Citizen names open house dates

Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) machining technology will be an important theme at Citizen Machinery UK’s annual open house event being staged at the company’s UK headquarters in Bushey on 16-18 October.

Among the 16 machines on view will be the UK launch of the LFV version of the Citizen Cincom L32-Vlll sliding-head turn-mill centre.
The Citizen L32-VlllLFV with 38 mm bar size option and removable guide bush can carry up to 30 tools. According to specification, this can include six for gang turning, four to six gang driven, four to nine for front drilling, and between five and 11 for back drilling. Both main (7.5 kW) and sub-spindles (3.7 kW) have 8000 rpm motors with 1 kW driven tools (with 6000 rpm motors). Rapid traverse rates are 32 m/min.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Getting the most out of machines

AMB 2018 in Stuttgart will once again become the hub of European metalworking this week (18-22 September) and Open Mind Technologies will present the latest version of its HyperMill CADCAM suite at Stand 2B20. The company’s presence at the trade fair will focus on the HyperMill Maxx Machining performance package.

HyperMill Maxx Machining incorporates novel methods for roughing, finishing and drilling. Open Mind has also been instrumental in developing the cutting tool for this five-axis tangent plane machining strategy. The conical barrel cutter has a large radius that enables correspondingly wide distances between tool paths. With regards to roughing, Open Mind will present its five-axis trochoidal strategy, which offers a tool-friendly way of quickly milling curved surfaces.
At AMB, Open Mind will also provide some sneak peeks at pending expansions to its performance package. For instance, in the future, HyperMill Maxx Machining will be available for 3D-optimised roughing as well as for turning. Meanwhile, five-axis tangent machining is available for corner filleting, a function that guarantees simple radius programming at surface boundaries.
The highly developed HyperMill simulation functions will make a special experience possible at Open Mind‘s AMB stand; visitors will be able to delve into the machining area through a 3D machine simulation on the stand‘s virtual reality station. Those visiting the stand will be able to view the clamps, holders, tools, tool paths and even view simulations from any desired perspective. They will be able to observe complex processes via virtual machining, while hidden processes will be made visible, and it will be easier to detect collision risks.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Latest linear motor unveiled by Anca Motion

At IMTS in Chicago last week, Anca Motion launched its LinX M-Series linear motor automation solution for OEMs. The LinX M is housed in a slim body, and is said to be a highly energy-efficient solution for precision CNC applications or high-speed automation systems.

Anca Motion also revealed its Single Cable Motion System that adopts Hiperface DSL protocol technology by using a single cable to simplify machine integration, reduce waste and offer improved diagnostics.
Naveen Nadesan, Anca Motion marketing manager, says: “There is a clear trend for companies to use energy in a more efficient manner. Replacing a pneumatic cylinder with a tubular linear motor reduces energy costs, achieving a relatively short payback period of six to 12 months. The LinX M-Series linear motor therefore provides a unique benefit to OEMs seeking higher performance, accuracy and reliability in their machines.”
At the show, two LinX motors were displayed in a V-structure parallel robot (V-Bot) arrangement showcasing: a high-speed pick and place application; and high-precision contouring around various shapes. The LinX M-Series is fully compatible with standard pneumatics accessories, such as mounting plates, linear guides and couplings.
“Anca Motion offers a wide range of control systems and has more recently been working largely with laser cutting businesses, providing a complete motor solution for its machines,” says Nadesan. “At the stand we had interactive display panels and videos of laser and cylindrical grinding applications to demonstrate the breadth of our technology.”
The LinX M-series V-Bot demo unit will also make an appearance at the MWCS exhibition in Shanghai this week.
For further information www.ancamotion.com

Enhanced CNC simulation with Vericut 8.2

CGTech has announced the latest release of Vericut CNC simulation software, Version 8.2. With input from thousands of users worldwide, the focus of the latest iteration has been to provide features that improve simulation visibility, speed workflow, and streamline each user’s verification process.

Among the major upgrades are those relating to the user interface, force turning and additive manufacturing modules, to list but a few.
A modernised user interface now uses a right-mouse-button ribbon to put favourite Vericut functions just a click away, and provide convenient access to external applications that programmers find useful. The configurable head-up display (HUD) improves simulation monitoring and visibility by showing the NC program, or machining and cutting status information, overlaid on top of Vericut’s graphical views. HUD provides constant access to important details about the machining process, while keeping simulation views as large as possible for optimal viewing. Furthermore, NC program alert symbols and colours highlight errors and warnings found in NC programs, making it faster and easier to identify problem sources.
An additional enhancement relates to ‘Force’ a physics-based NC program optimisation module that CGTech says analyses and improves cutting conditions to achieve ideal chip thicknesses, while managing the cutting forces and spindle power required. Vericut 8.2 introduces ‘Force Turning’ to optimise lathe turning, and mill-turn operations, when combined with Force Milling. According to CGTech, Force Turning makes it easy to create NC programs for the optimal cutting of inside/outside diameters, shoulders, and in corners and tight spaces – without the worry of encountering excessive cutting forces or high spindle power demands.
For further information www.cgtech.com

Visualize 3D V21.1 launched

Theorem Solutions has released the V21.1 version of its Visualize 3D CATIA V5 to JT solution. V21.1 supports CATIA V5-6R2015 to CATIA V5-6R2018, as well as all versions of JT, up to and including 10.0.

Visualize 3D products are aimed at creating visualisation data for users of digital mock-up, virtual reality or desktop applications, and for companies wanting to share JT data as part of a collaboration process. This unidirectional product can be licensed with Theorem’s JT to CATIA V5 product to create a bidirectional translator.
V21.1 enables CATIA V5 users to create a JT representation of their data and support the translation of assembly structure, geometry, attributes, 3D product manufacturing information (PMI) and metadata. The software can also be used as a data exchange format for popular CAD/CAM systems which support JT.
Visualize V21.1 also includes: a newly developed single JT configuration file that supports all translation requirements from (supported) CAD to JT, removing the requirement for multiple files; the ability to use standard CATIA V5 menus to select Theorem configurations created using the Theorem Configuration Manager or from within the Theorem Unified Interface; and the ability to export JT files directly from within CATIA V5 using the standard ‘File > Save As’ functionality, which helps to reduce the risk of error using familiar menus.
Theorem’s strategic partnerships with Dassault Systemes and Siemens ensure that there is parallel development between the latest releases of CATIA V5 and JT, and Theorem’s Visualize 3D products, allowing Theorem to continue to provide data solutions for CATIA V5 users wanting to create JT data.
For further information www.theorem.com