Attention machine tool manufacturers: tool management harbours enormous savings potential
Low procurement costs, short setup times, high process reliability: so far, only few machine tool manufacturers know the advantages of digital tool management systems. As a result the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) with the support of JANUS Engineering has published a guideline to launch advanced tool management systems on the market.
These are eventful times for machine tool builders. In the course of the 4th Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), customers are demanding more and more product variants with lower batch sizes. This market demand can only be met efficiently through the use of digitisation. "Meanwhile, the use of modern planning and control software has become widespread in German companies," says Werner Karp, CEO of JANUS Engineering AG. "But few companies are aware of the savings potential in tool management."
Thousands of Euro saved by using integrated tool management
Machine tool manufacturers build up their digital tool libraries by using state-of-the-art technology and optimising the integration of NC programming and tool management and by connecting their machine tools. This provides centralised access to all tools for all parties involved, covering all requirements. "Among other things it permits tool sharing," explains Karp. "A medium size manufacturer with ten CNC machines and annual tool costs of 150,000 Euro can save several thousand Euro per year and achieve a faster return on investment as a result." CAM programming benefits enormously from rapid tool access and this is what makes it possible to automate the NC programming process. It eliminates errors caused by incorrect tool information along the process chain and harbours great potential for additional money savings by connection to the ERP system and production.
Industry 4.0: Central experience pool shortens tooling times
Not only can tools be shared, but also know-how. When every machine operator enters his many years of experience about the special features of various tools and materials into the tool management system, the outcome is a central experience pool. "New career entrants starting on CNC machines and CAM systems can then work with similar efficiency as experienced employees," says Karp. This increases process reliability and shortens setup times in one go. Setup times become even shorter when the system automatically integrates tool settings such as feeds and speeds for various materials into the NC program and transfers this information to the NC machines, making manual work at this point superfluous. The time lead gained as a result can lead to a decisive cutting edge in the Industry 4.0 age."
VDMA guidelines shows machine tool builders the way
But what tool management system is the right one for which company? How can the software be integrated in company IT? And how should employees be prepared for the changeover? Replies to these questions are provided in the guideline "Introduction to forward-looking tool management system" which the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) has published in collaboration with Janus Engineering. The 60 page document shows machine tool manufacturers the way from preparing for system introduction through to everyday application. The guideline is obtainable from VDMA-Verlag (www.vdma-verlag.com).
About JANUS Engineering AG
For over 30 years, JANUS Engineering AG has supplied development solutions for the CAD/CAM/PLM process chain. The company based in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart is the sales, service and development partner for the NX and Teamcenter systems from Siemens and supports manufacturing companies on their path towards Industry 4.0 by optimising and automating their development and production processes.
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