NUM is a CNC specialist, which has launched the new Human-machine interface (HMI) software package. This has an entirely integrated CAM/postprocessor module for more CNC cutting machine part program simplification and acceleration. The software consists of two novel real-time analytical functions designed to enhance quality and cutting accuracy of water jet cutting applications.
Plasma beam, laser, and water jet manufacturers across the world select the NUM’s CNC systems for their products due to the control flexibility and inherent functionality of the Flexium+ platform of the company. Flexium+, launched in 2012, is famous among end users and machine manufacturers for easy usage and control flexibility. NUM caters to the users’ changing requirements and novel cutting machine technology by platform continuous enhancement.
A lot of development in the latest version of NUM’s software is based on Industry 4.0 connectivity principles and has NUMcut, a totally novel HMI, which has substituted the separate CAD/CAM postprocessor computing resources by a new functionality. Users have some form of the CAD/CAM system for part programs for CNC cutting applications upstream of the machine in the production area. The machine-specific cutting data incorporation consists of post-processing the resultant ISO file. This highly repetitive process is bound to have time-consuming resolution of machining issues and interpretation errors.
NUMcut consists of a machine-resident, potent CAM/postprocessor module. Before starting the cutting operations, the part geometry and the desired quality of the cut are the only data that are to be supplied to the machine. Any CAD/CAM software on a standard PC can supply this data.
The control system calculates all other essential data, such as cutting speeds and abrasive quantity as a function of the material to be cut. The CAM/postprocessor module uses a technology database that has all the pertinent information required by the control system to automatically generate an executable part program. The database values are preloaded by the machine manufacturer and users can add or modify it if essential to accommodate new materials.
The database that consists of the expertise of the production company can be stored on the network drive or located on individual cutting machines so that many machines can access it. The NUMcut HMI displays in a clear, unambiguous style all the files that are available to the machine operator. The CNC system has a touch-sensitive screen, which can be used by the operator to determine each successive machine action by clicking and dragging actions from the file pool into a job list. Graphic representation of the current position of the cutting tool and the job that is currently being processed by the machine is done. The operator can decide to change the job list while various production needs are accommodated, such as express deliveries.
NUMcut provides two real-time analytical functions to enable water jet cutting applications.
In the process of water jet cutting, the processing speed must be decreased prior to corners to decrease the wake of the cutting jet to retain the cutting quality. The NUMcut’s adaptive feed control uses data from the technology database to analyze the path geometry and does automatic optimization of the cutting speed to suit in the optimum manner the curve radius or the corner angle.
Water jet cutting has another inherent feature, which is that the kerf shape alters with the cutting conditions. This indicates that a considerable change of gap width can develop, which depends on the speed. The NUMcut renders a variable offset control (VOC) function to compensate for this inaccuracy. The cutting path can be changed automatically so that the final contour of the part remains true to its size in spite of the fact that radius of the cutting jet keeps on changing, which maintains the dimensional precision of each cut part.
For more details, visit www.num.com
