Top 3 CNC machines smart factories rely on

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Top 3 CNC machines smart factories rely on

Top 3 CNC machines smart factories rely on

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Apr 27,23

Many modern CNC machines have connected and highly advanced features that make them appealing to buyers. These products may require a slight learning curve, but that’s less likely when installed in a smart factory, says Emily Newton.

Top 3 CNC machines smart factories rely on

Many high-tech factories have CNC machines that allow working with various materials to meet client needs. As these facilities become more advanced, it’ll be more common to see smart CNC machines with innovative connectivity features, self-diagnostic abilities and more.

Here are some of the leading examples of the types of CNC machines that are already popular and will become even more so shortly.

1. Smart CNC machines that can self-correct for errors

Maintaining excellent quality control procedures is vital in today’s machine shops and other production facilities. Customers rely on these workers to make various products, including those for tightly regulated industries.

Fortunately, data collection is one of the foundational capabilities of most smart factories. Many such facilities allow people to monitor operations remotely and get real-time information at the individual-machine level. Sometimes, that means those overseeing the processes can also intervene, even when somewhere other than the physical plant.

However, smart CNC machines can now recognize and self-correct problems. These applications usually require machinery that integrates with other technologies.

In one case, a company invested in a five-axis milling machine with a laser-measuring system that works with a robot. The robot puts raw materials into the machine and removes the finished products. However, the laser-measuring system arguably plays the biggest role in error reduction, particularly as the equipment runs without human oversight. It records thousands of values per second, including geometric changes at the tool-cutting edge.

This capability for smart CNC machines can detect when tools break or cutting edges are damaged. Since the laser-measuring system runs continuously to record data, it also enables the machine to make corrections if measurements indicate something’s wrong. This is the main reason why company officials can confidently run equipment during nights, weekends or any other times outside normal business hours.

It’s also advantageous that decision-makers choose a five-axis CNC machine. Airplane parts and replacement knees are some of the many things a company can produce with a five-axis CNC machine. These are the ideal options for the most demanding components. The diversity of manufacturing possibilities puts businesses in an excellent position to respond to marketplace demand.

2. CNC machines that give better production insights

Data collection is one of the foundational principles of a successful Industry 4.0 strategy. It’s not surprising that some companies offer ways for customers to enjoy the benefits of smart CNC machines.

People can purchase add-on services that expand visibility into milling machine operations. Customers can see the key parameters of their machine setups, then make tweaks to minimize chatter and breakdowns. They can also get details into what causes abnormal tool wear.

The more clients know what causes performance decreases in CNC machines, the more efficiently they can correct those problems. A deeper understanding of what happens while a CNC machine operates also helps decision-makers determine where bottlenecks occur and why.

Accurate data feeds from smart CNC machines can also aid people in determining whether their current assets meet their needs. For example, how many hours does the equipment operate each day? How efficient is it compared to other machines the company has? Answers to those questions make it easier to justify investing in more equipment if operational needs require it.

3. CNC machines that alert operators to maintenance needs

Manufacturers provide documentation with CNC machines that instructs people how to get optimal performance from the machine and which recommended maintenance schedules to follow. However, the suggestions are often just estimates that apply to most users — but not everyone. Sometimes, the maintenance-related tips are also excessively conservative. CNC machine makers would rather advise people to perform upkeep prematurely rather than risk waiting too long and experiencing an unexpected failure.

That’s why many equipment owners are switching to predictive maintenance instead. This approach is often much more cost-effective than reactive or preventive maintenance.

Purchasing a product that allows smart CNC machines to provide maintenance-related data ensures people handle upkeep at just the right times. It also empowers them to take a problem-solving approach to issues resulting in poor or unreliable machine performance.

Some businesses also sell platforms that handle cloud-based condition monitoring. It’s particularly beneficial when companies have numerous CNC machines. These options have either sensors or edge-computing devices as their primary hardware components.

Regardless of the specific setups, these products allow CNC machine owners to address maintenance issues before upkeep-related neglect causes unexpected production stoppages. People that take this proactive approach are more likely to enjoy consistent output that pleases clients and supports the company’s bottom line.

CNC machines are getting more advanced

These three examples show how many modern CNC machines have connected and highly advanced features that make them appealing to buyers. These products may require a slight learning curve, but that’s less likely when installed in a smart factory. Learning how a new one works is not as demanding or difficult if the facility already has various high-tech machines.

About the author:

Emily Newton is a tech and industrial journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized Magazine. Subscribe to the Revolutionized newsletter for more content from Emily.