Fundamentals

Application

In the Editor operating mode, you can use the Simulation workspace to graphically test whether NC programs are programmed correctly and run without collisions.

In the Manual and Program Run operating modes, the control shows the current traverse motions of the machine in the Simulation workspace.

Requirements

Description of function

In the Editor operating mode, the Simulation workspace can be open for only one NC program at a time. If you want to open the workspace on a different tab, the control prompts you for confirmation.

  • The functions available in the simulation depend on the following settings:
  • Selected type of model, for example 2.5D
  • Selected quality of model, for example Medium
  • Selected mode, for example Machine

Icons in the Simulation workspace

The following symbols are shown in the Simulation workspace:

Symbol

Function

TabStructureIcon

Visualization options

Visualization options column

ToolBox

Workpiece options

Workpiece options column

view3dIso

Pre-defined views

Pre-defined views

save

Export simulated workpiece as STL file

Exporting a simulated workpiece as STL file

SettingsIcon

Simulation settings

Simulation settings window

DCMActive
DCMInactive

Status of dynamic collision monitoring (DCM) in the simulation

Visualization options column

AdvancedChecks

Status of the Advanced checks function

Visualization options column

quality2

Selected quality of model

Simulation settings window

AS_4_24_12_Grafiken_Aktives_Werkzeug

Number of the active tool

AS_4_24_12_Grafiken_Simulierte_Programmlaufzeit

Current program run-time

Visualization options column

In the Visualization options column you can define the following display modes and functions:

Symbol or switch

Function

Requirements

machineShadedworkpieceShaded

Select the Machine or Workpiece mode

If you select the Machine mode, the control displays the defined workpiece, the collision objects, and the tool.

In the Workpiece mode the control shows the workpiece to be simulated. Depending on the selected mode, different functions are available.

Workpiece position

Use this function to define the position of the workpiece preset for the simulation. You can use a button to select a workpiece preset from the preset table.

Preset management

  • Machine mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D
machineShadedmachineTransparentmachineWireframe
  • You can select between the following display modes for the machine:
  • Original: Shaded, opaque representation
  • Semitransparent: Transparent representation
  • Wire-frame model: Representation of the machine contours
  • Workpiece mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D
toolShadedtoolTransparenttoolSelectedHidden
  • You can select between the following display modes for the tool:
  • Original: Shaded, opaque representation
  • Semitransparent: Transparent representation
  • Invisible: The object is hidden
  • Workpiece mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D
workpieceShadedworkpieceTransparentworkpieceHidden
  • You can select between the following display modes for the workpiece:
  • Original: Shaded, opaque representation
  • Semitransparent: Transparent representation
  • Invisible: The object is hidden
  • Workpiece mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D
toolPathNonetoolPathFeedtoolPathFeedFmax

You can show the tool paths during the simulation. The control displays the center-line path of the tools.

  • You can choose between the following display modes for the tool paths:
  • None: Do not show tool paths
  • Feed: Show tool paths with programmed feed rate
  • Feedrate + FMAX: Show tool paths with programmed feed rate and with programmed rapid traverse
  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor

Clamping situation

Use this toggle switch to show the worktable and fixture, if required.

  • Workpiece mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D

DCM

Use this toggle switch to activate or deactivate collision monitoring (DCM, option 40) for the simulation.

Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM) in the Editor operating mode

  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Advanced checks

Use this toggle switch to activate the Advanced checks function.

Advanced checks in the simulation

  • Operating mode: Editor

Breakpoints

  • If you activate this toggle switch, the control opens the Breakpoints window with the following selection possibilities:
  • Skip block
  • If an NC block is preceded by a / character, then the NC block is hidden.

    If you activate the Skip block toggle switch, the control skips all hidden NC blocks in the simulation.

    Hiding NC blocks

    If the toggle switch is active, the control grays out the NC blocks to be skipped.

    Appearance of the NC program

  • Pause at M1
  • If you activate the toggle switch, the control pauses the simulation at each M1 miscellaneous function in the NC program.

    Overview of miscellaneous functions

    If this toggle switch is inactive, the control grays out the M1 syntax element.

    Appearance of the NC program

  • Operating mode: Editor

Workpiece options column

In the Workpiece options column you can define the following simulation functions for the workpiece:

Switch or button

Function

Requirements

Measuring

Use this function to measure any points on the simulated workpiece.

Measuring function

  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Cutout view

Use this function to cut through the simulated workpiece along a plane.

Cutout view in the simulation

  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Highlight workpiece edges

Use this function to highlight the edges of the simulated workpiece.

  • Workpiece mode
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Workpiece blank frame

The control uses this function to show the outside lines of the workpiece blank.

  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Finished part

Use this function to show a finished part that was defined with the help of the BLK FORM FILE function.

Cutout view in the simulation

  • Type of model: 2.5D

Software limit switches

Use this function to activate the software limit switches of the machine for the active traverse range in the simulation. By simulating the limit switches you can check whether the working space of the machine is sufficient for the simulated workpiece.

Simulation settings window

  • Operating mode: Editor

Workpiece coloring

  • Type of model: 2.5D
  • Model comparison function only in Workpiece mode
  • Monitoring function only in the Program Run operating mode

Reset the workpiece

Use this function to reset the workpiece back to the workpiece blank

  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 2.5D

Reset the tool paths

Use this function to reset the simulated tool paths.

  • Workpiece mode
  • Operating mode: Editor

Remove the chips

Use this function to remove from the simulation those parts of the workpiece that were cut off during machining.

AS_4_24_12_Grafiken_Werkstueck_vor_dem_bereinigen
Workpiece before clean-up
AS_4_24_12_Grafiken_Werkstueck_nach_dem_bereinigen
Workpiece after clean-up
  • Operating mode: Editor
  • Type of model: 3D

Simulation settings window

The Simulation settings window is available only in the Editor operating mode.

The Simulation settings window consists of the following areas:

Area

Function

General

  • Model type
    • None: fast line graphics without volume model
    • 2.5D: quick 3D representation without undercuts
    • 3D: realistic 3D representation with undercuts
  • Quality
    • Low: low-quality model, low memory use
    • Medium: normal-quality model, average memory use
    • High: high-quality model, uses much memory
    • Highest: best-quality model, uses very much memory
  • Mode
    • Milling
    • Turning
    • Grinding
  • Active kinemat.
  • Select the kinematics model for the simulation from a selection menu. The machine manufacturer enables the kinematics models.

  • Generate tool-usage file
    • Never
    • Do not generate a tool-usage file

    • Once
    • Generate a tool-usage file for the next simulated NC program

    • Always
    • Generate a tool-usage file for every simulated NC program

    Channel settings

Traverse ranges

  • Traverse ranges
  • In this selection menu you can choose one of the traverse ranges defined by the machine manufacturer, such as Limit1. In each traverse range the machine manufacturer defines different software limit switches for each axis of the machine. For example, the machine manufacturer defines traverse ranges for large machines with two separate working spaces.

    Workpiece options column

  • Active traverse ranges
  • This function shows the active traverse range and the values defined for within that range.

Tables

You can select tables specifically for the Editor operating mode. The control uses the selected tables for the simulation. The selected tables are independent of any tables that are active in other operating modes. You use a selection menu to choose the tables.

  • You can select the following tables for the Simulation workspace:
  • Tool table
  • Turning tool table
  • Datum table
  • Preset table
  • Grinding tool table
  • Dressing tool table

Tool tables

Action bar

AS_4_24_12_PGM_1_Bohren_Drilling
Simulation workspace in the Editor operating mode

In the Editor operating mode you can test NC programs by simulating them. The simulation helps to detect programming errors or collisions and to check the machining result visually.

The control shows the active tool and the machining time above the action bar.

Display of the program run time

The action bar contains the following symbols:

Symbol

Function

StiBStoppedSelected

Control-in-operation:
The control uses the Control-in-operation symbol to show the current simulation status in the action bar and on the tab of the NC program:

  • White: no movement command
  • Green: active machining, axes are moving
  • Orange: NC program interrupted
  • Red: NC program stopped

Simulation speed

Simulation speed

SimReset_small

Reset

Return to the beginning of the program, reset transformations and the machining time

SimStart_small

Start

SimStartSingle_small

Start in Single Block mode

SimStartUntil_small

Run the simulation up to a certain NC block

Simulating an NC program up to a certain NC block

Simulation of tools

  • The control visualizes the following entries of the tool table in the simulation:
  • L
  • LCUTS
  • LU
  • RN
  • T-ANGLE
  • R
  • R2
  • KINEMATIC
  • R_TIP
  • Delta values from the tool table
  • Delta values from the tool table increase or decrease the size of the simulated tool. Delta values from the tool call shift the tool in the simulation.

    Tool compensation for tool length and tool radius

    Tool table tool.t

  • The control visualizes the following entries of the turning tool table in the simulation:
  • ZL
  • XL
  • YL
  • RS
  • T-ANGLE
  • P-ANGLE
  • CUTLENGTH
  • CUTWIDTH

If the ZL and XL columns are defined in the turning tool table, the indexable insert is displayed and the base body is shown schematically.

Turning tool table toolturn.trn (option 50)

  • The control visualizes the following entries of the grinding tool table in the simulation:
  • R-OVR
  • LO
  • B
  • R_SHAFT

Grinding tool table toolgrind.grd (option 156)

  • The control displays the tool in the following colors:
  • Turquoise: tool length
  • Red: length of cutting edge and tool is engaged
  • Blue: length of cutting edge and tool is retracted