Cutting simulation
Last updated: · By: the moducut team
The cutting simulation is the view that plays the CNC program moducut will write, step by step on screen, before it is sent to the machine. The simulation runs from the G-code itself; the path on screen is exactly what the machine will do.
Short answer
Opening the simulation
- From the ribbon. Production › Simulation. If nesting has not been run, the simulation does not open; moducut opens Nesting Settings and tells you to run nesting first.
- From Nesting Results. The Cutting simulation button opens with the active sheet.
- From Create CNC Production File. The Simulation button opens with the operations and tools you chose in that window.
The simulation is a separate page covering the editor. While it is open, editor shortcuts do not work, so keys such as Delete do not affect the module behind it.
Playback
The bar at the bottom has the Back to start, Previous, Play / Pause and Next buttons, the speed choice (1×, 2×, 5×, 10×, 50× and 100×) and the time slider. Drag the slider to go to any moment in the program; elapsed and total time are shown on the right.
- Space. Play / Pause
- Home. Back to start
- Left arrow. Previous operation
- Right arrow. Next operation
- Shift + 1. Fit the sheet
The top bar has the sheet list and the Previous sheet and Next sheet buttons; sheets of the same material are numbered among themselves. Change the view with the zoom in, zoom out, fit and 90° rotate buttons.
Status panel
The panel on the right shows the current moment of the program:
- Time and Tool. Time left and the cutter in use.
- Motion. The type of move, the operation and the feed rate.
- Sizing, Position and Program. The sizing pass, the cutter’s position and depth, and the program’s current line.
- Summary. Cutting and idle distances and times, number of tool changes and G0 speed.
Idle time is calculated with the Rapid move (G0) and Acceleration values in CNC Settings; these values are not written to the program and are for the estimate only.
Cutter changes and back-side work
On a machine without a tool changer, if the program stops for a cutter change, the simulation stops too and says "Cutter change — machine stopped"; continue with Tool fitted, continue. If Z zero needs to be taken again, that is shown on screen as well. If there are parts with work on face B, a BACK-SIDE WORK band and the number of parts appear on the top bar; back-side work is drawn in yellow.
Frequently asked questions
The simulation calculates time from the feed rates in the program, and idle moves from the G0 speed and acceleration in CNC Settings. When you enter your machine’s real values, the estimate follows them.
The simulation shows the program for parts laid out on sheets. If nesting has not been run yet, there is no sheet to show, so moducut opens Nesting Settings first.
All operations may be turned off in the Create CNC Production File window. Go back to the window, turn the operation rows on and start the simulation again.
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