Hurco Control: A conversation about G-code

Hurco is known for its conversational control, which only makes sense considering the company's co-founder Gerald Roch invented that form of CNC programming, and, the company says, it remains the most powerful and intuitive conversational programming on the market today. 

However, even machine shops who use G-code and rely on CAD/CAM software have found increased productivity by leveraging the versatility of the Hurco control. These shops often use NC for the complex parts, but use conversational programming for one-offs, simple 2D work, and fixturing. Or they use NC/Conversational Merge, a powerful control feature exclusive to Hurco CNC machines.

“Some people think of Hurco as having that conversational control, but the G-code capability of the integrated Hurco control is considered even more powerful than other controls due to the speed it processes code, as well as other usability features," said Mike Cope, a Hurco product technical specialist. “At Hurco, the skills gap and labor shortages our customers face drive us to make sure the Hurco control is easy to learn, easy to use, and is the most versatile control in the industry whether a shop uses CAD/CAM or conversational."

Mastercam Applications Engineer Jesse Trinque conducted a demo on a Hurco VMX42HSRTi and said of the control, “It was moving through code at an unbelievable pace, and really at a level far above the price point Hurco is at. There are machines that cost double, triple what this machine costs and don't move as well."

Due to the robust NC capabilities of the Hurco control, shops can use their existing programs and don't have to change their current processes. The unrivaled flexibility of the Hurco control is further enhanced by NC/Conversational Merge, a feature Hurco developed that allows users to apply conversational features, such as pattern operations, scaling, tool probing, part probing, and an abundance of work offsets to NC programs.

Another skills gap buster from Hurco is their Job Shop Automation powered by ProCobots.

“With Hurco automation, you don't run into the bottle neck or expense of an integrator to set up your automation because you don't need to program the robot," explained Cope. “Instead, you program the automation right on the Hurco control with the Automation Job Manager feature. This gives our customers complete control over their automation — quick changeover (less than 5 minutes), flexibility (ability to move the robot to another Hurco machine), quick installation, and no robot programming."

Whether a machinist decides to use conversational, NC, or NC/Conversational Merge programming, there are multiple control features that are independent of the type of programming. A few of the features deemed customer favorites include Advanced Verification Graphics with 3D Solid Rendering, 3D Import, Data Block Search, and the True Interrupt Cycle.

• The Advanced Verification Graphics feature lets the user view a solid rendering of the tool path that displays dynamic rotation, tool cut simulation, and dynamic view manipulation. This feature reduces scrap, programming time, and proves out the part program.
• 3D Import includes Solid Model Import and 3D DXF. Solid Model Import allows the user to program at the CNC control directly from a STP file. The efficiency provided by the Solid Model Import feature is further enhanced with 5-sided programming because it automatically creates the necessary Transform Plane blocks. 3D DXF provides the ability to gather Z-depth information from the DXF file and program from splines.
• The Hurco control also simplifies the tedious task of searching for a data block or line of code during the editing process with its Data Block Search feature. Users can easily touch the selection they need to edit on the graphics screen, and the cursor will jump to the corresponding program selection.
• The True Interrupt Cycle eliminates the need to teach the control the path the tool takes when it retracts and returns to the part. When the Interrupt button on the control is pressed, the spindle stops cutting, the coolant shuts off, and the tool automatically retracts to Z home. The operator can jog the machine in any direction to check the part or change tool inserts. Then, simply press two buttons, and the cycle automatically resumes right where it left off and at the speed you choose.

Powered by WinMax, Hurco's control also boasts technical specifications (standard, not an upcharge) that are better than any CNC control in the industry. In addition to the 10,000-block lookahead that Hurco's patented UltiMotion feature provides, some of the control's other robust technical specifications that are standard include 128-GB solid-state hard drives, 4 GBs of RAM, 2.7-GHz dual-core processors, and 15-inch LCD touchscreen control console monitors.

Hurco is dedicated to continuous innovation to add functionality that helps customers increase productivity and profitability, and to maintain Hurco's status as the easiest control to program, which helps customers navigate labor shortages and the skills gap.