Slashing time to market

Approximately 20 years ago, engineers at Turbomeca, a helicopter engine maker, needed a solution that reduced lead times and eliminated risks during production of high-added value parts, including simultaneous 5-axis machining.

After conducting an in-depth study of the two machining simulation solutions, Turbomeca chose Spring Technologies’ NCSIMUL Machine, says Gilles Cazenave-Laroche, head of engineering at Turbomeca’s Excellence Center for rotating parts.

“At the time we went for the better of the two products,” he explains. “It was the right choice because the solution is very integrated into our specialty, spanning the whole machining process for our compressors, from CAM to the actual cutting of end parts on the machine. This is more than just realistically simulating ISO code.”

After implementation, Cazenave-Laroche saw gains quickly. Given the cost of programming for the 5-axis machines, Turbomeca experienced payback as soon the second year of operation.

Long-term value was just as rewarding, helping to make tool paths more robust and reliable while acting as a training tool for programmers.

“Our task is complex,” Cazenave-Laroche says. “With NCSIMUL Machine, we not only train new employees, we also use it to innovate. By simulating and testing we can explore new, more efficient machining strategies.”
 

Today’s operations

Today, machining simulation and NCSIMUL Machine are operational throughout the compressor production process. Learning this system has become an obligation for Turbomeca’s teams.

“In our line of work, speed is everything. Speed and efficiency, of course,” Cazenave-Laroche continues. “Our parts have a high material cost so we have to get it right first time. Also, any downtime on our NC machines has a direct impact on our throughput and our R&D projects, and consequently on customer satisfaction. With NCSIMUL Machine we can anticipate all this securely in the virtual environment before taking a chance on reality.”

Today’s multi-purpose NC machines are increasingly complex, so even though other CAM software comes with rendering capabilities, NCSIMUL Machine’s simulation facilitates development of machine post-processors. Cazenave-Laroche continues, “Our corporate culture and reputation are based on safety and a very demanding approach. This is what we are currently deploying for this type of new machine with the Spring Technologies’ machining simulation solution.”

As NCSIMUL Machine continues to evolve, Turbomeca is looking at enhancements, including the optimization of cutting conditions, stress simulation to anticipate deformations, and vibratory phenomena. “In these areas, we are working in close collaboration with the innovation teams at Spring. Our goal is the same as for any manufacturer; namely, to constantly cut costs and improve quality and productivity. With its robust processes, NCSIMUL Solutions makes all this possible. This is the challenge that we address daily with our high-tech technologies, notably those provided by Spring Technologies.”

Spring Technologies
www.springplm.com
IMTS 2014 booth #E-3267

About the author: Philippe Solignac is Spring Technologies’ corporate marketing director, and can be reached at psolignac@springplm.com.