The NCL NewsLetter is published quarterly by NCCS Reader contributions are welcomed and encouraged. Please email or call NCCS with your ideas and comments.

NCL Version 9.7

NCL V9.7 is currently in the beta testing phase and is scheduled to be released during the 2nd quarter of 2009. NCCS welcomes new beta test sites. Please contact support@nccs.com if your company would like to participate. The following are some of the new features and enhancements included in NCL V9.7:

Waterline roughing enhancements

• A separate list of surfaces can now be specified to represent the stock boundary. This allows the inclusion of more complex stock shapes including forging geometry.
• The routine will now automatically detect and machine all planar surfaces which are perpendicular to the current tool axis thereby ensuring no excess material remains at any level.
• A separate list of 'avoid' surfaces can now be specified which can be used to easily block off portions of the model to be machined later or to avoid tooling geometry.
• Solids, including STL files, can now be used as part and stock geometry.

Letter Engraving

Added the ability to define, manipulate and machine multiple font text entities.

Solids

A new Solid entity has been implemented which provides the following functionality:

• The ability to define the following Solid entity types: box, cone, sphere, cylinder, torus, solid of revolution, and extrusion. An STL file can also be imported as a Solid.
• The CUTTER/DISPLY command will now accept a Solid to display the cutter, shank, and holder.
• Solids can be used as input to the waterline roughing routine.
• Solids can be saved to an external file and accessed by NCL/IPV for creating stock, fixture, and machine geometry.

Interface

• Added the ability to change the background color and shading of the graphics window. Shading types include: solid, graduated, and 4-corner.
• Improved graphic performance. Depending on your graphic card and settings, large models will load up to 25% faster and cutter animation can be up to 50% faster. Displaying and erasing of a large number of entities will also be faster.
• The user may now customize the title bar to include simple text, the current part program name, the current unibase name, and the current version number.
• A Recent Files menu has been added to the File menu.
• Added support for Windows style cut and paste in the Command and Status Windows.
• Added a Dynamic View button to dynamic macro call forms.

NCL V9.7 includes a new graphics engine that provides enhanced visualization and optimized performance.

NCL/IPV enhancements

• Improved simulation performance by up to 80%.
• Added logic to detect and correct a number of self-intersection problems associated with STL files.

PostWorks Enhancements

• Added 'Machine Lite' to PostWorks which creates a solid model of the machine for testing axes movement.
• Enhanced logic for reducing erratic rotary axis movement on A/C style rotary heads and tables.
• Improved 'look ahead' logic for detecting and adjusting for potential axes over travels.

Miscellaneous enhancements

• Added the ability to swap the U and V parameters, reverse the U and V directions, and reverse the normal of a surface.
• The length of entity names has been increased from 6 to 64.
• Surfaces edges can now be displayed in a different color than the surface.
• Added the ability to 'drag and drop' a file onto NCQ.
• Added the ability to start an NCL sub-session from the main NCL window. A sub-session acts identically to a new session but does not allocate a new license.
• Added the ability to 'drag and drop' a file onto NCL which will start an NCL sub-session.
  

back

Automation, Accuracy & Precision With The Aerospace Application Library

NCCS has announced that an updated version of the Aerospace Application Library (AAL) will be included in NCL Version 9.7, the latest release of their multi-axis machining software. The AAL extends the capability of the CAM software to address specific requirements unique to the manufacturing of structural airframe components. The AAL is an open-source set of routines that facilitates both toolpath and geometry creation for features common to airframe components, such as contoured flange tops, joggles, closed angled walls, and tooling tabs.

David Schultz, Manager of CAD/CAM Applications at NCCS says, "Most CAM systems offer a generic set of machining and geometry construction routines. The user must then choose how and what routine to apply to any given situation, even if the end result is not necessarily what is desired. The AAL offers solutions that are designed to address specific tasks that are commonly required in the manufacturing of complex airframe components. As a result, and in many cases can be semi or fully automated."

For Example... "The creation of tooling geometry and associated tool paths is always a challenge. Using the AAL, the user simply selects an 'attach' location and the system automatically creates a 'tooling tab'. Because the system 'knows' the purpose of this geometry, tool paths associated with the tabs are automated. All hole making, facing, and cutoff operations are automatically performed. The user can even perform custom operations on one tab and automatically apply it to all tabs", explains Schultz

The AAL automates the creation of tooling geometry and associated tool paths.

The AAL is 'open-source' which means users can modify existing routines to conform to their unique shop practices or add proprietary capabilities invented by their own staff.

Rich Faustini, President of CNC Solutions, a Florida-based CNC programming service bureau says, "When we first started the company, we evaluated and even tried to employ generic CAM products. Functions like the automated roughing worked well but the devil is always in the details. These systems simply did not offer us the flexibility and control we needed to satisfy each of our customer's specific requirements, especially in the areas of finishing and 5-axis machining. Based on feedback from our customers we have customized and extended the AAL to provide us with a unique set of tools that can be found in no other CAM product."

"Users of generic CAM products have no distinct advantage over their competition who utilize the same products, as they are all using the same routines. AAL users not only benefit from the provided task-specific solutions but can add capabilities that only they can perform", states Schultz.

Lucy Butler, Director of Peak NC Ltd. a UK-based CNC programming bureau, explains, "We use the automated routines to handle the most common operations for regularly occurring features and employ unique machining strategies that we define ourselves for more complex details. With this added flexibility, our programmers can very easily adapt their machining methods to suit the needs of a particular client, machine tool, or component. This helps us maintain an advantage over our competitors who are limited to using only the functions provided with their system."

The AAL's high-speed surface finishing function reduces machine cycle time and produces a high-quality finish.

To extend the capabilities of the AAL, users can use any combination of standard functions or AAL functions to program a detailed tool path, for example, the finishing of a pocket. That set of instructions can then be saved as a new function and applied to similar pockets to reduce programming time. The ability to capture manufacturing methods enables a shop to develop standard procedures that produce consistent results regardless of who creates the NC program.

Schultz explains, "Experienced programmers can create an optimized tool path strategy and save it as a new function. The new function can then be employed by less experienced staff to achieve the same expert results. We continually update the library with contributions made by our own staff or submitted by our users. Thus it is a collaborative effort with input from some of the best minds in the industry".

A few of the enhancements included in the NCL V9.7 AAL:

• Improved approach and transition motion when machining flange top features, leading to a reduction in cycle time.
• A remarkably efficient, high speed 'kellering' function for finishing contoured walls.
• Improved efficiency of the multi-axis corner reduction function (rest machining), reducing cycle times by up to 20%.

The AAL offers a unique approach to providing solutions for manufacturers of complex airframe components which can lead to reduced programing and cycle times, increased quality, and a competitive advantage.

back

Events

Westec 2009:
NCCS will be participating in the upcoming Westec show at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 30 ~ April 02, 2009. Click the image for your special free invitation to Westec. Come see us at booth #3282 for a demo of our latest 5-axis CAM solution!

Click here now!

Technology Conference:
NCCS will be participating with technology partner American GFM in the 2009 AGFM/CIACP Los Angeles Technology Conference, the focus of which will be advanced composites manufacturing & repair. The event will take place on April 8th and 9th at Cerritos College. Please contact Dave Schultz at dschultz@nccs.com if you would like more information about this event.

NCL V9.7 Seminars:
NCCS will be offering 'hands-on' training in the use of NCL V9.7. The Update Training will give attendees the opportunity to learn key new features of NCL V9.7 by actually using the product following a series of guided exercises. Dates and locations to be announced.
back

NCL V9.6 Downloads

Download the latest patch from www.nccs.com or email support@nccs.com and we will send it to you.

back

Words of Wisdom...

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
- Robert A. Heinlein

"A society that gets rid of all its troublemakers goes downhill."
- Robert A. Heinlein

back

Class Schedule - Corporate Headquarters

	NCL General Programming April 20-24, 2009 June 15-19, 2009 August 17-21, 2009 October 19-23, 2009 December 14-18, 2009 PostWorks May 18-20, 2009 July 20-22, 2009 September 14-16, 2009 November 16-18, 2009 January 18-20, 2010 NCL/IPV May 21-22, 2009 July 23-24, 2008 September 17-18, 2009 November 19-20, 2009 January 21-22, 2010

back

Corporate Headquarters * 2600 Michelson Dr., Suite 1700 * Irvine, CA 92612 * Ph: 949.852.3664 * Fx: 949.852.3665 * info@nccs.com
European Office * 16-18 Mary St* Prothcawl, Bridgend CF36 3YA UK * Ph: +44 1656(0) 785050 * info@nccs.uk.com