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