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Simulation and Reporting
Full simulation of a nest will give <strong>the</strong>
programmer detailed information about how a
job will run at
<strong>the</strong> <strong>machine</strong>. A
full range of
reporting
options will
offer <strong>the</strong>
programmer and
operator ample
information on
how to set up <strong>the</strong> <strong>machine</strong>. The following are
some items l<strong>is</strong>ted within a report:
Tooling in a single nest or a run of nests
Nest layout
Part information
Time estimation per sheet
Key Features
The following <strong>is</strong> a description of a few
features <strong>that</strong> help obtain <strong>the</strong> high levels of
automation within NC Express.
Teach Cycles
Teach Cycles allow <strong>the</strong> ability to teach
tooling or cycled functions/routines to a specific
geometry. A Teach Cycle <strong>is</strong> applied when
Autotool <strong>is</strong> in operation. Teach Cycle works off
a given tolerance, material thickness, and
symmetry type. If geometry ex<strong>is</strong>ts <strong>that</strong> has a
Teach Cycle libraried, <strong>the</strong> same pattern or
tooling will be applied. The use of Teach Cycle
can vary with <strong>machine</strong> type.
A Teach
Cycle <strong>is</strong> created
to apply a cycled
order of hits for
a round punch –
extrusion – and
a tap (right).
Th<strong>is</strong> cycle will
<strong>only</strong> be used on
material thickness 0.5-1.5 mm. The tolerance <strong>is</strong>
0.03 mm for <strong>the</strong> hole sizes. When a part <strong>is</strong>
Autotooled with <strong>the</strong> same type of geometry, <strong>the</strong>
same tooling in <strong>the</strong> same order will be applied
throughout <strong>the</strong> part. Th<strong>is</strong> eliminates <strong>the</strong>
repetitive task of having to place each of <strong>the</strong>
tool hits for each hole on <strong>the</strong> part.
Automatic Form Avoidance
During punching process, NC Express
knows when a form ex<strong>is</strong>ts within a nest to avoid
smashing <strong>the</strong> form by a non-form tool. Form
protection areas can be set for a special tool to
inform NC Express
of <strong>the</strong> formed area
on <strong>the</strong> nest. If a
non-form tool will
cross <strong>the</strong> path of a
formed area within
a nest, NC Express
will optimize <strong>the</strong>
tool path so <strong>that</strong>
<strong>the</strong> ram will completely ra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>the</strong> tool and <strong>the</strong>n
cross over <strong>the</strong> formed area, avoiding <strong>the</strong>
possibility of smashing <strong>the</strong> form. No additional
ax<strong>is</strong> moves are made in order to avoid <strong>the</strong> form.
In addition to <strong>the</strong> form avoidance settings,
NC Express allows <strong>the</strong> setup of an exit angle
path to provide for automatic ordering of a
special tool when optimizing. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> especially
useful for a louver tool: Time <strong>is</strong> saved during
part preparation and during optimization
because no additional work <strong>is</strong> needed to
manipulate <strong>the</strong> tool path within <strong>the</strong> optimized
nest.
Orders Management System (OMS)
NC Express comes standard with an
MRP/ERP interface to allow customers to
control and track parts <strong>that</strong> have processed
within NC Express to be sent to <strong>the</strong> <strong>machine</strong>.
The Orders Management System (OMS) <strong>is</strong> a
database in which production requirements are
determined. The parts required for production,
quantity, material codes, priorities, and due
dates used to be processed for JIT fabrication.
From job shop to OEM, <strong>the</strong> OMS can benefit
<strong>the</strong> end user taking orders from <strong>the</strong> MRP/ERP
and processing <strong>the</strong>m into nests.
Automatic Common Line Cutting
For punching, punch/shear, and standalone
laser <strong>machine</strong>, NC Express offers fully
automatic
common
line cutting
features.
Common
line <strong>is</strong>
COMING SOON…
NC EXPRESS NEW RELEASE V6.1
Finn-<strong>Power</strong> will soon be releasing updated software
for NC Express…Version 6.1. Some of <strong>the</strong> new features
include:
Networking (Sharing) of nest folders
New nesting features:
– Automatic mirroring
– Coil line nesting
– Increased functionality for interactive editing
Optimization settings per tool to enhance <strong>machine</strong>
efficiency
Improved laser optimization
– More functionality for automatic common line
– Scrap cutting – crop lines in both X and Y
New feature for automatic scripted part generation
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activated in <strong>the</strong> nesting phase and will help to
reduce <strong>the</strong> scrap rate between parts. Once a nest
<strong>is</strong> created with parts and tools in a common
line, <strong>the</strong> Optimizer will remove excessive hits in
order to avoid double punching hits or double
laser paths. Within <strong>the</strong> punch/shear
environment <strong>the</strong> nesting engine will common
line symmetrical parts, ignoring tooling
overlapping from notches. For non-symmetrical
parts in <strong>the</strong> punch/shear environment, <strong>the</strong> nest
engine will check <strong>the</strong> tolerance set and ignore
tooling extending less than <strong>the</strong> grid nesting
tolerance.
Component Stacking Management
For <strong>machine</strong> types requiring stacking of
components
on a cassette,
NC Express <strong>is</strong>
capable of
automatically
configuring
<strong>the</strong> stacking
layout of <strong>the</strong>
components
on <strong>the</strong>
cassette.
During <strong>the</strong>
nesting
process <strong>the</strong>
user has options to determine <strong>the</strong> layout of <strong>the</strong>
cassette. The nesting engine will nest parts based
upon stacking. Th<strong>is</strong> allows for NC programs to
be loaded within <strong>the</strong> <strong>machine</strong> and requires
minimal setup of cassettes by <strong>the</strong> operator when
queuing <strong>the</strong> NC files. The overall outcome of
th<strong>is</strong> feature offers less setup time by <strong>the</strong>
operator.
For even more automation and time savings
for <strong>the</strong> programmer, if a robot ex<strong>is</strong>ts on <strong>the</strong>
<strong>machine</strong>, <strong>the</strong> user can take advantage of <strong>the</strong>
automatic robot suction cup setup via Autotool
to automate more of <strong>the</strong> process.