ANCA Motion develops TubeCut Master solution for customers

ANCA Motion, a global leader in CNC systems, has launched TubeCut Master, a tube cutting application solution to meet the different needs of customers with its cutting-edge laser technology and advanced machine tool design concepts. The combination of customizable hardware and software with CutAssist, a planar laser cutting control solution, enriches the range of choices for OEM customers, fulfilling the company's commitment to continued investment in the laser cutting industry and its vision of growing together with customers.

Before the release of TubeCut Master 1.0, TubeCut Master conducted a lot of market research in the laser tube cutting industry to find customer pain points and dig deep into customer needs. A lot of improvements were made to the openness of the general solution platform for the laser tube cutting market and the lack of development of CNC platform tube cutting applications. During the development and testing process, TubeCut Master specially invited professionals to participate in the evaluation and made a series of optimization comparisons based on customer feedback, which ultimately increased efficiency by nearly 20%.

TubeCut Master 1.0 is built on an open platform and provides a variety of configurations and matches for laser tube cutting applications. It improves efficiency and simplifies operation while ensuring accuracy, and can be customized. TubeCut Master 1.0 has many exciting features:

Touch screen design interface, more friendly to beginners

The touch screen interface design of TubeCut Master 1.0 reduces technical barriers for beginners and improves efficiency.

By replacing the traditional operation mode with a visual 3D model, the processing progress of the cutting sequence, piercing points, leads, corner normals, different cutting modes, and cutting files and the motion trajectory of the cutting head can be displayed in real time. The operator can select the corresponding parts, contours, and cutting lines to interact with the 3D model as needed, and can detect before simulation processing or offline.

Extensive diagnostic tools

Black box recorders can simultaneously record variable and motion data in chronological order; filters can be used to focus on specific events and can be applied to already filtered data.

The plotter is another tool that displays the variable values ​​graphically, allowing you to track the status of each step. In addition, the displayed data can be directly switched between the time domain and the frequency domain, as well as checking the graphical status of the variable differentiation results.

With the diagnostic tool, relevant diagnostic files can be added to the zip file with a simple click of a button, facilitating remote connections in offline situations.

Open Platform

First of all, as a turnkey CNC solution, TubeCut Master provides most of the common functions and features required by laser tube cutting machines. In addition, it integrates ANCA Motion's latest motion control technology, including NURBS for B-spline control, R-TAC for tube profile accuracy compensation, etc. The optimized dynamic control algorithm greatly improves the efficiency of square tube edge cutting while meeting the needs of different customers and helping them improve their market competitiveness. TubeCut Master is based on an open platform, and the integrated soft PLC and part program allow customers to add or update control logic according to their needs to better optimize the user experience.

For customized graphical user interfaces, ANCA Motion provides two solutions. First, ANCA Motion has developed a powerful Commander interface customization software. Customers can directly use the standard user interface provided by ANCA Motion, or use Commander software to easily customize and build their own exclusive graphical user interface by dragging and dropping buttons, text boxes, instrument spaces, etc. on the basis of the standard user interface. The other solution is based on the fact that many OEM manufacturers have developed their own mature interface solutions. ANCA Motion can discuss the variable interaction form with customers and quickly realize the connection between the underlying control core and the customer operation interface variables.

ANCA Motion has been working hard to create a user-friendly open platform for machine tool manufacturers, continuously improving general CNC and motion control technology, integrating OEM process applications, keeping equipment performance at optimal conditions, and achieving efficiency and service in parallel.

flexibility

The automation level of industrial production equipment is getting higher and higher. For laser cutting applications, it is necessary to connect various peripheral automation equipment, such as automatic loading devices, automatic unloading devices, automatic sorting devices, automated warehousing devices, etc. The communication between different devices and the flexible open PLC platform become very important. In response to this demand, the TubeCut Master platform integrates Modbus TCP, EtherCAT fieldbus, communication for on-site machine equipment, and OPC-UA server for communication in MES system and IoT applications.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can build their own IoT services, such as transferring job files, checking machine status, counting machine usage data, remote machine diagnosis, etc. They can flexibly choose their own public cloud services or private cloud services without worrying about the risk of data leakage.

CNC

In terms of hardware, the new generation AMC6 CNC system adopts a fanless and rugged design, and the latest generation of Intel® Core™ i processors make the performance more powerful. The development and integration of third-party software can be easily implemented in the Windows® 10 environment, and the unique whitelist function can prevent unauthorized programs and viruses.

driver

The AMD5x G2 multi-axis servo drive system uses ANCA Motion Bench configuration software to guide users through system settings in a concise and clear manner. Its advantages are: using the EtherCAT bus framework to drive high-bandwidth, high-current multi-axis systems; integrating high-speed IO; supporting single-cable solutions, using special coatings to enhance reliability, thereby achieving better protection; and a variety of cabinet installation methods can optimize cabinet heat dissipation management. In addition, the system is highly flexible, suitable for laser cutting applications under harsh conditions, and is compatible with multiple capacitor modules or servo drives. For rotary motors and linear motors, the system can achieve efficient and high-performance motion control, effectively saving energy waste and reducing operating costs.

Judging from the current demand of the overall domestic laser tube cutting industry, the annual market demand is about tens of thousands of units, and the high-end market is about two to three thousand units. TubeCut Master is in the stage of information introduction and market promotion, and its goal is to achieve sales of several hundred to thousands of units within five years. Among them, some target customer groups have both flat and tube cutting needs, as well as the ever-expanding application needs of 3D 5-axis cutting, precision laser cutting and laser welding. TubeCut Master can meet customer needs very well. The unique competitive advantage will help gain more market share.

The laser industry is developing rapidly, various new technologies are continuously innovating, and the application prospects are bright. Chen Ming, Laser Application Product Manager, said: "We are confident in the market prospects of TubeCut Master. The company continues to increase R&D investment and carry out the second phase of product development and optimization. In addition to TubeCut Master products, ANCA Motion is also expanding its related product portfolio to provide customers with a more complete product and solution portfolio to help customers improve their market competitiveness."