On January 24 2013, SPRING Technologies, vendor of solutions that optimize the use of complex NC machines, officially announces the worldwide launch of the brand new version of NCSIMUL Machine 9, its flagship software for machine simulation, taking the user experience of NC simulation to even higher ground. More realistic, more integrated and smarter, SPRING’s ‟ NCEXPERIENCE“ will set the benchmark for ‟ Smart Machining“, a milestone on the road to a production environment in which manufacturers will be able to achieve perfect real-time synchronization of their physical and virtual machining cycles.

Olivier Bellaton, General Manager of SPRING Technologies, says: “This is much more than just a new version of NCSIMUL. It’s a new-generation solution that truly ushers in the smart factory. We have called it the “NCEXPERIENCE‟, because, with NCSIMUL Machine 9, companies using our portfolio of solutions will be getting end-to-end control of their machining process, integrating the creation of cutting tool libraries, optimized cutting conditions, simulation and optimized NC programs, plus the ability to publish the manufacturing data needed by operators in the workshop. Through our process and application-oriented models we automate the creation and distribution of technical content that can now be accessed by an operator right next to the machine, with guaranteed real-time updates of all the necessary information (machining instructions, tool lists, etc).”

With NCSIMUL Machine 9, our customers will be stepping into an NC simulation environment that is more realistic, intuitive, integrated and hands-on, with extended functionalities dedicated to multitask and multi-axis machining centers.

Philippe Solignac, Corporate Marketing Director adds: “NCSIMUL Machine 9 goes much further than the simulation solutions currently on the market. It offers users a unique experience, based on state-of-the-art technological standards, in terms of both ergonomics and ultra-mobility. Realistic simulation, integrating all machine, tool, and material parameters, quickly becomes a day-to-day part of a manufacturer’s lifestyle. Corporate-wide deployment makes it available and accessible at all times, from a CAM workstation right through to the NC operator next to the machine on the shop floor, or even to anyone using a touch-sensitive tablet anywhere in the company. In fact, at our last User Club conference, we showed users that ultra-mobile operators were already for real!”

NCSIMUL Machine 9 has been developed to interconnect with other software packages that are a vital part of the production panoply, notably MRP (Material Resource Planning) and MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems).

 

Gilles Battier, CEO of SPRING Technologies, explains: “This is a big step forward in the development of solutions integrating embedded intelligence dedicated to applications in the production and manufacturing environment. The NCSIMUL SOLUTIONS portfolio pulls together areas that were until now considered irreconcilable. This is because they capitalize know-how, delivering efficient, sustainable production to customers who can now match their manufacturing to the economic challenges facing their business. They can now adapt their processes while at the same time balancing capacity, efficiency, productivity and asset deployment. This will deliver significant competitive advantage in today’s market place. By effectively associating cutting-edge technology with democratic access to tools, we offer our customers new perspectives for innovation in the global machining process, guaranteeing differentiation and significant competitive advantage in today’s industrial arena.”

Simplified ergonomics – for faster, more democratic access to NC simulation

• Enhanced user experience  to foster adoption and robust interaction with the NC machine
 
• Increased performance (X4) to equal more productivity and faster ROI
 
• Extended NC simulation abilities:
  • Generative programming: Automatic G code generation based on 3D motion inputs using the 3D interface
  • Dynamic NC programming: dynamic preview of any code modification, dynamic collision detection
  • 3D functional dimensioning module:
    With this option 3D dimensions can be added to work pieces to create a document describing the list of dimensions that need checking at each machining stage. A step forward towards the paperless workshop
• Tighter CAD/CAM integration – for a leaner digital process (integrated tool libraries and cutting conditions, new CAM interfaces (e.g. Catia V6)