MYTHS AND TRUTHS ABOUT CNC SIMULATION

Myths and Truths About CNC simulation 1. CNC simulations inside CAM systems simulate real NC Code.

This is not true for many CAM systems in the market. Only few of them are capable of simulating real NC codes. The remaining majority of CAM software simulate the intermediate tool path data (Apt/Cl etc.). This kind of CNC simulation does not simulate real NC code and therefore can not be considered as a real CNC simulation software.

2. CNC simulations inside CAM systems guarantee safe CNC machining.

CAM systems that do not have real NC code simulation capability should not be used to verify cutting tool path. It is too risky to use this kind of unreal CNC simulation to validate the machining process. The only way to have a safe CNC machining process is to use a real NC code CNC simulation software.

3. It is more advantageous to use CNC simulation inside CAM systems.

If it is real NC code simulation, then using CNC simulation inside CAM systems can bring a benefit of directly simulating the operations on a CNC simulation without using a 3^rd party simulation software.

However, there are also disadvantages too:

• If your company uses another CAM system at the same time (one has real NC code simulation capability and the other doesn't), you have to transfer all information from one CAM system to other including the NC code, 3D models, cutting tools etc. again. This should be done manually, since none of the CAM systems in the market are capable of taking data from another CAM system.
• You are using a CAM system that has real NC code simulation capability, however you want to switch to another CAM system since the new one has many benefits and superior than the one you have. This will be a very hard decision for you. You will lose all your investment on your previous CAM system, the CNC simulation module and all CNC machines you pay for additionally on your previous CAM system. You have to make the same investment again for your new CAM system. In addition to that you will buy the new CNC simulation module of the new CAM system and will pay for integration of your CNC machines all over again.

• Although it is advantegous to use the CAM and CNC simulation in the same software, there is always a risk same error will be interpreted as true if they are developed in the same environment. Using a 3^rd party standalone CNC simulation software is like looking at the NC code and the whole process with a different perspective.

4. Using a 3^rd part CNC simulation software is difficult.

It is difficult to use 3^rd party CNC simulation programs that operate independent from CAM systems.

3^rd party CNC simulation programs that are available on the market have integration with many different CAM systems. With such integrations, it is very easy to transfer 3D models, cutting tools, tool holders and WPC locations from CAM systems to CNC simulation with a few clicks. MANUSsim already has integration with many different CAM systems and we continue to develop integration modules for other CAM systems.

5. Using a 3^rd part CNC simulation software is risky. As mentioned above, using 3^rd party CNC simulation is:

• much safer than unreal NC code simulation inside CAM systems,
• safer than real NC code simulation inside CAM systems. It is like looking at the process with a different perspective.

6. CNC simulation is only needed for complex part machining. CNC simulation is a waste of time for most of the parts.

Collisions on CNC machines can always happen even when you are cutting the most simple parts on earth. When you think about your past experiences, you will confirm that it's true without any doubt. Therefore, this myth is totally wrong.

7. CNC simulation is a luxury. You need to pay a lot for software itself and you will also pay for integration of each CNC machine tools that you have.

Yes, this is true that you have to pay some amount for a CNC simulation software. However, when you think about the collisions that are prevented and the time you gain on your production, these fees are not too much.

Please also contact us to learn our non-threatening prices. We are offering affordable prices both for CNC simulation software and integration of CNC machines.

8. CNC simulation can only be used to verify NC codes.
This is not true. A CNC simulation software should be capable of performing additional tasks like:

• Optimizing cutting tool lengths,
• Controlling cutting conditions (max feedrate, max spindle, max depth of cut control etc.)
• Optimizing uncut movements (by deleting or increasing the feedrates),

• Optimizing physical cutting conditions (calculating torques and suggesting more efficient feedrates),
• Optimizing NC programs and adding special macros to perform specific tasks, and so on...

9. You need to train yourself a lot to use a CNC simulation software.

This depends on the CNC simulation software you are using. A CNC simulation software should not be difficult to use. As MANUS, we are always working on how to simplfy things for end-users.

We already have automatic transfer capabilities from some major CAM systems and we continue to work adding more CAM systems to our MANUSsim software.

And most importantly it only takes half of a day to train a new user for using MANUSsim.

You can try yourself and see how easy to use MANUSsim.