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 machine performance. It can highlight wear and tear and raise maintenance issues before a machine suffers an inconvenient or expensive breakdown. Live reporting with eluCloud software is already transforming how manufacturers operate, providing crucial real-time information for decision making. CNC machinery equipped with this advanced software is capable of troubleshooting. It can optimise its processes and communicate via API with the organisation’s ERP systems or, indeed, with other organisations, enabling effective collaboration on projects. Software is making automation of manufacturing processes possible, cost-effective and efficient. It is delivering remarkable consistency in production quality and the agility that today’s businesses need to thrive. It is facilitating partnerships and supporting the design of outstanding structures. It is minimising the use of resources like fuel, water and raw materials. In short, software could be the most valuable of all your production assets. Give it the respect it deserves.
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