Europe’s largest industrial manufacturing company Siemens has introduced Sinumerik ONE, a digital native CNC controller with software to create a digital twin. This enables machine manufacturers to create complete virtualization of their development and machine processes.
3D Printing Industry spoke with Dr. Karsten Heuser, VP of Additive Manufacturing at Siemens Digital to learn more.
Though not initially designed for additive manufacturing, Siemens is currently working to equip the Modulo 250 Directed Energy Deposition (DED) machine from BeAM with Sinumerik ONE. To further understand how the new digital native CNC Controller fits into the additive manufacturing sector, 3D Printing Industry traveled to Siemens’ facility in Erlangen, Germany, where the official announcement was made.
“Additive is still young [and] it is a fast-growing topic, but classical machines and machine builders are still the standard,” explained Dr. Heuser. “To increase, productivity and efficiency in a manufacturer’s product life cycle, software automation and digitization are needed.”
Sinumerik ONE and the digital twin
Sinumerik ONE enables machine tool manufacturers to virtually map their entire development processes, i.e. create a digital twin. More specifically, Sinumerik ONE can control and automate various machines involved in a production process, such as milling and laser-cutting systems, speeding up manufacturing.
This solution offers the possibility to simulate programming, setup, and operation of machines using a PC before commissioning the machine itself. Thus, businesses are able to evaluate processes already in the product development phase. Additionally, this simulation can be used to conduct employee training, as opposed to using a physical machine.
“Our ambition with the Sinumerik ONE is to show traditional CNC manufacturing as well as new technologies like additive manufacturing,” said Dr. Heuser. The additive manufacturing VP goes on to highlight the need to optimize CNC machining as well as metal 3D printing.
“We recognize that we can achieve higher precision machining processes enabled by Sinumerik ONE; I think that CNC should not be forgotten because of industrial 3D printing. Nevertheless, [both of] these methods can, of course, be improved. [Thus] Sinumerik ONE is being integrated into DED.”
Last week, Siemens expanded its Additive Manufacturing Experience Center and strengthened its alliance with HP with the installation of an HP Jet Fusion 5200 machine.
EMO 2019 conference
A Sinumerik ONE controlled BeAM Modulo 250 is currently being developed for presentation at the EMO 2019 conference in Hanover this September.
“The EMO trade fair […] is regarded as the leader for metalworking technology,” comments Dr. Heuser. “There, we will see the full potential of Sinumerik ONE and how it utilizes the digital twin concept.”
Visitors to EMO 2019 can see the capabilities of Sinumerik ONE in Hall 9, Booth H50 from September 16th – 21st.
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Featured image shows the visualization of the Sinumerik ONE controller. Image via Siemens.
