Peak NC Limited-
Specializing in the programming of extreme five-axis components

In the world of manufacturing, today's programmers face several problems that can significantly affect their production. The manufacturing industry requires fast and accurate programming for every job. With the ever increasing pressure of global competition, today's job shops face the challenge of achieving the highest quality in the shortest time. Fortunately, when armed with the right software, the toughest challenges become less daunting while helping programmers maximize their potential.

Why NCL

NCL is a powerful computer-aided manufacturing package that generates simultaneous two- through five-axis NC toolpaths and provides parametric 3-D modeling. All geometric modeling and toolpath functions are fully associative. A change to the model results in an immediate change to corresponding toolpaths. NCL is ideally suited for environments in which design changes are frequent, such as the aerospace industry. NCL also supports full parametric programming, through which a family of parts can be machined by simply filling in a form. NCL is used extensively in the aerospace, turbomachinery, power generation, tire mold, and composite industries.

Due to the sheer variety of the work undertaken, a subcontract programming company is possibly the most demanding environment for any CAM system. "For us, a CAM system has to be easy enough to use so that we can program simple components very quickly, but still have the power to handle very complex projects. It has to be able to handle components of many different types, made from many different materials, and on many different machine tools", state Lucy Butler, Director of Peak NC Ltd.

NCL Features Speeds Programming

"At Peak NC, we guarantee quality programming, wit the assurance of an experienced and dedicated team to maintain our advantage over our competitors and remain a benchmark against which other companies within the manufacturing industry measure their success. To maintain our competitive edge, we continually upgrade our software and are currently using NCL version 9.6 to program the most difficult structural components", says Lucy Butler.

With the purchase of NCL, NCL/IPV, and PostWorks, the company was able to increase its work load and improve overall customer satisfaction. Training in the use of the software gave the programmers the tools required to develop time-saving macros that quickly create high-quality parts.

According to Lucy, "NCL's greatest strength is its flexibility; the ability to generate highly efficient toolpaths for even the most complex components through a mixture of automation and precise tool control. We have achieved significant time-savings due to NCL's tool control capability".

Another valuable feature is its automated routines, particularly for gouging. "For example, we are able to use the standard machining routines to handle the most common operations for regularly reoccurring complex features or to employ unique machining strategies we define ourselves using macros, loops and data structures", states Lucy. These capabilities reduce programming time, thereby increasing the company's overall productivity and profits.

The company also uses the verification software, an integrated numerical control simulation and verification module. NCL/IPV is a fast and accurate way to simulate the material-removal process of NC toolpaths. The user can instantly verify toolpaths at any time during an NCL CAM session. It interactively simulates, verifies, and displays the metal removal process of NC toolpaths as they are being created. During and after the metal-removal process, the cut model can be viewed from any orientation, cross-sectioned, inspected, and compared with an existing solid model. In addition, NCL/IPV can verify existing toolpaths from NCL or other CAM systems. NCL/IPV significantly reduces the need for costly tape prove-outs and ensures accurate, efficient, and safe NC programs.

An additional feature the company has benefited from is the postprocessor module. PostWorks is a two- through 10-axis postprocessor and postprocessor generator. PostWorks converts output from most major CAM systems in NC data files, which can be used to run virtually any NC device including mills, lathes, mill/turns, CMMs, lasers, ultrasonic cutters, and routers. A simple interface enables the user to easily establish machine configurations, control unit features, and output file formats. PostWorks automatically creates a solid model of the machine and dynamically simulates the machine's movement. PostWorks also provides a comprehensive macro language for easy customization.