Industry 4.0 for Machining Operations [MTD MFG Investigates]
In the race to manufacture components faster, more accurately and with more flexibility, technology companies and research centres are focused on three core areas: - Process monitoring and measurement - Process control – without manual intervention - Machine optimisation – including virtual machining Each one is essential to making the entire part manufacture process more efficient, less wasteful and more intelligent. From component design, to set up, cutting the metal or material, adapting to changes in-process to optimise the machining, and keeping useful data in the “front end” for the operator and not in an information silo – the entire “drawing to delivery” chain can be sped up and optimised using digital technology that forms part of “4IR”, also known as Industry 4.0. The business case for understanding and using these smart control and monitoring technologies is strong. For example, using DMG Mori’s front-end control panel for 4IR, called CELOS, can achieve time savings of over 30% in set up, over the incumbent CNC PLC control screen, and half the effort and time required in calculating technical values, and searching for important data. Such data can often sit in an “information silo” in the CNC control or machine, but the CELOS control and similar control panels bring this to the operators finger tips. Such technology adoption is not just important for output, but for manufacturing flexibility. A wider range of component designs can be made in a shorter time window if machine tools are more agile and adaptive. MTD MFG and Stirling Media visited facilities at the AMRC with Boeing, with AMRC’s Tom McLeay and Starrag, DMG MORI UK, and SW Machines and Mapal in Germany, to reveal some of main developments in smart technology for CNC machining operations being adopted in Germany, Britain and elsewhere as precision engineering engages with 4IR, the so-called fourth industrial revolution. Companies with questions about any aspect of the technology shown in the film should contact MTD MFG for more information: [email protected]. MTD would like to thank all the sponsors that helped to produce this documentary: The AMRC with Boeing, DMG MORI UK, Mapal, SW Machines and Starrag.
In the race to manufacture components faster, more accurately and with more flexibility, technology companies and research centres are focused on three core areas: - Process monitoring and measurement - Process control – without manual intervention - Machine optimisation – including virtual machining Each one is essential to making the entire part manufacture process more efficient, less wasteful and more intelligent. From component design, to set up, cutting the metal or material, adapting to changes in-process to optimise the machining, and keeping useful data in the “front end” for the operator and not in an information silo – the entire “drawing to delivery” chain can be sped up and optimised using digital technology that forms part of “4IR”, also known as Industry 4.0. The business case for understanding and using these smart control and monitoring technologies is strong. For example, using DMG Mori’s front-end control panel for 4IR, called CELOS, can achieve time savings of over 30% in set up, over the incumbent CNC PLC control screen, and half the effort and time required in calculating technical values, and searching for important data. Such data can often sit in an “information silo” in the CNC control or machine, but the CELOS control and similar control panels bring this to the operators finger tips. Such technology adoption is not just important for output, but for manufacturing flexibility. A wider range of component designs can be made in a shorter time window if machine tools are more agile and adaptive. MTD MFG and Stirling Media visited facilities at the AMRC with Boeing, with AMRC’s Tom McLeay and Starrag, DMG MORI UK, and SW Machines and Mapal in Germany, to reveal some of main developments in smart technology for CNC machining operations being adopted in Germany, Britain and elsewhere as precision engineering engages with 4IR, the so-called fourth industrial revolution. Companies with questions about any aspect of the technology shown in the film should contact MTD MFG for more information: [email protected]. MTD would like to thank all the sponsors that helped to produce this documentary: The AMRC with Boeing, DMG MORI UK, Mapal, SW Machines and Starrag.