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Why Post Hub?
There is no unified platform for NX CAM post processors
There is no easy way of testing a third party post processor with your own part
Partner have to hand over an actual post processor
There is no easy way of browsing for post processors
Handling and installing/deinstalling post processors is cumbersome and requires a lot of NX CAM knowledge
There is no easy way to show that NX CAM can produce good NC code a wide range of machine tools
There is no market place for post processors
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Intention of Post Hub experiment
• Make existing post processors globally available for try-out
• Showcase free-to-use & commercial post processor solutions
• Connect NX CAM users with post processor providers
• Zero install, actual NC code generated from real customer CAM part
• Author of post processor keeps control of the post processor, as the user does not get a physical copy
• Easy to use and lean UI / UX
• Invite contributors to participate
• Post processors can easily be found based on criteria, such as axis numbers, controller, or machine type
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Range of machines kits available on NX CAM Post Hub
Amera Seiki
American Uniturn
Binns Berry
Bostomatic
Bridgeport
Burgmaster
Cincinnati
Daewoo
Deckel Maho
DeVlieg
DMG
Doosan
Dorries
Fadal
Feeler
Fryer
Generic
Giddings Lewis
Grob
Haas
Hardinge
Harrison
Heller
Hermle
Hitachi
Hurco
Ingersol
Jones Lamson
Jungenthal
Kiwa
Knuth
Komo
KT
Kuraki
Makino
Matsuura
Mazak
Mighty Viper
Mikron
Minimill
Mitsubishi
Monarch
Mori Seiki
Nomura
OKK
Okuma
Ooya
Roku-Roku
Romi
SNK
Sunstrand Omnimill
Supermax
Thermwood
Toshiba
Toyoda
Trak DPM
Unknown
VDF Wohlenberg
Wotan
Yama Seiki
Yasda
Zayer
Machine Manufacturers
Bostomatic
Cincinnati
Dialog
Fadal
Fagor
Fanuc
Haas
Heidenhain
Mazatrol Matrix
MillPlus
Mitsubishi
Okuma
Sinumerik
Machine Controllers
Machine Kit Types Machine Kit Units
229 Post processor only
18 Full machine kits
247 Total machine kits
138 Inch
106 Metric
3 Metric / Inch
Number of Axis
17 2 axes
101 3 axes
60 4 axes
69 5 axes
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NX CAM Post Hub
Post Hub Workflow
NX CAMSecurely upload part
file(s) over HTTPSVerify
Upload
2
Select Kit
3Verify
Mounting
4
Post
Process
5Preview
Output
6NC Code
Securely download
NC Code
Obtain
Post
Contact
Author
1. Upload part to NX CAM Post Hub
2. Verify part file upload
3. Select the machine kit to try-out
4. Verify the mounting of your part in the
machine
5. Post Processor your part
6. Preview the NC code
7. (Optionally) Download full NC Code
8. Contact author of machine kit
7
8
1
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Upload verification
1. Is the part fully loaded in NX CAM?
NX CAM Post Hub can only work with your part if NX CAM is able to upload all parts of the assembly structure
2. Is the part already loaded into a machine kit?
NX CAM Post Hub will put your part into a test kit, but your whole machine kit will be uploaded and removed server side.
3. Is there a part mount available in your part?
NX CAM Post Hub will use the parts mount junction to place it in the machine kit, if there isn’t one, one will be guessed.
4. Are there any unsaved changes in the part file?
NX CAM Post Hub will upload the part file from you hard drive, the open part files has to be saved.
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Characteristics of the experiment
Scalability / Version / Prerequisites
• Experiment has a limit of max. 10 concurrent NX CAM
sessions at the same time
• If limit of active sessions is reached, please wait a few
minutes and try again
• We cannot guarantee a 24/7 availability
• Post Hub runs NX11.0
• Google Chrome is required to access the tool
• Part files will not be retained and deleted at the end of
the session
Part mounting
• Parts will be mounted on the machine tool kit using the
standard NX CAM part mount junction (Classification: part
or workpiece)
• If there is no part mount junction the server will try to
automatically create one
• Mounting can only be fixed on the NX CAM client, there are
no tools to fix the mounting in the cloud
Sales through Post Hub
• No direct sales through Post Hub
• If the user is interested in a post processor, there is a
contact link to the original author
Support of UDEs
• UDEs support is limited at this time
• Standard UDEs can be used, if supported by post
processor
• Custom UDEs are not supported, as they are not available
on the client NX CAM for programming
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Post Hub Roadmap
2017 2018
Experiment Phase
04/2017 – 06/2017 (as planned)
• Limited test to showcase Post Hub and
its potential.
• Limited number of concurrent sessions
• Upload of parts, post processing,
optional download of NC code, contact
author
• Initial content: GTAC posts, SPLM
posts, MFE posts incl. DMG kits,
selected partners
Feb Mar Apr Mai Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecJan
Feedback & Improvement Phase
07/2017 – End of 2017 (as planned)
• Collecting user feedback
• Evaluate experiment results
• Majoring beta into release version
• Working with content providers
• Implementing of new features
• Improvements of stability and
scalability
Production Release
End of 2017 (as planned)
• Release of first version
• Enhancements and improvements
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Future Enhancements / Ideas
+ Full community, with star rating, user registration,
user feedback and recommendation system for post
processors
+ Connect Post Hub to a PL Store for direct online
sales
+ Enable subscription models for post processor use
+ Offer to download generated NC code for
commercial posts (pay-per-use)
+ On-line Post Configurator capabilities to maintain
and customize post in private user area
+ Offload post processing execution to cloud
+ Tailoring the kit listing for individual users
+ Add simulation capabilities for full machine kits
through the web browser
+ Private cloud installation for larger customers (On-
premise installation)
+ Direct web-access, run post with existing
acceptance parts
+ Enable adjustments to part mounting through the
web browser
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How to contribute and how to provide feedback?
Make post processors available on Post Hub
• Every kind of post processors is supported, that runs in NX11.0 native
• Keep in mind that UDE will not be available in the client application
• Send us an email to [email protected], to request being added to the tool
Please provide feedback on Post Hub, in specific about:
• How did you like the concept?
• How did you like the initial set of machine tools and controller coverage?
• How was the quality of the post processors that were provided?
• Which 3 additional features would like to see becoming available in the future?
• Send us an email to [email protected], to provide feedback
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Running the Post Hub User Function manually
A) Running the user function manually
1. Download user function: https://cam.dm-labs.com/downloads/Post_Hub_User_Function.7z
2. While NX CAM is running, start it through the menu (or press CTRL+U)
3. Browse for “nxposthubdialog.dll” and start it
4. Set the Post Hub Server to: “https://cam.dm-labs.com/posthub”
Note: nxposthubdialog.dll & nxposthubdialog.dlx have to be stored in the same location
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Running the Post Hub User Function from the Ribbon
B) Customize it into a ribbon
1. Download user function: https://cam.dm-
labs.com/downloads/Post_Hub_User_Function.7z
2. Right click in the desired Ribbon, select “Customize…”
3. On the left side under “Category” select: “New Item”, then on the right under “Items”
drag “New User Command” into your ribbon
4. Right click the new icon, and select “Edit Action”
5. In the new dialog, select “NX Open” in the top right drop-down field
6. Browse and select “nxposthubdialog.dll” and click “OK”
7. Right click the new icon, and set the “Name” to “Upload to NX CAM Post Hub”
8. Under “Change Button Icon” you can chose an icon
9. Finally close the “Customize” dialog
10. Start the NX CAM Post Hub dialog
11. Set the Post Hub Server to: “https://cam.dm-labs.com/posthub”
Note: nxposthubdialog.dll & nxposthubdialog.dlx have to be stored in the same location