your own toolpath environment, independent of the ModuleWorks toolpath calculation.

The 3-axis component provides a wide range of 3-axis toolpaths for gouge-free machining of triangle-based and mesh-based models, including collision detection and avoidance options for the tool and holder. Strategies include roughing, rest-roughing and a range of powerful finishing strategies. Used in conjunction with the ModuleWorks 5-axis technology, 3-axis toolpaths can be easily converted to 5-axis toolpaths for optimum efficiency and surface finish. For optimal control, an angle parameter can be used to limit the toolpath to specific areas of the model, such as steep and shallow areas.

The ModuleWorks 4-axis software is a subset of the 5-axis component for applications that require shaft-type parts for automotive camshaft/crankshaft machining, rotary dies and oilfield components. The dedicated 4-axis module incorporates leading strategies with a high level of automation that empowers operators with full flexibility and control for easy machining of high-quality parts with fully gouge-protected link and approach moves.

The 5-axis software component is an industry-proven product for high-quality 5-axis machining. It is used by more than 60% of the world?s leading CAM vendors and is the ideal solution for companies who require integrated 5-axis machining technology. The ModuleWorks solution includes a wide and flexible range of toolpath generation strategies and postprocessing tools to support the full range of 5-axis machine tools available on the market today.

The ModuleWorks adaptive roughing strategy supports simultaneous 5-axis movements and ensures constant cutting conditions by maintaining consistent cutter engagement. This greatly improves machining time and tool life compared to conventional constant-offset roughing strategies.

We’ve added a new product to our portfolio: Probing. This first version offers 3D touch point probing. Here’s how it works: Pick any points on a part. The system automatically recognizes the part geometry and uses it to calculate a probing toolpath that delivers collision-free approach and retract motions. The toolpath can be exported as a canned cycle compatible with the native probing cycle on the control.

With toolpath on control you can use all the ModuleWorks 2D and 3D roughing and finishing strategies for milling and turning directly on the controller. The more complex 4-axis and 5-axis cycles are also available, depending on the type and complexitiy of the part.

For turn-milling, the machining areas are now cleaned up more efficiently: you can now detect the “flat” areas of the rotary part and remove the material at the actual part height. Remove rest material on the corners that was left by the Y-axis tool shift. Both features help to remove more material and avoid extra operations.

The ModuleWorks turning component provides powerful, efficient and easy-to-use toolpaths for lathes and turn-mill machines. It supports roughing and finishing operations, parametric and custom tools and offers automatic holder and insert gouge checking.

One key trend of the CIMdata report is the digital thread and the importance of interoperability of upstream and downstream 3D data. To overcome the limitations of proprietary data bridges between manufacturing software systems, ModuleWorks and industry partners are launching an exciting and game-changing initiative shortly before EMO for the digital description of production assets.

With a wide range of advanced toolpath and realistic simulation technology optmized to run directly on the CNC controller, ModuleWorks provides an innovative software solution for control manufacturers and machine tool builders. Optimize processes and machine workloads and accelerate your process and machine setup while minimizing the risk of expensive machine damage and downtime.

The Mesh Toolkit is a collection of functions for creating and modifying triangle meshes. Originating from internal use during the development of our own algorithms, we saw the benefits these functions could bring to our customers and decided to condense them into a product. Several mesh healing, slicing, and generation algorithms are included in this new package. The clean and easy-to-use programming interface lets you get the maximum benefit out of the Mesh Toolkit for your own applications.