Comprehensive simulation

: Vericut Verification (including its Machine Simulation and OptiPath modules) for CNC metalcutting and its two composite application packages for CNC automated fibre placement (AFP) machines.

Vericut enables users to eliminate the process of manually proving-out NC programs by simulating all types of CNC machining, including 3-, 4- and 5-axis milling, multi-axis mill/turn, waterjet, riveting and assembly and robotic applications. The software can run alone or can be integrated with the leading CAM systems used in aerospace such as Catia, Siemens NX, Delcam PowerMill and Open Mind HyperMill.

On the composites side, there are two key modules: Vericut Composite Programming (VCP) and Vericut Composite Simulation (VCS). VCP reads CAD surfaces and ply boundary information and adds material to fill plies according to user specified manufacturing standards and requirements. Lay-up paths are linked together to form specific sequences and are output as NC programs.

VCS reads CAD models and NC programs, either from VCP or other applications, and simulates the sequence of NC programs on a virtual machine. Material is applied to the lay-up form via NC program instructions in a virtual CNC simulation environment. The simulated material applied to the form can be measured and inspected to ensure the NC program follows manufacturing standards and requirements. Reports showing simulation results and statistical information can be automatically created.

Customer projects to be highlighted on the stand at Farnborough include a large one-piece fuselage barrel produced on an Electroimpact multi-machine AFP fabrication cell; an aircraft inlet duct produced on a Cincinnati Viper 1200 AFP machine; the challenges encountered supporting a flexible AFP gantry machine; lay-up of a U-channel structure on a 7-axis MTorres AFP machine; and aircraft skin panels and experiments using an AFP head mounted on a 6-axis robot.

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