Published 7/14/2023

Precision Machining Technology Review July 2023: Data Driven Manufacturing

Production Machining showcases some of the latest Data-Driven Manufacturing technology from Caron Engineer, Heidenhain Corp., Seco Tools, Shibaura Machine Co., eNetDNC, Shop Floor Automations and Wintriss Controls Group.

Data-Driven Manufacturing

Edited by: Angela Osborne

Managing Editor, Gardner Business Media

Automation Suite Supports High Precision

Photo Credit: Caron Engineering

Caron Engineering offers a variety of technologies for automation, cycle time reduction, unmanned operations as well as total process monitoring and control for tool loading, offset adjustment and more. Some options include ToolConnect, TMAC, DTect-IT, MiConnect, AutoComp and a Blum LC50 Digilog for a fully automated (lights-out) manufacturing process. ToolConnect automates the tool loading process by reading RFID tags and 2D printed barcodes loaded with machine presets, and updates the tool information directly to the CNC control, preventing an incorrect tool from being loaded.

Heidenhain StateMonitor 1.4.0 Enables Remote Monitoring, Data Evaluation

Photo Credit: Heidenhain Corp.

Heidenhain’s StateMonitor version 1.4.0 enables remote monitoring and data evaluation during real-time manufacturing. The software platform is an option with the company’s TNC controls to digitally connect and evaluate machine tool data on company networks to boost efficiencies. Connected devices can include CNC control systems of varying brands as well as PCs and web-based mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones. The updated software is designed to highlight data usage and encourage time-saving workflow methods using clear-cut charts and graphs.

Seco Machine Monitoring for Maximizing Manufacturing Efficiency

Photo Credit: Seco Tools

Seco’s Machine Monitoring is designed to offer a complete machine connectivity ecosystem that gives users the data-driven knowledge they need to increase machine uptime and optimize overall equipment effectiveness by leveraging their shop’s big data. The system enables users to measure and quantify the causes of unproductive time so they can manage production efficiency as well as increase both output volume and product quality, the company says. Done in real time and remotely, this technology solution samples production data on a continuous basis to build a full picture of what happens on a manufacturer’s shop floor and beyond.

MachiNetCloud IoT Service Offers Remote Monitoring

Photo Credit: Shibaura Machine

Shibaura Machine’s machiNetCloud is an industrial IoT service providing manufacturers with secure, remote access to real-time machine data any time and from any location, the company says. Instead of waiting hours or days for a technician to arrive on-site and diagnose problems that must be fixed, authorized users and third-party vendors can monitor machines remotely and access that data in a fraction of the time, enabling them to quickly respond with a technician or spare parts, the company says. Should a problem arise, machiNetCloud automatically alerts third-party technicians and internal users by email and SMS, helping reduce downtime and save on maintenance costs.

Machine Monitoring Software Update for Improving Efficiencies

Photo Credit: eNet Monitoring and DNC

The eNet Monitoring and DNC machine monitoring software updates — eNET V9.1 and eNET LT V5.1 — include two new machine monitoring dashboards (detailed timeline and detailed graph) which display the shift goal for machine cycles that can be accomplished per shift, and the achievable cycles that can still be completed on the current shift. The dashboards also display how many cycles were done on previous shifts, the machine monitoring timelines of previous shifts and a pie chart of the machine utilization for the current shift. The new software versions also provide improvements to the legacy machine monitoring dashboards, as the interface code has been refreshed to operate even faster and enable more visual customizations of the dashboards, the company says.

Machine Monitoring Solution Enables Real-Time Communication

Photo Credit: Shop Floor Automations

Shop Floor Automations’ (SFA) Scytec DataXchange machine monitoring solution leverages Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology to capture and communicate real-time equipment data to a mobile or desktop user interface. The latest Modbus TCP connectivity protocols released by Scytec increase remote monitoring capabilities through DataXchange. This functionality enables engineers, operators and operations personnel to monitor robots, cobots and other automated PLC equipment around the clock, programmatically transmitting messages to key personnel whenever an issue arises.

Data Collection Software Increases Efficiency, Reduces Downtime

Photo Credit: Wintriss Controls Group

Wintriss Controls Group’s ShopFloorConnect offers new, advanced features for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and data collection software. The latest functionality in ShopFloorConnect is said to give manufacturers increased efficiency and reduced downtime, including when remote monitoring is required. According to Wintriss, the software can significantly increase manufacturing capacity and profitability by identifying and quantifying excessive production losses and bottlenecks.