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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.
منبع: https://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/innovation-article/what-types-cnc-machines-will-smart-factories-demand-080223.html
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.
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.
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.
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You may have heard of toasters that know when we’re running out of bread, or devices that know they need servicing before we do. They are the cheap thrills of the internet of things (IoT). But your factory can also benefit substantially from the IoT, whether it’s predicting when a machine needs to be serviced, monitoring its performance, or noticing when stock levels are low. (And, maybe, adding a USB-connected sandwich press to the lunchroom.)
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.
Published: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 – 12:02
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
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.
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Looking to the future is vital. Don’t upgrade or replace your CNC machines without considering what business advantages you’re trying to achieve. In your smart factory, you’ll be competing not only on range and precision but also in terms of specialization, customer experience, and time to market. CNC machines that make it easier to build to order will allow you to carry less stock, lower upfront costs, and reduce inefficiencies. Market-leading smart factories need to know exactly what their customers need—which is exactly what newer machines will provide.
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.