NUM has launched an advanced control solution for CNC milling machines that features an intuitive, conversational style user interface. Known as NUMmill, the CNC hardware and software provides a fully scalable control system and is supplied as a complete "off-the-shelf" package.
NUMmill is designed specifically for CNC milling machine manufacturers and control retrofitters. It offers a suite of canned cycles, ranging from simple center drilling, boring and threading to pocket cycles and complex profile milling cycles, all with 3-D simulation for pre-process verification. The package is suitable for a wide range of precision milling applications in markets including metalcutting, woodworking, plastic and high precision machining.
Based on NUM's Flexium+ modular CNC platform, NUMmill is typically configured with three or four linear axes and a single rotary axis, though it scales to suit any size and type of milling machine application. All motorized axes are equipped with brushless servomotors, controlled by NUM's latest-generation NUMDrive X digital servo drives. The NUMmill software features an easy to understand graphical user interface, which employs an interactive, conversational style dialog to simplify machine operation. "In fact, it is so simple to use that end-users can operate machines without any prior knowledge of ISO code programming techniques," said a company spokesperson.
NUMmill Windows-based software provides graphical shop floor programming screens that depict the tool, the workpiece and all associated set-up data in a concise and unambiguous manner. The operator is prompted to fill in the appropriate data fields presented by the human-machine interface (HMI), after which the machine control program is generated automatically and then stored, ready for execution. Online help files and step-by-step video tutorials are included for ease of operation. This conversational style programming helps to save development time, as well as reduce the learning curve for new operators.
NUMmill is supplied as a complete, ready-to-run package that includes the Flexium+ CNC system, software and a 19" touch-sensitive machine control panel, together with all necessary drives and motors. The system is also equipped with NUM's MTConnect interface, which simplifies the integration of CNC machine tools with third party manufacturing software.
In addition to a large number of canned cycles, the NUMmill software provides functions for material removal of basic pockets; these can be defined as circular, oblong, reticular and square. The hole pattern definitions can use a wide variety of geometries, including Arc, Cover Patter, Drilling with Rotary Axis, Grid, Pitch Circle, Row and Single Points. Milling operations can be performed on circular, oblong, rectangular and square pockets. The drilling cycles that can be performed on hole patterns include Center Drill or Chamfer, Peck, Chip, Counter Bore, Tap, Ream-Feed Out, Bore-Dwell/Feed Out, Bore-Stop/Rapid Out, Thread Chase and Taper Threading.
The NUMmill system also provides measurement and probing cycles, to help users meet precision and quality targets, as well as full 3-D simulation with collision monitoring for pre-process verification.
The Flexium+ architecture also offers machine designers, builders and retrofitters a means of implementing functional safety. Available as a build-to-order option for all Flexium+ CNC systems, NUMSafe includes a safety PLC, safety input and output (I/O) modules, digital servo drives with built-in safe motion monitoring facilities and compatible brushless servomotors. "NUMSafe is a system-wide architecture that puts functional safety features where they are needed, thereby reducing the number of components and wiring, which simplifies design and most importantly saves time in implementing `safe motion' functions," said the spokesperson.
For more information contact:
Steve Schilling
NUM Corporation
603 East Diehl Road, Suite 115
Naperville, IL 60563
630-505-7722
sales.us@num.com
www.num.com