Virtual-reality-based simulation of NC programs formilling machines

Abstract

This paper addresses Virtual Reality-assisted pre-testing of NC programs and describes the benefits of testing them with respect to processing on the NC control unit. Thereby collisions of machine axes can be recognized, downtimes can be minimized and costs arising from faulty NC programs can be cut. Newly-engineered visualization of material removal in real-time-capable VR systems facilitates an even more realistic simulation of the production process, and thereby enables even those users who are not specialists in the field to quickly comprehend the ever more complex processes involved, and thus to recognize potential errors more effectively. By using the hardware in loop-coupling between a real NC control unit and a virtual machine model, errors caused by the NC control unit itself can be recognized. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.