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Functionality is always improving and expanding. CNC machines aren’t phones—you won’t be installing cutters or grinders that can fit in your pocket or fold up—but a machine of the same size will do more than it does now. The types of CNC machines you were installing 15 years ago are being replaced by better, faster, and more comprehensive models. For example, CNC milling machines have moved from four-axis to six-axis and have added spiraling to their capability. As the machines improve, so do their cutting processes and productivity, and they’re now faster, more precise, and easier to monitor.
The right software is also a vital component in having different types of CNC machines “talk” to each other. In the past, machines using different protocols, or from different manufacturers, might not have been able to interact with systems inside the factory. Software on the machines allows them to send data to a central location, where they can be distributed in a form every machine—and person—can understand.
Manufacturing has moved on from simple cutting tools; your customers expect you to create high-quality tools from top-end materials with little room for error. The industry is focused now on the end-to-end process, from sourcing the best materials to providing the best customer experience, and that relies on networked machines and devices. As expectations for cutting tools have changed, so has the equipment you use to stay competitive. The types of CNC machines you use can make or break your position in your toolmaking niche.
That’s where software becomes key. Smart factories that want the benefits of the IoT rely on connectivity. Machines must have access to software that connects them to an internal network, where every part of the system is able to interact. You might even connect them to a wider network, using information from customer and supplier networks to create more streamlined processes.
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Retrofits mean you can avoid replacing your machines wholesale. Updating them one by one will allow you to keep your factory running with minimal downtime and cost so your customer engagement isn’t disrupted.
Take it one step at a time. Update your factory’s capability quickly and cost-effectively by refitting or replacing machines that will give you the quickest results.
We’ve found that about 95% of machines in use today are 10 years old or less. Often they are still capable of moving to the latest software and adding on accessories that can be used in automation. That’s good news for your factory. For example, you might be able to retrofit:
• Laser measurement
• Network connectivity
• Electrical controls
• Operating systems
• Automated processes and libraries
Then there’s complete business transformation. During the next five to 10 years, tool manufacturers will use their technology to completely eliminate waste—and they’re planning for it already. This “closed-loop” approach to manufacturing means only ordering and using exactly what you need. Nothing will be sent to landfill or left on the factory floor. It’s a world that will be better for the environment, better for customers, and better for your bottom line.
Software can have an effect in other ways, too. Our latest product introduced new features to cutting tools, allowing for more complex cutting-tool geometries. Some industries have different requirements. For example, aerospace and power generation use hard and soft materials that require different geometries of cutters for machining them. We have introduced new geometries in software to manufacture special cutters for those processes.
There are many options for bringing your CNC machines into the future. Whether you retrofit software and accessories or replace your machines with the latest models, you’re investing in a future that’s efficient, connected, and more profitable.