3 Ways automation is shaping the future of industrial cutting

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3 Ways automation is shaping the future of industrial cutting

3 Ways automation is shaping the future of industrial cutting

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Mar 30,24

Automated cutting machinery has opened more opportunities for increasingly complex work handled in less time and with fewer or no workers, says Emily Newton.

3 Ways automation is shaping the future of industrial cutting

Products ranging from the sliced ham in the grocery store’s refrigerated area to the metal range hood over a kitchen stovetop require industrial cutting equipment during manufacture. Automated cutting machinery has opened more opportunities for increasingly complex work handled in less time and with fewer or no workers. Industrial workers who use products in this category can anticipate numerous benefits.

1. Facilitating the movement of tools and workpieces

Bringing automated cutting machinery into an industrial facility is an excellent way for people to accelerate their workflows, reduce accident rates and more. However, processes can still become cumbersome when people move the cutting tools or workpieces around a facility to go through various steps. Fortunately, automation can reduce those challenges.

The employees of a Korean cutting tool manufacturer used to rely on three-stage steel carts to move items from one side of the factory to the other. However, this approach put workers at risk of fatigue and injuries. Leaders improved the process by exploring how automated mobile robots (AMRs) could integrate with the existing industrial setup.

They bought two AMRs from a South Korean manufacturer offering models capable of carrying payloads of more than 1,100 pounds. Once the cutting tool manufacturer had used the AMRs for about eight months, executives noticed benefits such as a more productive and streamlined material movement process. Additionally, although material mishandling previously caused quality shortcomings, the AMRs reduced the rate of such mishaps.

AMRs are only one of the many automated material handling options to consider when determining the best ways to move tools or workpieces. Conveyor belts are among the most basic, while automated storage and retrieval systems can take up substantial parts of massive facilities. When decision-makers consider things such as part size and volume, they can use those details to determine the most appropriate material-handling options for their automation plans.

2. Allowing businesses to meet higher demands

Production bandsaws provide the accurate and high-volume cutting performance industrial users require to satisfy their customers. Adding automation to the equation can make companies even more competitive when faced with rising demands.

In one example, a structural steel and tool steel stockholder and processor with clients in numerous European countries uses 35 automated bandsaws to increase its capacity for cutting large workpieces. Since the company only has a few competitors providing that service, leaders saw an excellent opportunity to meet a known marketplace need and cope with increasing demands from new and existing customers.

The automated bandsaws cut pieces — the largest of which are several meters long and wide — lengthwise and crosswise. Additionally, employees can alter the cutting infeed to align with their productivity goals or the client’s requirements. Several years ago, company executives purchased a compact, automated storage system that holds up to 5,000 tonnes of bar stock. That system interfaces seamlessly with the bandsaws and connects to the company’s enterprise resource planning system.

Executives view the automated bandsaws as excellent investments because they allow the company to offer high-quality, precise work. Customers typically want large, heavy billets and plates of various grades, dimensions and geometries. The automated equipment provides the necessary versatility and excellent outcomes to support customer growth.

3. Shortening cutting tool programming time frames

Some cutting tools — such as computer numerical control systems — require programming to deliver the expected results. However, some people are investigating how to apply advanced technologies to make automated cutting machinery work better than ever.

One specialty software title uses AI to suggest machining strategies for 3-axis parts. It takes only seconds to do the job, but manual creation requires hours or days. More specifically, some users can use AI to program cutting machinery in 80 per cent less time, saving them hundreds of hours of production time annually.

Additionally, this tool empowers junior workers to program machines and create more complex parts with little or no oversight from more senior colleagues. An executive at one company within the defense industry that uses the software said it made the manufacturing process more streamlined and effective by capturing and automating the institutional knowledge held by the company’s manufacturing workforce.

Are you ready to try automated cutting machinery?

These are some of the many ways industrial cutting machinery can improve industrial processes and help workers get more done while enjoying reduced chances of strain and injury. Leaders can position their companies for the best outcomes by narrowing down the biggest challenges and determining how automation could help.

They should also encourage employees to feel upbeat about what’s ahead, explaining why now is an excellent time to begin automating workflows and what team members can expect during the transition and beyond. People may need additional training or safety accessories to use the automated cutting machinery well. It’ll also likely take some time for them to ease into doing things differently, so executives must remember that good results will happen gradually.

Setting specific goals and tracking key metrics throughout this process will help everyone stay motivated while focusing on what’s going well and identifying areas for improvement. Automation is not a magic solution to all problems, but it can optimise activities and provide lasting positive outcomes for the companies that try it.

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.