At the JEC Composites Show, March 12-14, 2013 at the Paris Expo, Porte de
Versailles, CGTech will demonstrate its new programming and simulation software
for Automated Tape Laying (ATL) machines. The new capability complements
CGTech’s existing composite software applications for Automated Fiber Placement
(AFP), which will also be on display in Hall 1, Stand R66.

“We were pleased to work with MTorres to develop programming and simulation
software for ATL machines,” says CGTech Product Marketing Manager, Bill
Hasenjaeger. “CGTech’s manufacturing software expertise, combined with MTorres’
expertise in their ATL equipment and the ATL process has allowed us to create a
high-quality set of ATL features in our composites automation software.”

Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to receive a thorough overview of the steps
needed to get from a CAD designed composite part to the NC programs that drive
automated composite machinery. There will also be updated information on
projects that highlight the implementation and use of machine independent
off-line NC programming and simulation software for AFP and ATL machines.

“Manufacturers of AFP and ATL machinery typically supply in-house developed off-line NC
programming software that uniquely supports their machine. Thus companies need
to adopt multiple software applications if they implement multiple machine
brands,” says Bill Hasenjaeger. “For future growth, a company should be able to
select the best factory equipment for the job, without the added cost and time
associated with using and supporting multiple software applications for
different CNC machines.”

Throughout the show, CGTech will be demonstrating VERICUT Composite Applications: VERICUT
Composite Paths for Engineering (VCPe), VERICUT Composite Programming (VCP) and
VERICUT Composite Simulation (VCS).

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 produceability 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.

CGTech will also be exhibiting its latest version of VERICUT software. VERICUT is CNC
machine tool simulation, verification and optimisation software that enables
users to eliminate the process of manually proving-out NC programs. VERICUT
simulates all types of CNC machining, including drilling and trimming of
composite parts, water jet, riveting, robotics, mill/turn and parallel
kinematics. VERICUT runs standalone, but can also be integrated with leading
CAM systems including Dassault Systemes CATIA, Siemens NX CAM, Delcam PowerMill
and Open Mind HyperMILL.

About CGTech

Headquartered in Irvine, California, CGTech specializes in numerical control (NC/CNC) simulation, verification, optimization and analysis software technology for manufacturing. Since 1988
CGTech’s product, VERICUT® software, has become the industry standard for
simulating CNC machining in order to detect errors, potential collisions or
areas of inefficiency. With offices worldwide, VERICUT software is used by
companies of all sizes, universities, and government agencies.

For more information, visit the CGTech
website at cgtech.com, call +44 (0)1273 773538, or email Email Contact