Sheet metal unfolding / bending act/bend - ALMA - #2

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Product flyer Main functions • Hierarchical display (tree-view) of the cell components, the part and folds. • Possibility to work from this tree as from a directory and to display contextual information (possible actions) depending on the tree item selection. • Realistic and complete 3D visualization of the cell equipment and environment. • Visualization of the cell ruler with the different tools positioned on it; tool positions can be interactively modified. • Visualization of the unfolded part with the different folds numbered and display of the active tool and die. • Possibility to memorize preferred views - function keys available to easily retrieve some key positions. • Possibility to keep record of a view of each planned bend for the manufacturing report. • Tool segmentation to generate the appropriate length for the bend to process. 2D/3D import • Integration with the act/unfold module for the creation and unfolding of sheet-metal parts processed in act/bend. • 3D import of sheet-metal parts via act/unfold and neutral (IGES, STEP) or native formats (Catia® v4/v5, Inventor®, ProEngineer®, SAT/ ACIS, Solid Edge®, SolidWorks®, Parasolid®). • Import/display of 2D geometry and edition of part bending information, including the K-value, the metal sheet elongation degree, the internal radius, etc.) Bending configuration management • A large variety of bend types available, including air-, V-, hemming and step bend. • Management of single and multiple bends. • Interactive or automated back-gauge (4-, 5- or 6-axis configurations) according to the 3D-piece geometry constraints and the possible positioning of available fingers. Fold sequencing • Scenarios based on the use of a minimum of tools and manipulations. • Possibility of interactive modification of the sequence to test alternative solutions. Tool interaction and management • Support of various manufacturers press-brake tools with the possibility to import the tools, to create new profiles or modify act/bend existing ones using act/bend 2D CAD editor. • Management of various customizable tool libraries and tool configuration parameters. • Support of front/rear and up/down tool mounting allowing more space for the working area. Selection of tools • Automatic tool selection and positioning taking into account the tool availability and the folding radius. • Possibility to interactively change tools for a given operation. • Automatic calculation of the tool width required to fold the part according to the segments actually available. • Automatic taper tool selection to avoid collisions. Positioning of finger stops • Automatic positioning of finger stops. • Management of several finger stop types and configurations. • Interactive management of finger stops with automatic processing of collisions during finger stops positioning. • Automatic propositions to combine finger stop positions according to the shape of the part. Automated bending process Possibility to automate the complete bending process, which includes: the bending sequence, the tool selection and positioning, the back gauge positioning; at any moment, the user can manually modify or adjust the settings or scenarii proposed by act/bend. Realistic 3D simulation • Realistic simulation of the folding in real time, based on 3D models: part, machine, rules, tools and dies. • Automatic detection and visualization of collisions. • Simple switch between the Modification and Simulation modes; during the whole process the user can change parameters at any time. Generation of NC programs Automatic generation of NC programs in the native format of the controller. Creation of manufacturing reports • Creation of a complete or simplified manufacturing report. • List of tools used and positioning. • Summary of the different folds with all the parameters necessary to their execution (fold detail, radius, axes involved, etc.) • Detail of the different folds with the positions of the finger stop axis chosen to execute them. © Alma 2012 - Non contractual document Working environment