Tecnomatix 16 – What’s new?

Digital manufacturing for tomorrow’s factory, today.

Tecnomatix® software is designed to empower manufacturers to digitalize manufacturing and the process of turning their innovative product ideas and raw materials into transformative products. The latest Tecnomatix release continues to deliver the advanced digital manufacturing capabilities that you have come to expect.

As always, with any new software version there are many exciting new features to talk about. This update includes many of the newest capabilities from the recent Tecnomatix 16 release.

What Tecnomatix 16 delivers is impressive! Please let us know what you think in the comments section below.

—–

Here are many of the highlights for Tecnomatix 16:

• New capabilities for robotics programming and virtual commissioning.
• New capabilities for human factors and ergonomics.
• New capabilities for virtual reality.
• New capabilities for Teamcenter connectivity.
• General enhancements, new products and IT updates.

—–

> Robotics Programming and Virtual Commissioning

Tecnomatix 16 delivers enhancements for simulation, path authoring and offline programming (OLP), including improved debugging tools and out-of-the-box support for robot program creation and simulation.

Improved methods and capabilities to create virtual commissioning simulations, enhanced behavior modeling via internal and external tools, and Virtual Robot Controller integration for commissioning are also available.

Robot operator messaging for Kuka robots

You can now interact with Kuka Robot Programs using the Robot Program Viewer’s new Operator messaging panel. The new panel displays operator messages for Kuka robots created by OLP commands, such as MsgNotify, and allows you to interact with the robot by viewing messages and selecting actions using configured buttons. The Process Simulate Kuka KRC Controller (version 4.15 or higher) has been extended to support Kuka’s standard MsgLib.src file without any customization, allowing you to easily display operator messages in the Robot Program Viewer.

Robot parallel tasks – Kuka submit interpreter

You now can simulate single submit interpreter and global variables commands for Kuka Robots. The KRC controller also accepts additional syntax in OLP commands such as the “WAIT FOR” function, allowing for easier virtual commissioning using the out-of-the-box KRC Controller, with less need for customization.

Improved offline programming using ABB Rapid

You now have access to out-of-the-box custom XML files for the ABB Rapid controller. These XML files serve the dual purpose of delivering an improved user experience to ABB Rapid programmers in Process Simulate and providing examples of how to author custom program XML code. The supplied XML files provide a user interface for commands already supported by the simulation including Set, Wait and other commands.

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR)

Process Simulate now supports event-based simulation of AGVs and AMRs in the manufacturing environment and enables validation and virtual commissioning of all production and logistics aspects for AGV systems.

Structured Control Language (SCL) editor

The SCL Editor is a new tool for building logical behavior for resources (i.e., Smart Components). Like the Logic Block (LB), SCL allows adding and editing the logic of a resource prototype, but with an interface that is easier to use and a worldwide, commonly practiced programming language. It allows improved capabilities such as bit access inside a byte, assignment of default variable values per resource instance, easy copying between different resources, editing multiple SCL Blocks in parallel, easy programming using function calls, auto complete, and more.

Process Simulate now includes a library for telegram behavior models based on SCL. This allows virtual commissioning users to control Siemens drives using behavior models for telegrams included directly inside Process Simulate.

SIMIT external connection

The new SIMIT external connection allows users to directly couple their Process Simulate cell with its robot programs, material flow, layout, and kinematic definitions to a SIMIT project. The SIMIT project can include logical behavior models and additional PLC connections (couplings) using a simple name-based I/O exchange, allowing easier virtual commissioning for users of both SIMIT (v10.2) and Process Simulate (v16.0).

Virtual Robot Controller (VRC) simulation

The new VRC connections allow users to connect to ABB’s RobotStudio or Fanuc’s ROBOGUIDE in order to simulate complete robot systems using the robot vendor’s tools in conjunction with Process Simulate’s complete environment for highly accurate virtual commissioning with minimal setup effort taken directly from any actual robot. When in VRC mode, robot programs are executed by the VRC and are visualized in Process Simulate. Process Simulate exchanges signal information (I/O) with the VRC and facilitates communication between robots, peripheral devices, and PLCs.

Return to top. ^

—–

> Human Factors and Ergonomics

Tecnomatix 16 allows you to quickly author task simulations using predictive technologies, automatically generate comprehensive ergonomic reports, use the motion capture and tracking system to animate Jack and Jill with your own motions and analyze them in real-time – all with new Jack and Jill figures!

Next generation human figures

With Tecnomatix 16, we introduce to you, the new Jack and Jill!  Many years in the making, these next generation avatars are the most advanced available. Fully textured for exceptional visual appeal, matched with state-of-the-art anthropometric scaling that provides bodyscan level shape fidelity, these figures take human modeling to the next level of visual and dimensional realism.

The figures feature efficient new meshes along with skin, clothing, face and hair textures. Shirt, pants, hair, shoes and even eye color can be easily modified for a unique figure look.

Future versions will include figures that look like individuals from various regions of the world, with characteristic facial shape and look (texture) for each ethnicity, such as Hispanic, Asian, Indian and African.

Watch this short video to see the new Jack and Jill and how they can be dynamically scaled to fit your worker population:

Metabolic energy expenditure analysis

With Process Simulate Human version 16, the Metabolic Energy Expenditure (MEE) analysis has been integrated with the Task Simulation Builder (TSB) system. You can now easily create a comprehensive energy expenditure analysis of a TSB task sequence, quickly assessing risk of fatigue. Based on the Garg expenditure equations, the analysis allows you to identify the most demanding activities in the sequence, providing guidance on how best to reduce maximum metabolic cost demands.

Return to top. ^

—–

> Virtual Reality (VR)

Tecnomatix 16 helps you become immersed in your production line. Use the VR environment for better engineering reviews, staff training and realistic process validation, finding issues faster, and identifying optimization opportunities while collaborating with other teams and your customers.

Live hands

Using motion capture glove hardware and Process Simulate VR hand figures, you can explore reachability, clearance and object manipulation in the Process Simulate VR immersive environment. You can use gestures and function keys to grasp, pick up and release objects such as tools and parts while immersed.

Point clouds

With this release, you now can load a Process Simulate study containing point cloud data into an immersive VR session. You can customize the point cloud to reduce the number of points that are loaded into VR for improved performance.

Snapshots

Exploring virtual environments with Virtual Reality and Process Simulate Human motion tracking can help identify reachability, clearance, vision and other human factors issues. Often, the postures experienced during an immersive session can be of significant value afterwards, both for issue communication as well as for in-depth ergonomic analysis.

With the new “Take Snapshot” feature, Process Simulate Snapshots can be captured at any time while immersed, allowing postures of interest to be saved for later use. Snapshots are captured from the viewpoint of the HTC Vive headset and the visual scene flash gives feedback of the snapshot capture.

Make a Note

While immersed in VR, you now can document issues with several types of notes and icons. Each note carries a picture taken in VR to best describe the issue found. The notes icons are seen in the Process Simulate graphics in the same position in space, allowing you to easily understand the current maturity status of each area following the review session. Follow up on each note in Process Simulate or virtual reality to view related pictures, add comments or change its status as the issue is brought to resolution.

Watch this short video to see how it works:

Return to top. ^

—–

> Teamcenter Connectivity

Tecnomatix Process Simulate 16 integration to Teamcenter leverages backbone advantages and smooth workflows. To load and search for data, you can use Teamcenter Manufacturing Access directly from Process Simulate. Process Simulate Standalone on Teamcenter allows users to continue their work at remote sites with insufficient or no network connectivity.

Tecnomatix 16 supports migration of eMServer projects to Teamcenter to enable OEMs who deploy Teamcenter to continue work with suppliers who still use eMServer installations.

Robot Toolbox for Process Simulate on Teamcenter

The Robot Toolbox is now available in Process Simulate on Teamcenter. It allows creating and managing real or virtual robot tools in the early stages of path planning.

Plant layout – Improve load and create logic

Simplifying your work, it is now possible to add kinematics to compound equipment, and to objects below the compound equipment, without the need of a pre-defined kinematics dataset. You also can add/edit single resources and model them without a pre-defined direct model dataset.

Support prototype assignment in Process Simulate disconnected

You now can save a disconnected study with assigned part and resource prototypes. You can also add more prototype assignments from Teamcenter to the disconnected study and later update Teamcenter with this data.

Two-way exchange of In-Process Assembly

With Tecnomatix 16, upon publishing of eMServer process structures, the related In-Process Assemblies (IPAs) are sent to Teamcenter as Dynamic In-Process Assemblies (DIPAs) together with the Process Stations that consume them as the output of the previous station. Simulation information that relates to the IPA is maintained on the exchange. With this capability, the roundtrip from Teamcenter to eMServer back to Teamcenter is more fully supported.

Improved process resource to plant exchange

Tecnomatix 16 provides improved mapping of process to plant couplings by way of the two-way exchange of the eMServer relation between Process and ProcessResource objects to the Teamcenter Manufacturing relation between Processarea and Workarea items (synchronization link).

Enhanced process exchange

When sending data from Teamcenter to eMServer and vice versa, PERT scope flows are also transferred. This ensures the correctness of the calculation of the In-Process Assembly. This functionality is supported both for supplier collaboration exchange and for eMServer data migration. (Note: there is still a limitation on subsequent exchanges of the same data scope to Teamcenter – deletion or modification of existing scope flows is not yet fully supported.)

Return to top. ^

—–

> General Enhancements, New Products, and IT Updates

Tecnomatix 16 improves the Process Simulate user experience, which touches every aspect of the product. We pay special attention to the overall UX when we design and develop new features to provide you with a best-in-class experience. We have also added two new products and continue to update our support for CAD and IT systems.

My Next Command

The “My Next Command” feature provides users a personalized experience, offering a suggested prediction of their next command. Designed to help new users ramp up quickly and to save time for experienced users, this functionality attempts to predict your next action, and continuously learns and improves automatically. It supports fast execution of the commands using predefined keyboard shortcuts associated with the four buttons.

RGBD camera

The RGBD Camera feature offers the ability to use the existing camera to take still RGB and depth photographs. The photos can be taken from the application or by using the API and they are stored on the hard drive in binary format and as image. They then can be used for improving vision systems and training of AI algorithms.

Smart tool positioning

The new “Smart Tool Position” command allows users to quickly position a tool on any fastener. Simply pick a fastener and a tool and easily validate tool clearance and reachability without any preliminary adjustments of the tool position.

New product – Process Simulate Viewer

Review and analyze any Process Simulate study using the new Process Simulate Viewer application!

Process Simulate Viewer users can load .psz or .psztc files, review the data, run standard mode or line simulations (including commissioning), perform analysis, and document the study results. The Process Simulate Viewer is a perfect fit for users who need to be involved and aware of manufacturing information, but do not author new data themselves. This can include users from both engineering and production departments and is a great enabler for providing organization-wide access to digital twins.

New product – Process Simulate Virtual Commissioning Lite

Process Simulate Virtual Commissioning (VC) Lite is a new, lower cost version of Process Simulate designed specifically for virtual commissioning. VC Lite enables virtual commissioning for small and medium businesses by offering an affordable solution with the full functionality of Process Simulate ranging from CAD integration and device modeling through to robot programming and PLC Connectivity in a single product. Process Simulate VC Lite supports virtual reality (VR) and realistic robot simulation (RRS) add-ons.

CAD and IT certifications and support

Tecnomatix 16.0 provides the following certifications and support:

• Certified for Oracle 19c client & server.
• Certified with AutoCAD 2019.
• Certified with PTC Creo 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0.
• Support for Catia V5-6R2018 and V5-6R2019.

Return to top. ^

You made it! Thanks for hanging around.

For complete details on the new features of Tecnomatix 16 and its supporting releases, please refer to the release notes and new features presentations offered for all.

Be sure to check out our free cloud trials:

• Process Simulate Commissioning
• Process Simulate Human
• Plant Simulation Commissioning
• Teamcenter Manufacturing with Easy Plan

And, as always, hop on over to the public community, corporate blog, and website for all things Tecnomatix.

Yours in digital manufacturing,

(on behalf of the entire Tecnomatix product team)

Return to top. ^