The contract was preceded by several years of intensive collaboration. SW and Janus Engineering have been jointly developing solutions for the integration of Siemens NX into SW's workflows since 2019. Holger Kappus, Head of Technology Development at SW, explains: "In our collaboration with Janus Engineering, it quickly became clear that we could leverage synergies in the partnership that would give both sides a technological advantage - and, above all, benefit our customers."

The NX software application is widely used in product development and manufacturing and offers users solutions for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). This includes modeling 3D objects, performing structural analyses and programming CNC machines, including simulations of the NC code using digital twins. The creation of a digital twin makes it possible to virtually simulate and optimize complex production processes. With the cooperation agreement, the two companies are now formalizing their collaboration. The latest project is an NXOpen API for the automated comparison of tool models with a machine-specific interference body.

Postprocessor tailored to SW machines

The post-processor developed in collaboration with Siemens integrates seamlessly into Siemens NX: it converts the toolpath generated in NX into an NC code in the respective machine language, which is used to control the CNC machine. This NC code can in turn be simulated using NX to ensure collision-free workpiece machining. "First of all, these are the standard functions of every JANUS Machine kit, consisting of postprocessor and simulation," explains Kay-Marco Krauss, Head of Operations at Janus Engineering. "For the cooperation with SW, we supplied a basic processor with precisely these functions - and then adapted it based on SW's expertise." The result is a digital twin that is precisely tailored to SW's machines and machine landscape: In contrast to standard post processors, it is designed for multi-spindle capability and uses the SW application cycles in addition to basic functions such as 5-axis simultaneous machining.

As the exact software machine data was used for its development, the output NC code is also precise and executable. Customers who use the digital twin can therefore be sure that the collision safety ensured in the simulation is also guaranteed in reality.

No development work for the customer

"We look for the seconds in every project for our customers," says Holger Kappus. "Our aim is therefore also to save time when programming the machines. With the postprocessor developed together with Janus Engineering, we support our customers in getting the most out of their NC machines and achieving the highest machining quality at the same time." In addition, customers no longer have to do the development work that would otherwise be necessary to adapt a customized postprocessor to the typical requirements of large-scale production. "We have repeatedly received inquiries from customers about our expertise as a machine manufacturer and our machine data for the creation of machine kits," says Holger Kappus. "We now offer them an uncompromising OEM-quality post-processor that we use productively ourselves, which incorporates all of our expertise and which we are constantly developing further."

Janus Engineering and SW are currently working together to further optimize the postprocessor and equip it with the latest functionalities and programming interfaces. The two companies are also continuing to cooperate closely beyond this.