Perfecting processes with VERICUT

As a manufacturer of CNC machines since 1840, WaldrichSiegen is a prime example of sustainability due to the company’s ability to adapt to changes by investing in new, innovative technologies. Moving from the era of the steam engine to Industry 4.0 the company has maintained its core DNA.

WaldrichSiegen is defined by two words: accuracy and performance. The company specializes in large machine tools and its customers are mainly manufacturers of heavy marine engines, crankshafts and turbine rotors – who are increasingly demanding. That’s why WaldrichSiegen has invested in future-oriented technologies such as NC simulation with VERICUT to not just meet the needs of its customers, but to surpass them. For them, and its customers, the use of VERICUT software makes it possible to be more efficient and profitable from the start.

Since 2009, the company of 350 employees, has been using VERICUT, the industry standard for CNC simulation, G-code verification and optimization. With the production simulation of the NC data, i.e. the machine code, WaldrichSiegen recreates the real machining situation with a “virtual processing machine on the desk”. And this, even before flying the first chip, because VERICUT simulates the original NC G-code after the post-processor is executed in order to detect program errors such as fast-forward errors or contour violations before any actual manufacturing.

“With VERICUT, machine collisions can be avoided, complex clamping situations can be safely retracted or cycle times can be reduced while at the same time increasing tool life,” says Christian Apel, Sales Representative of CGTech Deutschland GmbH.

This is particularly appreciated in large-scale machine tool construction, where process reliability is the be-all and end-all. In order to grasp the significance of error-free machining, it is worth taking a look at the key data of the world’s largest horizontal lathe, built after the customer’s “Go” in 2009 at WaldrichSiegen: 7,000 mm turning diameter, 25,000 mm workpiece length and more than 350 tonnes maximum workpiece weight. Previously, the company produced a lot of waste and had to do endless machining tests. Today, VERICUT makes it possible to safely speed up NC programs, improve part quality and reduce machining times.

WaldrichSiegen not only uses VERICUT simulation software to streamline its own manufacturing processes, but that of its customers too. Indeed, the company wants to use digital transformation and its integral elements such as the digital twin in VERICUT, to develop new fields of activity and to transfer real added value to customers. For example, by integrating customers and partners into the company’s value creation processes at an early stage. Timo Hees, Application Technician at WaldrichSiegen, says: “When a customer orders a machine we often carry out studies upstream so that we can determine and evaluate subsequent machining times at an early stage.

“It’s well thought out and well done: WaldrichSiegen simulates the customers machining in VERICUT, to demonstrate the machining and process times for the customer’s parts, even before the actual machine is installed at the customer’s premises. This makes it possible to make valid business decisions at all levels.”

Timo Hees explains: “VERICUT is an integral part of the project. The machine is then made available to the customer with the kinematics developed in collaboration and tested by WaldrichSiegen. This is the only way to ultimately guarantee that all functions can be performed appropriately, so that the customer can already perform their own simulation and check internally in VERICUT if everything is in line with what they had planned.”

WaldrichSiegen draws on decades of experience to develop high-performance solutions that are perfectly suited to a wide range of applications. WaldrichSiegen is part of the HerkulesGroup, which has more than 1500 employees worldwide. A specialist in the development and production of large machine tools, it offers its customers complete high-precision machining to make the most complex parts. Furthermore HerkulesGroup’s companies also offer customers absolute added value with their machines, taking into account life-cycle costs from the moment of construction. Thus, the machines are energy efficient, easy to maintain and repair and are the highest quality down to the smallest detail.