TPT March 2012

T echnology N ews Solution for programming tube cutting machines and robots

ACT/TUBES is a user-friendly and highly automated CAD/CAM software solution dedicated to tube cutting. It integrates all the programming steps, including the tube modelling, the launch management, the nesting of sections to be cut, the creation and sequencing of cutting tasks, and the post-processing. It can also take into account peripheral equipment such as the loading/ unloading units. 3D modelling of tubes and of any kind of section bars can be performed with tube designer, a dedicated module of Act/Tubes. 3D models of bars and tubes can also be generated thanks to existing libraries of predefined tube sections and extruded bars. 3D parts can be imported from various CAD systems, either directly or using STEP, IGES or SAT formats. In the latest version of Act/Tubes, a new interface dedicated to the metal construction field allows importing 3D files based on the IFC format. Act/Tubes manages the launching orders and material stock. The tube nesting can be performed in batch mode, with no manual intervention. Act/ Tubes can perform a “true 3D” tube nesting on non-straight cuts in order to save material. The cycle time has been optimised for 2D machines with rotative axes, 4-axis

Act/Tubes can pilot any types of tube cutting machines, including machines equipped with robots. In the picture, a Fanuc robotised cell is shown

machines dedicated to tube cutting, 5-axis machines with one or several rotative axes, and robot cells aimed at cutting tubes. The programming of 4- or 5-axis machines and robots allows a complete modelling of the machine and its 3D environment, together with the machine kinematics, regardless of the number of machine or robot axes. Act/Tubes recognises the tube cutting contours, manages the head orientation,

and calculates the trajectories thanks to a powerful algorithm optimising paths while avoiding collisions. It creates and validates the cutting program using realistic simulation and automatic control functions and visual anomaly indicators. ISO programs are generated using postprocessor specific to the manufacturing machines or robots. ALMA – France Website: www.almacam.com

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M arch 2012