emphasise high manufacturing depth . “ For us , each step of the process must deliver maximum efficiency with the highest quality . That ’ s why we keep all necessary competencies inhouse and control every process step ourselves ,” says Production Manager Steffen Gotzmann , highlighting the importance of inhouse manufacturing at Schunk .
At the Lauffen plant alone , about 250 skilled workers and over 150 CNC machines work in three shifts to efficiently produce various components , mainly for clamping technology , from different materials . A walk through the production halls offers a great insight into Schunk ’ s high-quality standards . In addition to well-organised production lines , the cleanliness and orderliness of workstations stand out . Whether turning , milling , grinding , or eroding , only top-tier machines from leading manufacturers are used .
“ All core machines in our main production lines are CAMprogrammed . This keeps downtime to a minimum ,” says Gotzmann . Schunk employs a total of 68 CAM programmers — nine of whom focus on custom clamping technology for smaller batches and order-specific production . “ In this department alone , we create around 3,000 NC programs annually for approximately 2,000 customdeveloped , designed , and produced products ,” Gülgönül explains .
Process Reliability is Key For both department heads , maximum process reliability is critical for a cost-effective production process , as waste is something Schunk cannot afford . Alongside CAM programming and automation , the simulation of production tasks before actual machining plays a significant role . “ Machine simulation is a key element for a safe machining process . The simulation integrated into the CAM system is not enough for us . It ’ s crucial that the simulation we run in the office perfectly matches the real processes on the machines , including the kinematics of the equipment . Only then can we
Vericut provided the complete package : the software delivers exactly what we need for efficient and safe production , and the Vericut team offers reliable support with their expertise ,
ensure that what we ’ ve programmed will be executed exactly as intended ,” Gülgönül explains why Schunk uses the Vericut simulation and optimisation software .
“ Vericut provided the complete package : the software delivers exactly what we need for efficient and safe production , and the Vericut team offers reliable support with their expertise ,” explains Steffen Gotzmann . CAM administrator Juri Buling adds : “ When machines are idle , it costs a lot of money , and we want to avoid that . That ’ s why investing in Vericut was the logical step .” With Vericut , the entire clamping situation — including the blank , clamping tools , machining tools , and the machine itself — can be simulated . According to Buling , this virtual machining process has significantly increased process reliability in Schunk ’ s production .
Issue 72 PECM 7