|
Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges Today
Finn-Power's innovative NC Express CNC programming system
is a user friendly, integrated, and automated tool for managing
Finn-Power equipment in the most efficient manner available.
NC Express is a tooling, nesting and optimizing software
package designed to easily integrate into an existing manufacturing
environment.
NC Express is a scalable application - the system may be
used as a single part drafting and tooling program or a fully
automated machine tool management system. The system utilizes
several unique technologies to create a fabrication environment
in which individual parts or assemblies of parts can be retrieved
directly from the database and processed by NC Express for
random part J.I.T. production.
NC Express provides an easy-to-use Windows based Graphic
User Interface. Drop down menus and icons ensure easy interaction
with the system allowing immediate productivity. This user
interface, combined with NC Express' powerful automated capabilities
facilitates optimum production, maximizes computer-controlled
features of the machine tool, and simplifies the effort required
to design and program parts for production.
System Overview
NC Express is a production management tool designed to provide
the maximum positive impact on manufacturing flexibility
and efficiency. NC Express includes the following features
and functions.
General Features
Windows User Interface CAD/DXF Import Automatic Tooling- Feature Based Active Raw Materials Database Orders Management System Automatic True Shape Nesting Engine Fully Automatic Machine Optimization
Windows User Interface
NC Express is an easy to use Windows based application.
Any computer running Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, or NT4.0
operating system can install and use this software. NC Express
follows the conventions of contemporary Windows based applications,
therefore, any user familiar with MS Office Suite or Windows
2000, XP or NT4.0 should already have the knowledge necessary
to work comfortably with this package.
Part Geometry - CAD/DXF Import
 The NC Express programming system comes complete with a
DXF Interface and full CAD package. The interface deals directly
with the unique features and design protocols of the user's
CAD system. Part files are imported and automatically checked
for open contours as well as removal of duplicate line segments.
New to NC Express is a full-blown CAD package.
Automatic Tool Placement
 Auto tool placement is accomplished automatically and if
required, can be interactively or semi-automatically modified.
With this approach any section of tooling placed by the auto
tooling function can be easily reorganized or replaced manually.
Features of tool placement include:
Automatic Tool Placement Auto and Interactive Micro-joint creation Auto and Interactive Destruct Interactive Cycling (single hit sequencing) Machine Intuitive Tool Placement Automatic Sorting
Orders Management System (OMS)
The Orders Management System is a database
in which production  requirements are determined. The OMS
integrates NC Express to most industry standard MRP, ERP,
and other scheduling environments via an ASCII buffer or
directly through SQL, ODBC, or an ADO compliant database.
The parts required for production, quantity, material codes,
priorities and due dates are then picked up and processed
for Just-In-Time fabrication.
Dynamic True Shape Automatic Nesting
 True Shape Nesting uses the true boundary of the part as
it appears in the drawing. This allows a tighter fit between
parts as compared to rectangular nesting where rectangles
are wrapped around parts prior to nesting. True Shape Nesting
allows parts to be interlocked and provides substantially
higher material utilization.
Interactive Part Placement After Auto Nesting Drag and Drop Capabilities Automatically Nest Under or Around Clamps Nest in Zones to Guarantee Part Accuracy
Within the NC Express nesting engine is the ability to do
true shape hole filling. NC Express automatically nests multiple
smaller parts in holes of larger parts while recognizing
the true shape of that hole. This feature provides the user
the ability to plan and affect part inventories with significant
material reduction and savings.
Punch/Nibble Automatic
and Interactive
Optimizer
 The Punch Optimizer transparently references a pre-established
tool library verifying that all necessary tools to produce
the parts are available for use in the machine's turret.
Once confirmed, machine movement, tapping, punching, and
forming operations, tool changes and sequencing are optimized
for efficient machine operation and throughput.
|
710
Remington Road 
Volume
13 Issue 2 -
December 2003