Universal software for the programming of CNC cutting machines following contours and punch-presses

Resulting from Almas 25-year experience in CAM cutting-punching, act/cut has been designed for cutting machines following contours (laser, plasma, oxyfuel, water jet, routing) as well as for punchpresses and combined technology machines. act/cut controls all machine brands and optimally takes into account each technology at every step of the programming, from part preparation to NC code generation, from nesting to tool path optimization.

CAD/CAM for sheet metal working

Windows native and compliant with the Microsoft standards, act/cut is a user friendly software. It integrates a Visual-Basic compatible language which proposes total customization (menus, macros, creation of parameterised parts) together with an Excel compatible spreadsheet to easily create paper documents. With act/cut, you really save time: the software operates automatically whenever it is possible, but offers the final choice to the user for optimal efficiency in particular situations. act/cut is an open system that imports part geometries from any CAD software and is easily interfaced with Production Management and ERP systems. Many craft modules can be optionally integrated to the solution: 3D import and unfolding of sheet-metal parts, modules developed for boiler making or ventilation, tube cutting, letter and drawing cutting (logos, trade signs).

alma
Industrial Software
15 rue Georges Perec F-38400 Saint-Martin-dHres France Tel. +33 (0)4 76 63 76 20 info@alma.fr www.alma.fr

If you wish to find out more about our solution, please contact us

Main technical features

Ergonomics, parameterising, extensibility 32-bit Windows native software Integrated editor (Visual Basic compatible) for macro writing Integrated Excel compatible spreadsheet programme for the creation or customization of paper documents (templates, workshop documents...) OLE Automation Support to control the software from outside QuickParameter technology (recovering the attributes on an element of a figure to transpose them onto another figure) SmartPoint and Smart-Constructors technologies (dynamic highlight of remarkable points supported or not by the existing geometry) Possibility of defining a customized working environment (windows, tool bars, etc.) Management of all software parameters in a centralised environment: machining and tools, technological charts, tables of contents, craft functions with several access levels (traditional use, advanced/expert parameterising) Utility programme to calculate the cost price of a part, a nesting or a master file CAD, 2D/3D import 2D import via DXF, DWG, DSTV, IGES, MI (ME10), GEO (Trumpf) Possibility of converting files into black box by batch 3D import (IGES, STEP, native CAD formats) and unfolding of sheet-metal parts (act/unfold module) Optional interface with the Solid Edge and SolidWorks software for automatic CAD unfolding of sheet-metal parts and direct import of resulting 2D geometries Advanced 2D geometric creation functions. Part dimensioning and measurement Assignment of technological attributes to geometries Assignment of technological attributes to geometries (machining, entry points, microjunctions, reconfiguration loops) Case of punching-nibbling: Management of assembly angles, attachment types, avoidance zones, accessibility zones via the position of the turret Management of tool dies by thickness Multi-tool management Possibility of creating work turrets from a predefined turret model (pre-entered positions) Management of clamps in the turret Creation of the work turret as the parts are prepared, with feasibility verification at all programming steps Automatic or interactive assignment of punching and nibbling tools according or not to the work turret Automatic duplication of repetitive machining. Integrated knowledge base to take into account the operators know-how (complex machining, special tools) Visual indication of too important overlap ratios Automatic gouging of recesses (choice of the tool according to the geometry to be recessed, for example: circular recess with round tool or multi-cut) Optimisation of tool strikes for gouging. Nibbling with tools of any kind of shape (multi-cut, banana) Choice and automatic management of part removal and holding modes (trap doors, suction cups, micro-junctions) Visualisation of tool encumbrance (taken into account in the nesting) Simulation of tool paths Management of orders, start-ups and material stock Preparation and management of start-ups in a desktop based on the Windows concepts Taking into account of catalogues during start-ups Optional management module for the cutting activity: orders, stocks (whole and partiallycut metal sheets), start-ups (grouping of orders and parts, history of nesting produced for traceability) Possibility of automatically generating the start-up files (grouping by material, thickness and technology) Possible interface with Production Management or ERP systems Scrap management Utility programme to manage the orders and start-ups independently from act/cut (creation, modification of master files) Nesting Nesting of parts to exact profile Operation in batch (automatic) or interactive (automatic, semi-automatic and assisted manual) modes Automatic control of minimum gaps between parts and of the anti-collision system (with punching-nibbling tools) Simultaneous display of all metal sheets of a start-up with possibility of interactively shifting the parts from one metal sheet to another Choice between several automatic nesting strategies Possibility of part rotation according to any kind of angle (including in automatic mode) Management of prohibited part positioning (symmetry, rotation) and of nesting priorities

CAD/CAM for sheet metal working

 Management of nesting multiplicity (before and after) Nesting of parts into recesses (at n levels) Common-cut or common-shearing nesting (with total taking into account of tool encumbrance) Recovery of partially-cut metal sheets and offcuts of any shape Study of metal sheet formats (with choice of the best formats in batch mode) Nesting of parts around or under the clamps Many possibilities of interactive nesting: part copy, nesting of part groups, re-calibration of nesting zone, part blocking/unblocking Automatic X and Y part replication Machining sequence and tool trajectory Automatic definition of lead-ins and optimized tool trajectories, with possibility of interactive modification (entry points, cutting sequence, including NC commands, cutting direction, micro-junctions...) Choice of the calculation mode for tool trajectories according to the technology used. Check of the anti-collision between flag sequences of entry points and parts Continuous cutting (automatic and/or interactive generation of bridges between parts, reducing the number of entry points) Possibility of flying over (lift the head) or automatically bypassing the contours already cut Possibility of automatic duplication of a parts attributes onto its copies (entry-point position and values, cutting direction...) Cutting of the skeleton (in automatic or interactive mode) Management of pre-leadins (punch for mixed technologies or pre-cut rectangle for oxyfuel) Case of punching-nibbling: Automatic definition and chaining of tool trajectories on the metal sheet per work zone (punching, nibbling, slitting) and possibility of interactive modification Possibility of imposing constraints relative to the use sequence of tools, to calculate an optimised machining sequence Automatic management of work zones (clamp resumption) Management of part removal and/or holding (trap doors, suction cups, micro-junctions) Automatic avoidance of clamps in rapid crossovers Post-processors Integrated PPCBASIC runner compiler (advanced post-processor generator) Programming with or without sub-programmes (parts or contours)

Re-reading of NC files (bidirectional postprocessor) under certain conditions Dynamic simulation of the tool path Transmission of programmes to numerical controls Downloading via serial port DNC Workshop network Functions specific to some technologies Shape libraries developed for boiler making and ventilation (act/shapes module in option) Transformation of letters and drawings into contours to be cut (act/sign module in option) To control drilling and marking heads (zinc powder, centre punch, knife, laser engraving, alphanumeric marking by ink jet or plasma) To control the programmable bevels (oxyfuel, plasma, laser) Specialised functions for the control of NC routing machines (automatic recovery of trimming cutter, management of specific machining) To control part removal systems by suction cups and palletisation management with placement optimisation of parts resulting from several nestings Integrated rectangular nesting to control combined punching-shearing machines To control the cutting of tubes on 2D machines equipped with a rotating axis (requires the act/tubes module in option). Genuine multi-torch nesting for oxyfuel with multi-plate cutting Taking into account of thermal distortion (oxyfuel, laser) thanks to various functions: cutting of a part in several passes, string cutting, specific cutting sequence to dispatch the heat on the plate Automated common cutting of parts two by two for cutting following contours Automatic management of pre-cuts for common-cut work (laser) Laser-cutting management of plates covered with a plastic film (burning or vaporisation). Specific management of speeds, accelerations and slowing downs for water-jet cutting Printout Printout of customised workshop documents (nesting drawing, information concerning the cut parts, machining operations, machine time, tools used, detailed list of parts with bar code possibility...)

The CAD/CAM software suite for 2D cutting and punching

CAD
DXF, IGES, DSTV, DWG, MI, Solid Edge, SolidWorks...

Production Management Software & ERP

Optional modules that can be combined with act/cut:

act/unfold: 3D import, unfolding and modeling of sheet metal parts act/shapes: library of shapes for boiler making and ventilation act/sign: conversion of letters and drawings into contours to be cut or punched act/tubes: modeling and nesting of tubes, programming of the tubes cutting on 2D machines equipped with a rotative axis and driven by act/cut act/manager: management of the cutting activity (job orders, stocks, start-ups) and data exchange with Production Management software and ERP
Alma 2006 - Non contractual document

CAD/CAM for sheet metal working