Virtual Machine Reality

Siemens Integrates Automation/Robotics with Digital-Native CNC for Mechatronics Solution

With Sinumerik One, the first digital native CNC for machine tools, Siemens works with software to create the machine controller and the associated Digital Twin from one engineering system seamlessly. The latest iteration of the CNC system was on display recently at Automate 2022 in Detroit where machine tool builders and CNC users were able to witness the product, production, and performance benefits on the show floor.  

“Sinumerik One can be used for a variety of machining applications including milling, grinding and gear hobbing,” said Russell Rumschlag, senior applications engineer at Siemens Industry, Inc. “At the Automate Show, we displayed its capabilities as a robot control.”

In the factory of the future, robots and machine tools will work closely together on workpiece handling, set-up, rework, and parallel machining. Sinumerik Run MyRobot makes it easier to integrate one or more robots into Sinumerik-controlled machine tools. For high-end and premium controls, this includes complete system integration of the robot kinematics into the CNC system - including drives, motion control, safety technology, maintenance, and commissioning functions - up to PC-supported simulation and optimization with digital twin. But Run MyRobot also offers the option of integrating robots into mid-range CNC systems.

“There are different packages available for Run MyRobot, including a handling package, a machining package, or we simply take our motors and drives and connect them to a robotic arm,” Rumschlag said. “Since it’s a CNC-based control system and not a robot-based system, you can take advantage of the tool management, for example. There’s a significant difference between the processing power of a CNC versus the power of a robotic control.”

According to Rumschlag, Run MyRobot allows a machine operator to seamlessly utilize a robot in a manufacturing cell without additional training or certification. “If the operator is familiar with G-Code, he or she can run these programs. It offers a much more versatile robotic work envelope versus a standard machine tool,” he added. “This is particularly useful for 3D-printing/additive manufacturing applications.”

Using Create MyVirtual Machine, machine tool builders can virtually map their entire development processes — significantly reducing the product development phase and time-to-market for new machines. The virtual preparation of machine commissioning can also reduce the duration of actual commissioning considerably. Machine users can also benefit from a “digital first” strategy for their central processes during production when they use Run MyVirtual Machine. 

Programming, production planning and process optimization can be simulated instead of performing them directly at the machine and non-productive times are eliminated. Even training can be carried out using the digital twin instead of training on the actual machine, Rumschlag said. 

At its core, mechatronics brings together software and hardware solutions to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. Sinumerik One perfectly fits into the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal and makes a highly efficient engineering framework available for machine tool builders. With additional integrated features, the control system supports safety standards, cybersecurity protocols and other engineering concepts. 

new.siemens.com/sinumerik