IMTS Special
IMTS 2018 A Mecca for Tech Savvy Visitors
Get ready to witness the explosive productivity growth possible with smart, connected machining centers at the IMTS 2018 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show.
In addition to Industry 4.0 machine and device monitoring demonstrations, exhibitors will show how enhanced data exchange is essential for intelligent manufacturing. One example would include a CNC, a robot for automated part loading / unloading and a CMM, all connected to create a closed-loop system that automatically updates tool offsets. Easy part change-over is another.
Marlow Knabach, Executive VP, National Engineering, DMG MORI USA says,“ Exhibitors in the Metal Cutting Pavilion at IMTS – 2018 will demonstrate smart machines with the ability to monitor critical elements, such as spindle bearing temperature, spindle vibration, ball screw temperature, coolant level and tool wear to identify potential sources of downtime before they occur.”
Achieving overall equipment effectiveness( OEE) rates greater than 80 per cent in job shops is a greater challenge compared to higher volume manufacturing. Traditionally, job shops could not take advantage of softwarebased systems for automation and process monitoring or Ethernet-based communication protocols because the cost and complexity were too prohibitive.
“ Automation integration used to be more expensive and difficult because you had simple I / O connections and
At IMTS 2018, DMG MORI will showcase a CNC universal milling machine, the DMU 50 3rd Generation, which offers a maximum load capacity of 551 lbs. and will feature the proven PH 150 pallet handling automation solution with up to 24 pallets.
needed to reprogram a PLC when changing parts. CNC manufacturers and automation providers have been working together to provide seamless integration between the CNC control and the robot control. With software systems talking with each other over an Ethernet connection, users can now bundle all aspects of the job together. We’ ve created a new level of flexibility and simplicity in part change-over in production cells,” says Paul Gray, Ph. D., Manager for Path Planning, Front-end Design and R & D at Hurco.
Hurco will demonstrate automation integration as part of its 50th anniversary celebration at IMTS 2018. A collaborative robot will 3D scan visitors’ faces, generate a solid model from that data to create a tool path and then either a 5-axis CNC will cut the head from cylindrical aluminum stock or a 3-axis CNC will cut the form into a brass coin. Both CNCs will be connected to fully automated robot systems that are coordinated by a centralized job management system.
Speaking more about it Gray further states,“ Communication protocols and software-based systems process monitoring enable considerable cost and time reductions in total system operation. Smaller job shops and those with high-mix, low volume parts who
At IMTS 2018, Hurco will showcase a 3-axis machining center in their automation quadrant. The VM10i features a small footprint with a large work cube. No other mill packs as much productivity into such an efficiently designed package. The VM10i offers a maximum load capacity of 1,499 lbs. and will partner with a collaborative robot to create personalized brass coins for booth visitors.
20 | August-September 2018 | Global MDA Journal