CNC machine crashes cost you time and money. They interrupt your manufacturing process, which drives up labor costs and delays delivery to your customers, and they create out-of-pocket costs for repairing damaged equipment and replacing scrapped material.
In your travels around McCormick Place for IMTS 2012 (September 10 – 15) be sure to visit the Gosiger, Inc. and Okuma booths. In either location you’ll find Gosiger applications experts ready to talk about all of your manufacturing needs including 5-axis machining.
Also referred to as universal machining, 5-axis machining offers significant ways to increase productivity even if you don’t perform 5-axis simultaneous machining. The fact is that 60% of parts are only machined on 5 sides, so by using a 5-axis machining center you can completely machine a part in one cycle, often without any special fixtures, and with no costly operator intervention. On the other hand, a CNC machine tool without 5-axis capability typically requires multiple special fixtures and considerable operator time to move the part from one machine to another and set up the parts in between machining cycles.
A fundamental premise of Okuma’s Intelligent Technology concept is to build advanced technologies into their CNC lathes, turning centers, multitasking machines and machining centers. In this way the machines are designed from the outset to increase efficiency for manufacturers. One example is the Okuma Thermo-Friendly Concept.
Dealing with thermal deformation can be a time-consuming activity for the machine operator, often involving many test runs to compensate for the affects of ambient workplace temperatures, heat produced by the machine itself, and heat generated by the machining process. Nothing can prevent these temperature variations from occurring, so the question is: How do you compensate for them? Okuma’s answer is three-fold: (1) Simple machine construction that allows heat to be evenly transmitted, which makes expansion and contraction highly predictable; (2) a thermally symmetrical, double-column, box-build design plus strategic placement of front covers and the rear control cabinet for even heat distribution; (3) Highly Accurate Compensation Technology, managed by the Okuma-developed THINC OSP control system that responds to changes in room temperature, and heat produced by frequent spindle speed changes and dry cutting.
Gosiger applications experts can help you maximize your operation’s productivity by analyzing your manufacturing process and recommending the best CNC machines and automation technologies for your unique requirements. Equally important, Gosiger is committed to keeping your equipment running at peak efficiency with a service and support staff of over 100 professionals.
RFM, a unit of Mitsubishi Materials USA, manufactures indexable, multi-pocketed milling cutters, end mills and drills. The Brighton, Michigan facility quadrupled its annual sales and increased production output 25% by applying Gosiger Factory Automation technologies to its machining processes.
Factory floor space is often one of your most valuable assets so, naturally, you want to make every square foot as dollar productive as possible. Which means that if you frequently machine multi-sided parts, you should consider making your next CNC machine tool investment a horizontal machining center (HMC). The reason is quite simple: In many cases one horizontal machining center replaces multiple vertical machining centers (VMC).
There was a time, not that long ago, when apprenticeship programs were the standard for developing new manufacturing talent. Young people who had an interest in manufacturing served apprenticeships through which they learned skilled trades. These days you seldom hear of such programs. What we do hear too often is how difficult it is to find qualified machinists and other employees.
In today’s competitive manufacturing environment an idle CNC machine spindle is an ugly thing. Yet the typical stand-alone machining center runs only about 1/3 of the time, while patiently waiting for setup, programming or workpiece loading and unloading. All of which means less cutting time and lost productivity.
That’s why Gosiger recommends the Okuma Automated Modular Pallet System (AMPS). This unique, flexible manufacturing system (FMS) optimizes throughput by managing your production schedule and level loading your machining centers. In addition, AMPS enhanced production lines can often be managed by a single operator, thus reducing labor costs.
An Ethernet-based system acts as a conduit for relaying operational data between the programming software, controller, bar feeder, machine tool and parts unloader.
In today’s competitive manufacturing world, productivity is the key to success, so we invest in people and equipment that can make us more efficient. For managers of any kind, from owner or production manager to supervisor or shift leader, getting the most out of our own workday is often a challenge. There are always interruptions, unexpected problems and fires to put out. So how can we juggle all of our responsibilities and still be productive?