October 2, 2018 - Products to consider for better machine productivity in 2019.
October 2, 2018 - Your programs are your livelihood on the shop floor. They make the parts that keep you in business. You want to make sure no one is stealing them, or changing them without authority, and that they are securely loading into your CNC machines.
What measures are you taking in 2019 to make sure your machine programs are on track for success? Let’s take a look at Shop Floor Automations Top 3 list of solutions for better CNC networking:
1) DNC Software – If controlling program communication for over 4000 devices sounds impossible, you’ll be surprised. One network for all the equipment on your shop floor is more than a pipe dream. DNC is available for many controls, including Haas, DMG Mori Seiki, Mazak, Fagor, Okuma, Fanuc, and more. Communication can be achieved wirelessly, via ethernet, and RS232. Another benefit of Predator DNC is Remote Request. Using this feature through the software helps machinists be more productive, as they can send, receive and drip-feed programs at the machine. Since they have directory listings of programs at their machine tool, they no longer need to walk back and forth from the PC to the CNC.
2) Secure DNC – Some companies are prioritizing hiring new workers to fill in the manufacturing skills gap as the previous generation of workers retires out. That means old machine tools can’t always be replaced at this moment. Older, Windows-based controls can then use a Predator feature called Secure DNC. Secure file transfers can take place through firewalls for these machines. You can send programs directly to the hard drive of the machine without interfering with the shop’s network or adding them to the domain. This exclusive Predator feature has been sought after especially by companies that have concerns about cybersecurity in their shops.
3) CNC Revision Control - A critical element to manufacturing productivity, CNC Revision Control is often overlooked via the processes of hand-coded programs and programs floating around the shop on portable media. No control over shop programs leads to old programs running at machines, or inaccuracies in the part, which leads to wasted raw material, man time, and unhappy customers. Customer have stated that implementing revision control helps with better throughput, saved money, improved margins, and more accuracy in delivery times. Predator PDM (Production Data Management) can help with achieving these goals.
