NCSIMUL Machine 9 Software

SPRING Technologies has announced that it is among the first NC simulation software developers to offer mobile functionality in its latest release, NCSIMUL Machine 9, running on Windows 8 Pro and INTEL certified. Now operators can access a realistic graphical representation of the machining process and other relevant data, in real time, right next to the machine.

"In many cases it's impossible to see what's happening at the tool/workpiece interface," says Silver Proisy, U.S. General Manager for SPRING. "The doors are closed and high-pressure coolant is splashing in the cabinet interior. With NCSIMUL 9, customers can head out onto the shop floor with their touch screen tablet PC equipped with Windows 8 and SPRING's NC Player (NC simulation viewer), and access all of the program's features including cutting tool libraries, current cutting conditions, simulation, other part programs, and all the relevant published documentation."

While the hardware and software capability is here and now, most customers have yet to fully embrace the concept. "We are front runners in this functionality," said Philippe Solignac, Corporate Marketing Director. "It's brand new. How and where it's applied will evolve over time, but we anticipated the need, especially among our customers just entering the field that grew up with technology who will demand the ability to be on the move and not tied to an office PC. We believe it's a work lifestyle on the verge of exploding."

SPRING is a Microsoft-certified "Gold" partner and an INTEL Software Partner. As such, NCSIMUL Machine 9 incorporates new ribbon technology navigation, enabling users to work more efficiently. Tasks are now accessed via tabs that break down into tasks and sub-tasks. The new interface has been specifically designed to work on touch screen devices to facilitate mobility. The intuitive and context-sensitive icons are presented as a rapid access bar, boosting programming productivity.

The "NCSIMUL Machine hub" apps enable users to browse any shared jobs available on the enterprise network or replay NC simulations with one-click. Flexible project-based management, tree organization, project/article/sub-article, jobs copied between projects, simplified search mechanism, job templates are among the new features in NCSIMUL Machine 9.

Also, the software makes full use of Intel's multicore processors and multithreading. Collision detection and material removal calculations are performed simultaneously. Algorithms have been revised and optimized to support ISO decoding, probing, material removal with tools in 3D, and optimized cutting conditions.

NCSIMUL Machine 9 also provides new interactive programming features that automate G-code generation from 3D motions or allow dynamic editing of the NC program to see the consequences in the 3D view. In addition, the newest 3D functional dimensioning module, particularly geared to sub-contractors enable users to add 3D graphics to workpieces and create a document describing the list of dimensions that need checking at each machining stage. This is a significant step forward towards a paperless factory.