SolidCAM CAM Parts Assembly/Shop floor project management

[emilsomekh]

Dear SolidCAM Team and Partners,

A major project we that will do in 2021 and that will be available in SolidCAM2022 -SolidCAM CAM Parts Assembly.

Till now SolidCAM could handle one CAM Part only, at a time.

To give optimum input to a single CNC machine, you actually need to assemble (combine) several CAM Parts together (for example assemble them in a way to reduce tool changes..). Obviously this includes support also for Tombstone machining.

Usually in a machine shop, the prduction manager wants to prepare a CNC machine to do several parts, one after the other (especially in a night shift for example, without operator interaction).

This will be our target - to optimize the assembly of several CAM parts together, thus reducing the total machining time and introducing automation to the manufacturing process.

The next future stage of this project is to synchronize the work of several CNC machines – shop floor project management.

Emil Somekh

[barhoecs]

Many customers are waiting for this big feature!

Frank Barho
Barho ECS

[[email protected]]

Another very interesting project, which will be important for the future market positioning of SolidCAM, because this is exactly what many users are asking for.

Stefan Speiser
SolidCAM GmbH

[GDUDUKOVIC]

Hello,

Very useful enhancement for the users with Milling Machine Centers and of course with Channel Sync. It will be very powerful solution for them.

We should think about fixture definition as well.

It should be possible to create the Database of Fixtures and with "non-cutting points" as well, in order to place the workpieces easily on the fixture.

Many thanks in ahead,
Goran Dudukovic
SolidCAM GmbH

[D.Widmaier]

Hello,

I think this approach for a shopfloor-management is very good to enable chaining of different CAM parts.

In this context, it could also be very useful to use several postprocessors in one CAM project.

For Example, 5x HDH postprocessor and 3x Siemens postprocessor, for single jobs in one CAM project.

This would be an additional benefit for many customers who want to output in single jobs with different posts.

Many thanks in ahead,
D.Widmaier
SolidCAM GmbH

[Hervé Philibien]

Excellent project, indeed such features are needed to win some deals, especially in tombstone application.

Please could we consider a more appropriate name than "SolidCAM Part Assembly" ?

Historically, SolidCAM talk about "CAM part" file, but this concept is confusing and let suppose assembly can't be supported.

It creates some confused sentence like:
"CAM Part is a part prepared for a CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) project." (extract from our SC helpfile)
"CAM Part can be saved as internal into a SW part or a SW assembly format "
"CAM Part can be saved as external into PRT or PRZ format that contain a SW assembly in which a SW part named "CAM" is placed with a copy of CAD file named "DesignModel" (wich can be a part or an assembly itself)

Anyone who do SC training to customer, know the struggle to explain this to users because "Part" word of CAM is mixed with assembly context of CAD.

In France we stopped to use "CAM Part" name and use "CAM project" instead. It is easier for beginner user comprehension.

We replaced it everywhere in French version of the software and documentation, also after we got too many bad feedback/question about file management.

That's why I believe adding the concept of "SolidCAM Part Assembly" would not be appropriate either.

Would be preferable to use instead of CAM part and CAM Part Assembly:
CAM project
and
CAM projects Management System (something like that, it's up to you. Some of our competitors talk about TombStone Management System)

Also for Tombstone application we will need:

-Good Machine Simulation of movement between jobs (to simulate and optimize 4th and 5th axis rotation. Currently simulation jump from last position of job1 to first position of job2, so user can't simulate correctly 4th & 5th axis rotation)

-Ability to define initial stock for a CAM project B from rest material of CAM project A (with link, synchronization and update option) in case a single part goes trough several fixtures and/or machine.

Also since tombstone implies the use of many origins, concept of "MAC" should disappear in favor of WCS (Working Coordinate System) like our competitors do and like on real machine. When potential customer see MAC1 in SC and exact name of origin like on machine in another CAM system, it's unfavorable for us. This is also needed in case of swapping CAM program between several Machines.

We should have a parameter in VMID for CS index management:
MAC1 -> G54 on machine A -> G54.1 P1 on machine B (fanuc) -> $OG1 G54 on machine C (heller) -> G154 on machine D (Siemens840D) etc
MAC2 -> G55 on machine A -> G54.1 P2 on machine B (fanuc) -> $OG2 G54 on machine C (heller) -> G155 on machine D (Siemens840D) etc

Today it's GPP that does this conversion and therefore user never see correct name of the WCS he is using in user interface. Only position can be renamed. Also Origin to Origin transform only display "MAC number". When many MAC are used, it's not easy for the user to navigate between them. By seeing correct WCS name, things would be easier.

Herve Philibien
SolidCAM France

[MarkusRoth]

I do support all of Hervé's ideas strongly.

Markus Roth
C-Works

[KenMerritt]

Many years ago (2012 - 2014) I put together some ideas on this subject. last year I pulled them together into a better document format.
Not all of these ideas are good ideas, but maybe they will inspire you to add your good ideas to the mix
If anyone is interested, here is the link to the document...
https://1drv.ms/w/s!As_KAs-PA-hJnUtq...JMkta?e=8YwtZt

A lot of this may need to be re-imagined, since a significant amount of development has happened since this was written.
I hope this inspires lots of thought.

[Felipe Semensato]

Hello

This synchronization will certainly be fantastic!

Programming a model in different environments and equipment will put SolidCAM as the first option in companies.

The particularity of the process of some clients requires this type of resource - I can't wait to give you this good news!