About Creo NC
Creo NC creates the data necessary to drive an NC machine tool to machine a Creo part. It does this by providing the tools to let the manufacturing engineer follow a logical sequence of steps to progress from a design model to ASCII CL data files that can be post-processed into NC machine data.
Licensing Requirements
Creo NC is a family of optional modules that can be ordered in any combination, to provide a custom fit of the available functionality to your company’s needs.
The Creo Complete Machining license covers the complete Creo NC functionality as described in this Help System. Other modules provide subsets of this functionality.
If you do not have the appropriate license to perform a specific set of functions, you may need to use a different command to start Creo Parametric, or you might be able to "float" the necessary options to your working session.
The table below lists the Creo Parametric licenses pertaining to Creo NC and the key features corresponding each of them:
License
Modules
Key Features
Prismatic Milling Option
Expert Machinist
G-POST
NC-MILL
NC-CHECK
Manufacturing Process Planning for MFG
Control the entire manufacturing process from tool path definition, computation and verification to NC code and shop floor documentation generation.
Capture and re-use your machining practices to streamline and standardize manufacturing methodologies.
Support of feature-based and geometry-based programming to allow adaptability to design changes.
Multi-surface, three-axis milling toolpath generation including support for high speed machining, with four-axis and five-axis positioning.
Complete solution up to the NC code generation, including NC Program creation, Process Documentation, Post-processing and toolpath verification and simulation.
Product Machining Option
Expert Machinist
NC-MILL
NC-TURN
NC-WEDM
Manufacturing Process Planning for MFG
NC-CHECK
G-POST
Includes toolpath generation for NC program creation for CNC milling machines, two-axis or four-axis CNC lathes, and two-axis and four-axis CNC wire EDM machines.
Includes all the capabilities of Prismatic and multi-surface milling.
Provides low-level toolpath editing, allowing control and optimization of the toolpath needed for the production environment.
Provides a unique process-planning/route sheet tool to create a framework of step-by-step illustrations and instructions necessary to successfully manufacture parts.
Offers the best programming system in the market for families of parts having many variations of the same basic design.
Complete Machining Option
Expert Machinist
NC-ADVANCED
Manufacturing Process Planning for MFG
NC-CHECK
G-POST
Support 2 1/2-axis prismatic milling up to 5-axis milling, multi-axis turning and mill/turn (live tooling) and 4-axis wire EDM.
View and manage manufacturing process in a table environment with the NC process manager.
Capture and re-use your machining practices to streamline and standardize manufacturing methodologies.
Optimize finishing tool paths for surface machining.
Drive multiple control points on a stage tool; load tool at any orientation with adaptors.
ModuleWorks-Based Mold Machining Licenses
3AXIS_HSM — Create 3 axis roughing and finishing sequences. The sequences generate optimized toolpaths that can be simulated using the ModuleWorks-based material removal simulation functionality integrated in Creo. The following sequences can be created on the 3 axis Work Center with this license.
HSM Rough — Create 3 axis roughing sequences on the 3 axis Work Center.
HSM Rest Rough — Create 3 axis rest roughing sequences on the 3 axis Work Center.
HSM Finish — Create 3 axis finishing sequences on the 3 axis Work Center.
HSM Rest Finish — Create 3 axis rest finishing sequences on the 3 axis Work Center.
3_AND_5_AXIS_HSM — Create 3 axis and 5 axis roughing and finishing sequences. The sequences generate optimized toolpaths that can be simulated using the ModuleWorks-based material removal simulation functionality integrated in Creo.
Along with the 3 axis sequences covered under 3AXIS_HSM license, you can create these additional sequences on the 5 axis Work Center with this license.
HSM 5 Axis Rough — Create 5 axis roughing sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
HSM 5 Axis Rest Rough — Create 5 axis rest roughing sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
Auto Deburring — Create 3 axis or 5 axis auto deburring sequences.
HSM Rough — Create 3+2 axis or positional roughing sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
HSM Rest Rough — Create 3+2 axis or positional rest roughing sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
HSM Finish — Create 5 axis finishing sequences by conversion of 3 axis sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
HSM Rest Finish — Create 5 axis rest finishing sequences by conversion of 3 axis sequences on the 5 axis Work Center.
In a Creo Parametric session, when you add these licenses, the High Speed Milling group becomes available on the Mill tab and the existing HSM sequences become available in the Model Tree.
Machining Category
Functionality
Mold Machining
NC Machine Type
2 1/2 axis feature based machining
No
3 axis milling for production machining
No
Functionality to produce efficient high-speed 3 axis roughing toolpaths
Yes
Multi-core processing of high quality 3 axis surface finish toolpaths
Yes
Adaptive roughing strategies for constant cutting conditions, for example, consistent tool load
Yes
3 axis trajectory toolpath
Yes
Comprehensive holemaking capabilities
Yes
4–5 axis positioning milling
No
2–4 axis turning
No
2–4 axis wire EDM
No
Live tooling for turning
No
5 axis continuous milling and contouring machines, for example, laser.
No
Manufacturing productivity tools
Extraction of manufacturing annotation features
No
Tool and fixture library
Yes
Multi-task machines synchronization
No
Dynamic tool axis definition
No
Manufacturing process documentation
No
Post processing and simulation
Creo/NC-GPOST: NC post-process generator
Yes
ModuleWorks-based material removal
Yes