Machining higher quality moulds at very high speeds that can significantly reduce the machining time is supported by a number of capabilities, with a number of enhancements implemented to Adaptive Milling.
A new finishing operation in which the pattern is driven by one or two sets of curves or guiding curves is supported by Guiding Curves.
Production machining covers general machining of prismatic parts, such as components for machinery and automobiles. Within that, Feature-based Machining has been enhanced with new capabilities that streamlines the definition and re-use of best practices. Users can define, organise and re-use preferred machining methods, allowing for the automation of CNC programming to achieve repeatable results.
B-axis Continuous Turning now supports variable tool axis orientation to tackle complex parts that would require multiple operations and tools if using traditional methods
Turning using Multi Tools sees NX modelling functions allow users to define multi-tools used for turning operations. Once defined, users can export the tool’s 3D solid model into the tool library and use it for CNC programming.
Five-axis machining in NX has gained new advanced capabilities that streamline CNC programming while creating efficient multi-axis toolpaths.
Variable Axis Guiding Curves is a new finishing operation that works on any number of surfaces, including undercuts.
Multi-blade Parts Machining for turbomachinery blades has been enhanced, so that users can now set a custom offset at any point location along the toolpath, which enables adaptive machining processes.
Furthermore, to avoid marks on machined parts, users can control tool axis changes to smooth tool moves. This not only improves surface finish, but also eliminates accelerations and decelerations, resulting in reduced machining time.
In another development, new multi-stripes blade finishing allows users to machine blades in sections, minimising the forces applied on the blade during the machining. And using the new roughing settings, improved slotting through uncut material is achieved.
Merge Operations is useful when machining complex geometries that require multiple operations, which can result in inefficient machining or surface finish marks where operations meet. In the new release, users can create multiple operations and then merge them into a single operation.
And it is now easy to define and use barrel tools to program 5-axis machining operations.
NX Robotic Machining now allows programming of a robot with a drilling head or ‘quill’. NX CAM also now allows programming in inches with code output in millimetres.
Post-processing and Machining Simulation in NX CAM Software
The recently implemented Post Configurator technology provides an easy way to set up post processors in an interactive environment. In the latest release, Post Configurator supports multi-channel (multi-function) machines.
With the new Inspect Tool in Post Configurator, post developers can analyse post-processing, which makes it easy to see the relationship between the variables and events, and the generated CNC program.
Machining Process Visualisation
Using the new capabilities to display the cutting tool, to animate tool motions and to simulate material removal, users can easily visualise the machining process as they program the part.
Machining Simulation sees new simulation and verification capabilities for turning operations help eliminate expensive errors in production. This capability also extends to multi-tools.
Colour coding allows fort a better understanding of the machining process when using material removal simulation. You can not only assign colors to tool types, but you can also assign colors to each individual tool, so you get a very detailed representation of the process.
A constant tool speed is required in material deposition with an additive laser, also on a milling machine to avoid surface marks. NX software now provides detailed information about tool tip speed, such acceleration, deceleration and constant speeds, using the dynamic axis parameters in the machine tool definition. You can also create a plot of the tool tip speed over time.
NX now calculates the in-process workpiece after toolpath creation, which allows simulation of any machining operation almost instantaneously.
Improved CNC Programming Efficiency
The CAM Home Ribbon has been reorganised, so all programming commands are easily available.
A new Geometry Tab has been added to the CAM Home Ribbon that has all the synchronous modelling commands and other CAD functions, like Point, Extrude and Blend. The Assembly functionality and the WAVE linker are available on that Geometry ribbon as well. The Analysis tab has been simplified and is much less crowded.
Support for Convergent Models
Convergent models, which combine solid and faceted geometry, can now be programmed. All additive, and many 3- and 5-axis milling operations are now supported.
Additive manufacturing - New Support Structure Types and Improved Performance
Different materials and printing processes require different support types. As well as support types like block and wall type support structures, NX now supports tree structure types. Furthermore, users can now combine certain support structure types together.
Improved Support for Multi-body Parts
In past versions of NX software, adding an NX part file with multiple bodies to the build tray resulted in all of those bodies being treated as a uniform part to build. Now, individual bodies in the same part are treated as individual parts such that they can each now have their own individual support structure types and build strategies.
Improved Method for Adding Parts to the Build Tray
Previous versions of NX used the standard Add Component command to add parts to the build tray.However, this mean that NX added parts according to the visibility of the objects but ignored reference sets and layer settings leading to problems with the build.
The new Add Part command honours reference sets and layer settings, as well as preventing empty reference sets from being added to the build tray and also warning you if a reference set contains a mesh or facet body.
Multi-axis Printing Improvements
Multi-axis printing has been improved with several new deposition path types. These types mean users can now create smoother 3D output by following a guide surface.
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