Electroimpact NC Programming Services

Electroimpact has industry-leading offline programming services experience, including project-specific OLP package development and NC programming to production-ready status. We can develop an OLP package to hand over to a customer for internal NC programming, or we can provide start-of-production NC programming and support before handing over proven programs to the customer. The OLP package can use the preceding SIMpact software, or we also have extensive experience working with Cenit’s FastTIP software developing OLP packages for many of our automated drilling machines and robots.

Having Electroimpact take on the NC programming for a project greatly reduces time and money spent by having engineers most familiar with the software do the initial programming quickly and efficiently, and can provide on-site training to customers’ NC programmers during production. We have extensive experience developing and programming many different projects for a variety of customers, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, Spirit, KHI, XAC, Evergreen, and more.

The NC programming portion of a project begins after commission of an OLP, using either Electroimpact’s SIMpact software or Cenit’s FastTIP software. After development of an OLP specification, discussions with the customer will detail the exact NC programming scope, the condition of supply of workpiece CAD models, material and fastener specifications, tack locations, and so on.

Next, a reach analysis will be performed using the Electroimpact-developed automation equipment models and preliminary workpiece CAD models to determine optimum robot positioning (if necessary), program zone breakdown, machine/robot clearances in the desired drilling scope, maximum reachability in the desired programming areas, and any potential clashes in those areas.

After determining the program scope and device positioning, a comprehensive programming plan will be created instructing the NC programmers on how to proceed with programming the workpiece(s). The programming plan will contain the drilling scope, zone breakdown, tack locations, and a detailed programming scheme covering datum/drilling sequences for each program zone using representative toolpaths for each program. The programming scheme takes into account prior project experience, process time and efficiency, and feedback from the customer on desired program progression (i.e. from the center of a workpiece out to the edges to chase out gaps).

Before beginning NC programming, the provided workpiece products must be prepped. The workpiece models are converted into CGRs to reduce the file size and make them easier to work with. In addition, separate parts are created for robot or machine positioning, tack locations, and waypoints, if necessary, and combined into one container product for each workpiece.

Commencement of NC programming can now begin following the programming scheme detailed above. During programming, further testing and updates will be incorporated following the discovery and resolution of errors found during programming to produce a largely error-free and production-ready OLP package to hand over to the customer.

Before completing NC programming, a virtual program verification will be performed using the native Delmia simulation and clash analysis capabilities to weed out any potential axis errors, positioning improvements, and clashes with the workpiece or automation equipment. In addition, posted programs will be manually checked by experienced Electroimpact engineers for syntax or command errors.

The NC programs are now ready for production program validation, running the programs on the physical machines or robots during onsite TTO (tape tryout), incorporating any last-minute adjustments, and finally handing over production-ready programs to the customer.