Bridging the Skills Gap: Super-NURBS

How easy is it to find skilled labor who can cut curved, smooth parts? If you’re experiencing a skills gap like many job shops today, it’s probably not so easy. Introducing Super-NURBS (to the rescue?). Super-NURBS is a programming functionality for CNC machining that meets high-accuracy finish requirements on curved surfaces while speeding up cycle times. As a result, hand-finishing time is drastically reduced allowing users to produce high-quality parts quickly. Yes, you read that right, Super-NURBS provides both a smooth, accurate finish AND it speeds up cycle times.

Super + NURBS = Fast, Accurate Curved Surfaces

Did you know that “NURBS” stands for “Non-Uniform Rational Basis Spline”? This was developed more than 60 years ago as a mathematical way to regenerate free-form curves and shapes such as ship hulls and car bodies. Super-NURBS is Okuma’s propietary technology for achieving NURBS functionality within a CNC machining environment. With Super-NURBS, the OSP control projects a predetermined tolerance band that creates a spline considered to be the best fit for the job. This eliminates redundancies and allows for a faster and smoother tool path. With less data to crunch, movements are more efficient yet still sustain high accuracy to consistently deliver high-quality surface finishes.

Benefits of Super-NURBS Include:

• Higher accuracy for curved surfaces, complex shapes or large changes of diameter within a short linear distance
• Eliminates redundancies In the tool path resulting in better smoothness and higher speed
• Delivers high CNC machining accuracy/finish quality in half the time
• Provides a more control by shortening the feedback loop
• Increases throughput and productivity
• Can eliminate laborious (and costly) hand finishing, polishing or grinding

For more information on how Super-NURBS, examples of finished parts, or to download the Super-NURBS whitepaper, visit www.okuma.com/super-nurbs.