“With a specific focus on closing the design for manufacturing loop, we’ve added powerful new features to help our customers build parts that meet their specifications and run on their machines,” said product specialist, Charles Anderton. “Version 8.0 optimises workflow and helps users find the functionality they need with a minimum number of mouse clicks.”
Many new features have been added in version 8.0, including enhanced support for AFP/ATL hybrid machines, more ways to utilise laser inspection data, display detailed scrap calculations, and other vital analysis tools.
VCPe gives the user the ability to measure and evaluate the effects of AFP and ATL path trajectory, material steering, surface curvature, course convergence and other process constraints as they would be applied in manufacturing. The software also provides produce ability analysis of the fibre angle based on the curvature of the part, and overlap and gaps needed for structural analysis. Tape course geometry can be written to various CAD formats for further evaluation by the user’s existing analysis methods and tools.
VCP reads CATIA V5, STEP, or ACIS surface models. It also reads Siemens Fibersim, CATIA V5 or other external ply geometry and information. 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.
