At elumatec, where we have in-house software specialists, I’ve seen the very best examples of what software can achieve. And software does vary. Some of it is fairly basic, offering little more than a way to set up and control the machining centre’s basic operations. If you’re looking at software, I urge you to go beyond that bare minimum. The benefits will be worth it. The benefits of CNC software Let’s look first at some of the basic benefits. I’m calling them basic, but their contribution can be significant. Firstly, CNC software should permit programming and machining to happen concurrently. You should not have to have a machine standing idle while you set up the next job. When jobs are programmed in advance, non-productive machine hours are minimised. One note of caution: It’s vital that programming should be easy and intuitive, and as with eluCad software, it should support functions like 3-D modelling and automated data conversion. Secondly, CNC software should optimise the workflow, choosing the most efficient sequence of operations that need completing. It should be able, therefore, to ensure faster production and
increased throughput, reducing the overall cost of production.
Thirdly, CNC software should enable more complex machining tasks to be completed than might otherwise be possible. It should facilitate increased precision without the need for operator intervention or reliance on the skill of one key individual. The final of these basic benefits is by no means the least significant. CNC software eliminates the scrap caused by production errors and can reduce waste. Savings are made on materials, time and all other input costs. Beyond the basics It seems impossible, this year, to have any kind of conversation about manufacturing without the subject of AI coming up. While some headlines are alarming, the reality is more nuanced. In CNC software terms, we have already moved towards considerable improvements in management information, issue detection and efficiency. More improvements will follow as Industry 4.0 and machine learning become the norm.
CNC software is already capable of monitoring
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