Simplify Multi-Axis Programming

Designed for the aerospace, automotive and turbomachinery industries, the latest version of NCL multi-axis machining software features time-saving enhancements, automated roughing strategies and surface-feature recognition. According to manufacturer Numerical Control Computer Sciences, the software can reduce programming times and simplify the complexity of multi-axis programming. New tool profile definitions are stored in an external library file to give users more flexibility in defining the shape of the tool. This enables individual shading for the cutter, shank and holder, individual tool shank and holder offsets and the definition of different classes of tools. To reduce programming time and increase quality, the software is designed to give users flexibility in creating complex tool paths. The new version also includes an enhanced waterline roughing feature designed to generate time-saving tool paths. Stock models can be included as part of the model to be machined, or the system can automatically calculate a contour or rectangular stock model to enable fast roughing of large, imported models. The waterline roughing feature also enables users to specify which portions of the model to machine. Users choose parameters such as stepovers, entry angle, and pocketing strategy. The software processes circular interpolation records as a single arc motion rather than a series of linear motions. This enables quicker simulation of circular records and more accurate measurements of circular cuts, the company says. In addition, surface feature recognition has been added to the software’s measurement feature. According to the company, this enables more accurate measurements of surface primitives such as cones, cylinders, planes and spheres.