More companies around the world are pairing up their CAD solutions with CAM solutions — and for good reason. CAM, or computer-aided manufacturing, is defined as the use of software to control machine tools in the production of work pieces. It can be used to improve current machining processes, reduce NC (numerical control) programming time, limit material waste and increasing quality of the end-product.
For many combinations of CAD and CAM, one major challenge remains: effective data transfer between the software tools. Often, it is a troublesome process to keep the CAD models associated with the CAM setups, or vice versa.
Introducing the NC Shop Floor Programmer role
Within the gigantic and ever-growing ecosystem of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, one may stumble upon the DELMIA brand. The DELMIA portfolio can be viewed as the manufacturing arm of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It offers a wide range of solutions to help bridge the gap between the virtual world of modelling and simulation, and the real world of manufacturing, production and operations.
One of the solutions offered by the DELMIA portfolio is the NC Shop Floor Programmer role. This is a machining role that allows the user to produce NC programming for 2.5- or 3-axis milling machines as well as 2- or 4-axis wire EDM machines. The tool provides extensive control of the machine parameters, toolpaths and much more. And since everything is connected through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, all data is saved and accessed from one location.
The NC Shop Floor Programmer role consists of these applications. (Image: Dassault Systèmes.)
What are the key capabilities of the NC Shop Floor Programmer role?
The overall goal for the NC Shop Floor Programmer role is to ease, improve and fine tune the entire design-to-manufacturing process. Here is an overview of the key capabilities:
- The NC Shop Floor Programmer role offers a user-friendly environment for creating and editing NC programs. It supports a wide range of machining operations, including: 2.5-axis and 3-axis milling and drilling and wire EDM machining. The built-in Setup Wizard allows the user to quickly create toolpaths and define machining operations without extensive training.
- The CAM solution understands engineering and development process. Through the PLM functionalities of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, users can access CAD models, define machining strategies and generate NC code without any need for data translations between the different tools. This minimizes errors, improves overall workflow efficiency, reduces re-work and maintains complete associativity between the development and manufacturing processes.
- The real-time simulation and verification tools enable users to verify and validate NC programs before they are sent to the machine. This helps detect potential collisions, overcuts, undercuts and other machining errors before any material or equipment is put at risk. Simulations ensure safe and accurate machining operations.
- The advanced toolpath optimization features help reduce machining time, improve tool life and enhance surface finish. Automatic feature recognition features also speeds up the workflow of creating toolpaths that efficiently remove material while maintaining high-quality standards.
- The 3DEXPERIENCE platform fosters a collaborative work environment, allowing users to communicate seamlessly across multiple departments within a company. This real-time collaboration ensures that everyone involved in the production process, from design to manufacturing, has access to the latest data by closing communication gaps and ensuring efficient production workflows.
- The NC Shop Floor Programmer role facilitates a direct connection to the actual shop floor machines, allowing users to export NC programs directly to machines, as well as setting up machines and tools to match the exact specifications seen on the shop floor. The role also supports machine tool probing and in-process measurements, enabling real-time adjustments and quality control.
- The role helps users leveraging knowledge-based machining principles to capture and reuse best practices, machining templates and standard operating procedures. This helps standardize machining operations across various parts and projects, reducing programming and setup time; and ensuring consistent quality. Users can also refine and optimize machining strategies based on past experiences and feedback.
Why should a SOLIDWORKS user care?
You might be thinking: “I’m a SOLIDWORKS user — why would I care about a DELMIA product?” This is where the benefits of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform come into play, as it integrates both the SOLIDWORKS and DELMIA brands. At the foundational level, all brands on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform are connected through the ENOVIA brand of PLM tools. This enables cross-collaboration on the same datasets without manual data translations by the user.
This means that all the data we pour into the system through SOLIDWORKS is instantly understood and updated within the apps in the NC Shop Floor Programmer role. If we change a dimension on the SOLIDWORKS model, the NC programming environment will see this change without any further input or translation from the user. The same goes for the manufacturing data created with the NC Shop Floor Programmer role. All of it will be associated with the SOLIDWORKS data and can be utilized by additional roles on the platform.
In short, the benefits for SOLIDWORKS users include:
- Seamless integration with SOLIDWORKS data ensures that the manufacturing data is always up to date with the latest design changes. This allows for a smooth transition from design to manufacturing and reduces the risk of data loss or translation errors.
- Streamlined workflow from Design to Manufacturing minimizes delays and reducing the time spent on data transfers and file conversions, allowing for a more efficient production process. By having a unified environment, users can work more efficiently and at the same time reduce the number of repetitive tasks. This can be critical for maintaining high quality, while meeting tight production schedules.
- Simulation and validation tools enable users to assess and validate machining operations before actual production begins. The user can identify potential collisions, toolpath inefficiencies or overcuts early in the process — which can be costly and time-consuming if not detected early. By simulating the machining process in a virtual environment, users can validate their designs and optimize toolpaths and machining parameters, ensuring that the production runs smoothly and accurately, reducing the likelihood of defects and improving overall product quality.
- Collaborative functionalities of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform ensure that all stakeholders are aligned and working towards the same goals, leading to more efficient production processes as well as reducing the risk of miscommunication and errors.
NC Shop Floor Programmer role helps engineers go from geometry and a block of material to a final product. (Image: Dassault Systèmes.)
In conclusion, the NC Shop Floor Programmer role offers an extensive set of tools for efficient and accurate NC programming. The role allows the user to do advanced machining optimization and real-time simulation, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving quality and efficiency. The integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform offers a unified single source of truth environment fostering seamless and effective collaboration. Overall, the NC Shop Floor Programmer role provides a comprehensive solution for managing the entire design-to-manufacturing process, enabling SOLIDWORKS users to optimize the manufacturability and quality of their product designs. As the manufacturing landscape continues to evolve, the NC Shop Floor Programmer role equips SOLIDWORKS users with the tools and capabilities needed to stay competitive and succeed in today’s dynamic market.
About the Author
Christoffer Stokkebro Sørensen is an accomplished application engineer specializing in CAD and PLM, with a broad expertise in SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. As an awarded Elite Application Engineer, he holds over 50 certifications spanning multiple Dassault Systèmes brands, including recognition as a SOLIDWORKS Expert and Specialist in both Mechanical Design and Simulation. Christoffer is also the host of the YouTube series “Hitchhiker’s Guide to 3DEXPERIENCE,” where he provides valuable information, tutorials and tips for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, often from the perspective of a SOLIDWORKS user.