Production Modules

Virtual Gibbs CAM System

Overall System Capabilities
Geometry
Tools
Machining
Visualization
Post Processing
Milling Option

Turning Option
Mill/Turn
Advanced Milling
Rotary Milling
Additional Options
Customer Support

Virtual Gibbs® is a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system for NC programming. It is a single computer application/program; each option adds additional capabilities to Virtual Gibbs. This provides a seamless integration of all capabilities. Primary options include:

Milling - 2, 2.5 and simple 3 axis with simple 4th axis positioning
Turning - 2 axis turning and 3 axis milling (available with mill option)
Advanced Milling - 5 axis rotary positioning
Rotary Milling - Simultaneous rotary axis milling
SolidSurfacer™ - Solid modeling and 3 axis surface machining

Virtual Gibbs® freeform interface allows you to move easily between geometry creation, toolpath creation, part visualization and post processing. Its ease of use, programming speed and short training time makes Virtual Gibbs the best tool for programming your parts."

Overall System Capabilities

•Unique Graphic Interface
Graphic user interface utilizes pull-down menus,buttons, tiles and icons

•User-Preference Interface
Multiple interface levels are available to allow users to view only the items needed, for efficient programming.

•Flexibility
"Modeless" programming interface allows users to work in a free-form manner with no constraints on geometry and toolpath creation. Program associativity automatically updates all items affected by a change.

•Computer Assisted Training
Contains on-line training capabilities ranging from simple on-screen reference balloons to action-specific prompting.

•Dynamic Viewing
In a unique approach to part viewing, a trackball is provided on-screen to allow the user to easily view the part from any orientation or plane.

•Summaries
View and/or print out summaries of workgroup geometry, tool lists and machining operations for use in part set-up.

•Estimated Run Time
Estimated run time analysis for both mills and lathes.

•Part Preview
When choosing a part to open, users can preview a rendered image of the the part. Avoids having to remember cryptic job names.

•Imperial and Metric
Supports both English and Metric measurement systems and converts one to the other, quickly and easily.

•Documentation
User manuals complete with exercises, tutorials, in-depth reference sections and high quality graphics. Easy to read and use.

•Worldwide Support
First rate support via telephone, FAX, modem, world wide web and internal electronic Bulletin Board service.

•Multiple Platforms
Operating systems available include Windows 95™, Windows 98™ and Windows NT/2000.

•Need 3-axis capabilities?
SolidSurfacer is an option available for Virtual Gibbs Milling to import, create and machine solid and surface parts. It is ideal for programming a wide range of full 3-axis complex parts. For details, see the SolidSurfacer data sheet.

Geometry

•Geometry Expert™ Ultra-fast and easy-to-use. Geometry Expert guides the user through geometry creation. Shapes can be loaded into Geometry Expert and easily modified with full associativity. Perfect for family-of-parts programming.
•Free-form Geometry Creation Specialized free-form 3D CAD geometry creation tools are provided to quickly and easily create parts. Points, lines, circles, NURB splines and offset shapes can be created in any order and are trimmed automatically.
•Modify Geometry Ability to force depth, duplicate, rotate, translate, scale, move origin and mirror geometry.

•Dimensioning Dimension any drawing to create useful part prints.
•Mouse Position Indicator Shows the absolute position of the cursor at all times, including the ability to display the distance between two points, a point and the cursor and the angle between two points.

•User Definable Stock Shape
In Milling, specify initial stock condition as revolved or extruded shape. In Lathe, define starting stock conditions as castings, forgings or previously machined parts.

•Fillets and Chamfers
Automatically create fillets and chamfers.

•Gear & Cam Creation
Automatically create gears and cams, including both involute and spline.

•Ellipse Creation
Automatically create ellipse shapes quickly and easily.

•Auto Shape
Automatically generate rectangles and polygons.

Tools

•Tool Creation
Complete graphic definition of tools.

•Tool Lists
Graphic object interface makes it easy to rearrange the order of tools in the tool list. Tool number changes are automatically updated in all machining operations.

•Tool Library
Mill tools include rough, finish, and ball end mills, drill, rigid tap, back bore, thread cutter, keyway cutters, fly cutters, counter sinks, shell, and face mills. All types can be defined with draft angles and corner radii.

•Custom Form Tools
Create user-defined, custom mill form tools with simple geometry to be used on any number of parts, with full rendering accuracy.

Machining

•Multiple Process Programming
Allows a user to program roughing, semi-roughing and finishing passes simultaneously, dramatically reducing programming time.

•Automatic Reprogramming
Automatically reprocess operations to update changes made to geometry, tools or process information, with full associativity.

•Knowledge-Based Programming
Machining parameters can be defined and saved for use on any number of other parts.

•Editable Toolpath
Reload toolpath into connected geometry. Create a new contour operation by selecting cutter side center to reload the toolpath into a different operation.

•Adjustable Feed Rates
Modify the feed rate anywhere on the toolpath. Utility Markers provide complete control and accuracy.

•Freehand Machining
Create freehand shapes easily for rough geometry and roughing operations.

•Material Library
User-defined library used for storing information on the cutting conditions for various types of materials. Used for the calculation of speeds and feeds.

•Optimized Operation Order
All machining operations can be automatically sorted into an optimized order that minimizes tool changes.

•Operation Lists
The graphic object interface allows the user to easily rearrange the order of machining operations in the operation list or to modify individual operations.

Visualization

•3D Real-Time Cut Part Rendering 3D rendering enables the user to see the tool actually removing material from a solid piece of metal, creating a realistic and useful picture of what the part will look like. Blue represents uncut surfaces and red indicates tool interference. Tools can be viewed as solid, transparent or invisible.
•Precision Control View the part being machined one feature at a time, one operation at a time and with user-defined highlighted operations.

Post Processing

•Quality Library Post Processors
Virtual Gibbs takes advantage of a library of over 2,500 post processors already perfected by Gibbs.

•Custom Post Processors Custom post processors available for any machine/control combination. Designed to the user’s specifications, they are guaranteed to run with no editing.
•Advanced Post Processor Capabilities Standard and custom post processors include capabilities for sub-programs, canned cycles, multiple parts, absolute or incremental output and user comments. Part files can be post processed for any number of machines.

•Utility Data
Users can directly insert text commands in the posted output.

Milling Option

•Full 2 and 2.5-Axis Programming
Functionality includes contouring, pocketing, pocketing with unlimited bosses, thread mill-ing, face milling, drilling, tapping and boring.

•Simple 4th Axis Positioning
Position and mill or multiple position subroutines.

•Advanced Pocketing Routines
Pocket any number of shapes with unlimited bosses using an optimized toolpath. Ability to machine open-sided pockets and auto pocket corner drill. Users may also specify breadth first or depth first machining

•Pocket Entry Choices
Users can choose how pockets are machined. Choices include Auto Plunge, User Plunge, Ramp and Helix.

•2.5-Axis Wall Control
Contours and pockets may be defined with straight 90º walls, tapered walls with top and bottom fillets or swept surfaces created from a user-defined shape.

•Face Milling
Automatic cycles to clean material off the top of a part, including spiral, zig-zag, back and forth and one direction choices.

•Drilling Sub-routines and Sorting
Drilling cycles include common drill patterns in subroutines and several sorting options including S-pattern, closest hole and reverse pattern.

•Thread Milling
Easy creation of both ID and OD threads. Just select a point or circle and define the thread, the rest is automatic.

•Engraving
Machine artwork and all TrueType® fonts.

•Cutter Radius Compensation
CRC can be turned on to compensate for tool wear.

•Entry/Exit Radius
Ability to blend on and off a cut shape for a clean finish.

•Automatic Multiple Parts
Multiple parts can be automatically programmed. Users can choose either to have one tool to cut all parts or to complete an entire part.

Turning Option

•Full 2-Axis Programming
Capabilities include contouring, automatic roughing, multiple hills and valleys, plunge roughing, threading, repetitive shape roughing, drilling, tapping and boring.

•Advanced Roughing Routines
Includes turn roughing cycles for plunge roughing with automatic shoulder stroking, and pattern shift roughing with constant path and constant step over choices.

•Material Only Roughing and Contouring
Tool moves are calculated to only cut where there is material (“air avoidance”), results in shorter programs and faster cycle times.

•Forward and Reverse Roughing
Toolpaths can be defined so the tool cuts in both directions or in one direction only.

•No Tool Dragging
Automatically calculates toolpaths for optimal cutting, so the tool is always cutting in a forward insert direction.

•Automatic Clearance
Keeps track of material left on the part at all times and dynamically calculates clearance moves to keep the tool at an optimal distance as it moves around the part.

•Threading
Built-in data library for all pertinent threading information, including the following standards: UN, UNJ, API, ISO, NPT, BSPT, 55° Whitworth, 60° partial, 55° partial, RD(DIN), TR(DIN), ACME, Stub ACME, Buttress, and others. Supports top-notch, LT, cresting, and multi-form inserts. Infeeds include balanced, single-edge, single-edge alternating and user specified. Also supports multi-start threads and auto spring passes.

Mill/Turn (Mill and Turn Options)

•C-Axis Programming and Live Tooling
C-axis and live tooling capabilities in Virtual Gibbs’ existing 2-axis turning module for any number of tools.

•Face and Diameter Milling Operations Perform milling operations on both the face and diameter of the lathe stock including the machining of slots, holes, cross-drilling, pocketing, face milling and face drilling. Also includes the ability to contour on the face of a component as well as the diameter.
•Full Cut Part Rendering Support Virtual Gibbs’ cut-part rendering feature completely supports the Mill/Turn capability to provide a clear representation of the finished part.

•Y-Axis Support
Ability to program toolpaths requiring Y-axis interpolation.

Advanced Milling Option

•Multiple Coordinate Systems
Workplanes can be defined in any 3D orientation on the part to create and machine geometry

•5th Axis Rotary Positioning Automatic calculation of A and B axis rotations from user defined workplanes.
•Tombstone Machining Machine multiple sides of a part or fixture using fourth or fifth axis rotary table positioning.

Rotary Milling Option

•Simultaneous Rotary Machining
Allows user to rotate one axis and machine at the same time. 2D geometry is cylindrically wrapped to produce a rotary toolpath.

•Radial or Flat Geometry Creation
Geometry Creation can be entered as either radial or flat.

•Editing/Communications
The editor includes capabilities for viewing, editing and printing the final G-code program. Advanced RS-232 communications, file manager, and math aid capabilities are available in the communications package.

Additional Options

•SolidSurfacer Option
Adds 3D solid modeling and surface milling to Virtual Gibbs Milling. See SolidSurfacer data sheet for details.

•Data Import and Export
Import and export IGES, DXF and point list files.

•Material Library Database
CUTDATA™ provides over 71,000 machining recommendations for speeds, feeds, tool material, etc. for integration and access by the Material Library capability of the system.

Customer Support

•Reseller Distribution Channel
A broad channel of Gibbs Resellers in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Japan provide local support for customers.

•Training
On-site training is available through your local Gibbs Reseller or attend training classes at the Gibbs office in California, USA.

•Documentation
Easy to read and use manuals are complete with exercises, tutorials, in-depth reference sections and high-quality graphics.

•Gibbs Maintenance Program
Annual enrollment in this program keeps your CAM software up-to-date, allowing you to take advantage of the most innovative technologies available.

•Gibbs Website www.gibbsCAM.com
Customers enrolled in the Gibbs Maintenance plan can download the latest versions of Gibbs software in between major upgrades, including interim versions. Also, get the latest product information, download technical support files, read through customer success stories, technical articles and much more.

•Unlimited Phone Support
Gibbs Maintenance customers have unlimited access to Gibbs factory Technical Support phone lines available 7am - 5pm PST, or contact the Gibbs Technical Support via e-mail at support@gibbsCAM.com.