Is WinNC required for CAD/CAM?

[Miguel.Hermanns]

Hi,

First of all, I'm new to the forum and to the CNC world, so I'm not a guru in this :-)

We want to buy an EMCO Concept Mill 55 for manufacturing of small prototypes at our R&D lab. We plan to control the mill with a CAM solution, probably EdgeCAM combined with SolidEdge. We do not expect to write our own software or control the mill by hand.

My question is. Do I need for that the software WinNC that the EMCO representative wants to sell me? Or does EdgeCAM talk directly with the mill?

Thanks in advance and greetings from Spain,

Miguel

[Bigbloke]

Hi

You will use a Cad application of some sort to produce your part geometry in the first place, maybe part of you CAM package, maybe not.

The file you produce there is imported into your CAM package and a generic tool path is produced, you CAM package should allow you to simulate the cutting operations on screen so that you can check it all does what you wanted it to.

You will then output a G code file to operate your machine, tool changer etc.

This file is then loaded into wIN NC which emulates one of a number of commonly used industrial CNC controllers (Fanuc, Heidenhain, Sinumentic etc). WIN NC and the controller emulation actually control your machine for you by executing the G Code file output from your CAM package.

Your CAM package will need a post processor (Post) for the type of controller emulation you select to use with WIN NC. Select one, stick to it and get used to it's features.

So the short answer is yes you will need WIN NC or something that does the same job.

If you are self teaching, it's a pretty steep learning path. I strongly suggest you start off with a very simple part in some soft material before you get into long running programmes in expensive materials with expensive and delicate tools.

Good luck

Paul

[Miguel.Hermanns]

Hi Paul,

thanks for your replay and description of the workflow. Indeed we are using a CAD/CAM solution for the design of the parts. And yes, I'm afraid that we are self teaching, so definitely we will first try with soft materials and simple parts.

I read somewhere that the G code is in fact an ISO standard, and that all these controls are just extensions of the base language. If so, wouldn't it be possible to export from CAM directly into that G code version and send it directly to the milling machine, without needing the WinNC emulation software? Specially taking into account that I'm not going to generate the G code by hand by myself, so these extensions which are for more complex paths would be less useful in that case.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Miguel

[M250cnc]

Miguel,

In answer to your question yes it seems that wincnc is part and parcel of the machine.

This is a training machine with a very small work envelope so you need to be sure that is what you really want.

Now for the software part Edgecam is a cad/cam package from what i can see. I use OneCNC and this is cad/cam also but it behaves as one program in that i draw my part, make a toolpath and then verify that the toolpath is correct all done within OneCNC this will show potential collisions gouges any other trouble.

When you are happy that the part will machine correctly you will then POST the file. The toolpath is posted with a POST PROCESSOR that matches your machine setup and PP can be custom designed to match anything pretty much.

There is no simulation on the machine itself you can only CUT AIR.

YOU MUST KNOW how to machine parts to use such a machine, but you can learn by asking specific questions here on the zone or running the simulation on the software.

A CNC machine can help an engineer make complicated parts easily. A CNC machine cannot turn a complete novice into an engineer overnight.

[Miguel.Hermanns]

Hi,

you are right. The combination SolidEdge+EdgeCAM allows me to design the part, make the toolpaths and run a simulation using only one interface. I understand the required post-processing step, although if there is an ISO standard, I don't really see it 100% clear why it is needed, if the CAD/CAM could export directly to that standard and send it to the milling machine. That is the doubt I have/wonder about.

The only thing I don't really see is what has the WinNC software to do in all this. It looks like it does the same than the software package I'm using, that is why I wonder if it is really needed. Since it is sold separately, their is in fact the choice of not buying it.

Regarding the making a novice into an engineer overnight, that step is not the problem, since I'm already an engineer :-) The problem is to fit into my square head how the flow work is in order to understand it and make the correct choice :-D

Miguel

[M250cnc]

Originally Posted by Miguel.Hermanns Hi, you are right. The combination SolidEdge+EdgeCAM allows me to design the part

No Solid edge is not necessarily needed

Originally Posted by Miguel.Hermanns if there is an ISO standard, I don't really see it 100% clear why it is needed, if the CAD/CAM could export directly to that standard and send it to the milling machine. That is the doubt I have/wonder about.

It doesn't send it to the milling machine, it produces a file that goes to a computer. Wincnc has a hardware device that goes in the computer that then makes that file talk to the milling,lathe,whatever machine. The Wincnc hardware device connects directly to the emco IE plug and play

Originally Posted by Miguel.Hermanns that is why I wonder if it is really needed. Since it is sold separately, their is in fact the choice of not buying it.

You do not need wincnc but you must have some form of cnc control software on the computer "the computer when connected to the machine becomes a machine controller" it could be Mach3 or Emc2. But you also then need to build and wire a control and configure the control software to interface to the machine. This part alone can take you months of head scratching.

[Miguel.Hermanns]

Hhhmm, I guess without the WinNC software I will not be able for example to move the head to change tools and basic thinks like that, right? If it is so it is clear that the software is required for the daily work.

Thanks for the help and greetings from Spain,

Miguel

[M250cnc]

Originally Posted by Miguel.Hermanns Hhhmm, I guess without the WinNC software I will not be able for example to move the head to change tools and basic thinks like that, right? If it is so it is clear that the software is required for the daily work. Thanks for the help and greetings from Spain, Miguel

That is correct if i turn of my pc MACHINE CONTROLLER then i cannot use it "The Machine" in any way whatsoever.

PITA sometimes.

Greetings from chilly England

[pulpfiction_ll]

Hey Miguel, im working with emco machines and we can help each other, contact me... and yes, you need WinNC or another software control so you can control de CNC, without the CNC its worthless...