CGTech to Show New Fiber Placement Programming Software Features

Irvine, California – At the 2011 JEC Composites show, March 29-31, 2011 at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, CGTech will be demonstrating the process of programming automated composite machinery.

Visitors to CGTech’s stand, X46, will have the opportunity to receive a thorough overview of the steps needed to get from a CAD designed composite part to CNC programs that drive an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machine. There will be updated information on projects presented at past JEC events, as well as information on new projects that highlight the implementation and use of machine independent off-line NC programming software for AFP machines. Current customer projects to be highlighted include: a large one-piece fuselage barrel on an Electroimpact multi-machine AFP fabrication cell; an aircraft inlet duct on a Cincinnati Viper 1200 AFP machine; the challenges encountered supporting a flexible AFP gantry machine; layup of a U-channel structure on a 7-axis mTorres AFP machine; and aircraft skin panels and experiments using an AFP head mounted on a 6-axis robot.

“Manufacturers of AFP machinery typically supply in-house developed off-line NC programming software with their machine, forcing companies to inconveniently adopt multiple software applications for multiple brands of machines,” said CGTech Product Marketing Manager Bill Hasenjaeger. “But to survive in this industry, a company must be able select the best machine for the job, without the cost and risk associated with being locked to a single machine supplier.”

Throughout the show, CGTech will be demonstrating VERICUT Composite Applications: VERICUT Composite Programming (VCP) & VERICUT Composite Simulation (VCS).

VCP reads CATIA V5 or ACIS surface models, and external ply geometry and information from FiberSim or CATIA V5. VCP then adds material to fill the plies according to user-specified manufacturing standards and requirements. Layup paths are linked together to form specific layup sequences and are output as NC programs for the automated layup machine.

VCS reads CAD models and NC programs, either from VCP or other composite layup path-generation applications, and simulates the sequence of NC programs on a virtual machine. Material is applied to the layup form via NC program instructions in a virtual CNC simulation environment. The simulated material applied to the form can be measured and inspected to ensure the NC program follows manufacturing standards and requirements. A report showing simulation results and statistical information can be automatically created.

CGTech will also be exhibiting its latest version of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimization software. VERICUT is CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software that enables users to eliminate the process of manually proving-out NC programs. VERICUT simulates all types of CNC machining, including drilling and trimming of composite parts, water jet, riveting, robotics, mill/turn and parallel kinematics. VERICUT runs standalone, but can also be integrated with leading CAM systems.