FOCUS ON DIGITALISATION
( so that the web shop user can see why his / her part was rejected as unfinishable ). On the other hand , it would be ideal if this is also displayed to us on the bending machine . For example , if a cutout is located too close to the bending zone , the operator sees it and can watch out for it during bending . Of course , we would be absolutely thrilled if the AI-based potential recognition and automated redesign from Optimate could also be integrated into the web shop ,” he commented .
From web shop to machine or a drawing header with a legend contained in the file .
In production testing , a typical reason for rejection is the wrong part size for the largeformat laser cutting machine or incorrect sheet thickness . During bending , parts longer than three metres are rejected since they can ’ t be run on the machine .
The extended workbench
LaserCloud ’ s new laser and bending machine was delivered in August 2022 . At that time , a large Deeg customer had an additional and substantial sheet metal requirement . So , in fact , the first order for the web shop was a large series , which wasn ’ t even ordered online .
The online shop was launched in October 2022 . Since then , orders have been arriving daily , said the manufacturer . Around 95 per cent of them are reportedly new customers and none of them are existing customers of the parent company . Over 100 customers are currently registered , and the trend is increasing . One customer , for whom the LaserCloud online ordering platform has served as an extended workbench , now places 400 orders per week via the web shop , all of them single parts with batch sizes of one to five .
In the medium term , job shopper Deeg also benefits from the new subsidiary . Anyone who orders single sheet metal parts from LaserCloud today may well become a highvolume customer tomorrow , it told ISMR .
Joachim Deeg explained how : “ If a new customer needs a prototype of one or two parts , for example , it can order them from us , receive the delivery within a few days and test them . If the tests run successfully and the
Joachim Deeg demonstrates LaserCloud .
customer wants to go into series production , our parent company is available to take it on .”
Challenges and optimisation
Joachim Deeg is very open about the entire process and described the greatest challenge that he faced .
“ We had several in-depth discussions about the feasibility analysis with the Deeg production and design experts looking at all the relevant parameters . At times , it felt like a never-ending task . Calculating the press force based on material , bending length , radius and selected tool with minimum and maximum flange length was certainly complex . For this purpose , we stored a tool database in the Optimate App and now use a matrix to recognize which tools we can use to bend and whether 170t press force is sufficient ,” he explained .
“ The fact that we were able to build up a small knowledge database about sheet metal processing along the way came as a surprise . It enables us to see what has been done at any point in time , for example during the feasibility analysis . Everything that we store digitally for technical feasibility is also documented clearly in text form . As a result , there are various knowledge pages in the web shop e . g . that the minimum radius must correspond to the sheet thickness . Before someone starts to design , they can look there ,” he added .
He also outlined where he sees the potential for optimisation .
“ On the one hand , we would like to see a part visualised in 3D in the web shop with the detected defects , interfering contours etc .
Currently , programs are still imported manually into the CAD system and an in-house designer looks over them . In the future , however , it is planned that the CAD programs will be automatically filled with the uploaded STEP files following the feasibility analysis .
“ We want to get a feel for what kind of orders and parts are actually coming in via the web shop , which is why we ’ re taking another look at it in the design department ,” said Joachim Deeg , explaining his approach . If it becomes clear in a few months that the ordering process and analysis run smoothly , then the entire process ( including NC programming ) will be automated .
Technically , LaserCloud is already capable of automatically transferring an online order into the NC program following the feasibility analysis , as well as entering it directly into the PPS . But for now , Joachim Deeg and his colleagues prefer to take another look at it themselves .
“ Once we are confident that everything is running smoothly , we ’ ll switch over to automation here as well . And we ’ ll be a real step closer to paperless production ,” he concluded . n
www
. lasercloud . de /
https :// deeg-bleche . de /
www . optimate . dev
About Optimate
Founded in mid-2020 as a start-up based in Stuttgart , Germany , Optimate GmbH originated from an internal innovation programme at sheet metal specialist , TRUMPF . The founders contribute years of experience in sheet metal processing and have incorporated this expertise into an advanced digital solution for part analysis and optimisation . In addition to manufacturers and job shoppers , web shops and marketplaces also use the AI-based cloud solution for the analysis and optimisation of sheetmetal parts .
ISMR February 2024 | ismr . net | 37