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
- Tool definitions according to the tool data from the machine
- Workpiece blank definition that is valid for a test run
Description of function
In the Editor operating mode, the Simulation workspace can be open for only one NC program at a time. With this NC program the control displays the Control-in-operation icon next to the program name. If you want to open the workspace on a different tab, the control prompts you for confirmation. The query depends on the simulation settings and the status of the active simulation.
The Simulation settings window
If the simulation of another NC program is currently running, the control shows a window with the name of this NC program above the function bar. If you double-tap or click this window, the control switches from the active tab to the NC program currently being simulated.
The functions available in the simulation depend on the following settings:
- Selected model type, for example 2.5D
- Selected model quality, for example Medium
- Selected mode, for example Machine
Icons in the Simulation workspace
The following icons are shown in the Simulation workspace:
Icon | Meaning |
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Open or close the Visualization options column | |
Open or close the Workpiece options column | |
Open or close the Pre-defined views selection menu | |
Open or close the Simulation settings window | |
Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM (#40 / #5-03-1)) DCM active | |
DCM inactive | |
DCM active with reduced minimum distance (#140 / #5-03-2) Reduce the minimum clearance for DCM with FUNCTION DCM DIST (#140 / #5-03-2) | |
Advanced checks active | |
Model quality | |
Number or name of the current tool Tip The display depends on the workspace size. | |
Current run time of the program in hh:mm:ss format |
The Visualization options column
In the Visualization options column, you can define the following display modes and functions:
Icon or toggle switch | Meaning | Requirements |
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Select the Machine or Workpiece mode In the Workpiece mode, the control displays the workpiece, the tool, and the tool carrier. Depending on the selected mode, different functions are available, such as a display of the setup situation. If you select the Machine mode, the control additionally displays the setup situation and the machine. | ||
Workpiece position | Use this function to define the position of the workpiece preset for the simulation. You can use a button to apply a workpiece preset from the preset table. |
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You can select between the following display modes for the machine:
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You can select between the following display modes for the tool:
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You can select between the following display modes for the workpiece:
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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:
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Clamping situation | Use this toggle switch to show the worktable and fixture, if required. |
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DCM | Use this toggle switch to activate or deactivate Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM ) (#40 / #5-03-1)) for simulation. Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM) in the Editor operating mode |
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Advanced checks | If you activate the Advanced checks toggle switch, the control provides the following checks:
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Program run options | If you activate this toggle switch, the control opens the Program run options window with the following selection options:
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The Workpiece options column
In the Workpiece options column, you can define the following simulation functions for the workpiece:
Toggle switch or button | Meaning | Requirements | ||||
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Measuring | Use this function to measure any points on the simulated workpiece. The control measures the distance between the measured surface and the finished part, using only the 3D model type. |
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Cutout view | Use this function to cut through the simulated workpiece along a plane. |
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Highlight workpiece edges | Use this function to highlight the edges of the simulated workpiece. |
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Workpiece blank frame | Use this function to show the outside lines of the workpiece blank. |
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Finished part | Use this function to display a finished part that was defined by means of the BLK FORM FILE NC function. | |||||
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. |
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Workpiece coloring |
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Reset the workpiece | Use this function to reset the workpiece back to the workpiece blank |
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Reset the tool paths | Use this function to reset the simulated tool paths. |
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Remove the chips | Use this function to remove from the simulation those parts of the workpiece that were cut off during machining.
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The Simulation settings window
Editor operating mode
The Simulation settings window contains the following areas in the Editor operating mode:
Area | Setting |
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General |
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Traverse ranges |
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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:
With the Reset button, the control selects the same tables for the simulation that are active for program run. |
Program Run and Manual operating modes
The Simulation settings window contains the following setting in the Program Run and Manual operating modes:
Area | Setting |
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General | Model type
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You can open the Simulation settings window only if there is no active traversing command. In this case, the Control-in-operation icon is shown in white.
Action bar
- The 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 |
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Control-in-operation:
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Simulation speed | |
Reset Return to the beginning of the program, reset transformations and the machining time | |
Start | |
Start in Single Block mode | |
Run the simulation 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
- TSHAPE
- 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 NC program shift the tool in the simulation.
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
The tool representation depends on the quality selected in the Simulation settings window. The control visualizes round tools as polygons. The lower the quality the fewer corners the polygon has, regardless of the tool diameter. Large tools also produce a more significant chord error, which means that the representation deviates more strongly from a circle.