Machine Simulation & Validation¶
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Status: Skeleton
This document is a starting point. Sections marked with TBD need to be filled in.
Purpose¶
Full machine simulation of the top candidate plans produced by AutoCAM. This stage runs like the actual machine and is meant to represent the real-world cutting job as accurately as possible. Its purpose is verification and ranking of generated plans.
Responsibilities¶
- Determine accurate cycle times for candidate plans
- Detect unexpected issues that would occur when running on the real machine
- Rank candidates to select the best plan for execution
- Validate NC programs are correct and safe for the target controller
Future Direction¶
- Integration of physics simulation (e.g. FEA) to evaluate risk for each operation
- Will likely start with one of Siemens' Sinumerik-related simulation products
Interfaces¶
| Direction | System | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Input | AutoCAM Pipeline | Candidate manufacturing plans (3–5 feasible plans from stock removal simulation) |
| Output | Machine / Machine Integration | Selected plan with validated NC program |
| Feedback | Machine Integration | Real cycle times and machine data for model calibration |
Open Questions¶
- Which Siemens simulation product to start with?
- What fidelity level is needed initially vs. long-term?
- Compute requirements at scale — simulation throughput must outpace machine throughput