As the machining industry evolves, reducing operating costs is not enough to remain competitive. Keeping costs low is an important part of maintaining a competitive position in the industry, but smarter decision-making is a key factor if shops want to stay ahead of the competition. To make smarter decisions, accurate and reliable data is needed.
This is where tools like presetters come in, as they can help you improve your decision-making capabilities. Presetters are tool measurement devices that provide accurate data quickly and consistently. They save considerable time and money by taking measurements of tools offline.
The data collected by machine tool presetters can be used to enhance decision-making. This is one of the many ways to improve your shop’s competitive position in today’s machining industry.
Staying Ahead of the Technology Leap
We are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. Smart machines are becoming more closely integrated within our processes and more interconnected. This means technology is actively enhancing the digitization of manufacturing.
When machines can ‘talk’ to each other, they create a digital network. Smart machines create and share data within this network, making them even smarter. This transition clearly highlights the significant technological leap in today’s machining industry.
How Could Industry 4.0 Help Your Shop?
To maintain a strong competitive presence in the industry, it is important to consider how to integrate smart machines in a way that will benefit your operations. Understanding the significance of the technological leap will help you stay ahead and thrive in this new era.
Improves Decision-Making Capabilities
Data plays an important role in decision-making. When data is incomplete, you are missing the full picture, which creates uncertainty. On the other hand, having too much data can create confusion. Having just enough of the right kind of data paves the way to strong decision-making capabilities.
Industry 4.0 means connecting smart machines. Since this makes smart machines smarter, it also improves data collection. More accurate and reliable data leads to improved decision-making.
Increases Efficiency and Flexibility
Industry 4.0 increases automation through the use of smart machines. Since these machines are connected through a digital network, operations become streamlined and optimized. This saves you time and money, which boosts your shop’s efficiency.
Additionally, these smart machines are extremely adaptable. This increases the flexibility of your production processes and gives you more room to meet demands.
5 Ways a Machine Tool Presetter Lets Your Shop Benefit from Industry 4.0
There are many benefits Industry 4.0 can have on your shop. So how can shops go about taking advantage of these benefits? One method includes using presetting technology. Industry 4.0 is heavily characterized by the collection and use of data. A tool presetter can gather and apply important data to optimize machining processes.
For example, the HAIMER Microset tool presetting technology complements the existing HAIMER portfolio. It offers a complete system provider for tool management centered around the machine tool. HAIMER’s presetting technology clearly demonstrates how a tool presetter can efficiently gather and use data to optimize processes.
1. Data Exchange and Transfer to the Machine Tool
HAIMER’s presetting technology improves data sharing and connectivity. Features like its USB and bidirectional interface make sharing data fast and easy. This is because HAIMER’s bidirectional interface allows your equipment to provide tool data to almost any software, making data more accessible in your shop. This is an essential part of Industry 4.0.
Many different parts of your shop use data from the tool data management system. From production to re-grinding, tool data in a shop is needed for different purposes. That is why it is so important to ensure the data collected is not only reliable but also transferable.
When you improve the accessibility of the data in your shop, you are optimizing all processes and operations that use tool data.
2. Automatic Measurement Capabilities
Automation optimizes your operations by reducing the workload of your operator and eliminating human error. For example, a common human error is the ‘fat finger error,’ where a manual input is entered incorrectly. Such errors incur costs in the form of scrap, crashes and various inaccuracies in your shop’s operations. The HAIMER UNO series uses its automatic measurement capabilities to save you time and money, eliminate human error, and allow for more flexibility in your operations. This is because the HAIMER UNO series is heavily customizable and lets you choose the functions you want to fully or partially automate.
3. Measurement Repeatability
The HAIMER VIO series offers maximum functionality because of its parallel drive and guidance system, which provides optimal distribution of forces. This means the presetting technology can consistently repeat measurements, producing reliable data that sets the foundation for strong decision-making capabilities.
4. Ease of Use
The major selling points for tool presetters are their accuracy and ability to save shops considerable time and money. However, shops should also consider the presetter’s ease of use. HAIMER’s presetting technology, like the HAIMER VIO series, perfectly complements your shop’s existing processes since it can be integrated with new and existing production processes.
5. Reduced Downtime
Incorporating Industry 4.0 into your shop not only means optimizing current processes but also forecasting and mitigating potential challenges. HAIMER’s advanced presetting technology assists in predictive maintenance by tracking tool wear patterns and suggesting timely replacements or adjustments. This preemptive data-driven approach drastically reduces unplanned downtimes, ensuring that your shop’s production runs smoothly and efficiently.
Additionally, by identifying wear patterns, the technology also helps in extending the life of the tools, resulting in significant cost savings over time.
Enhancing Your Decision-Making with a Machine Tool Presetter
Thanks to the computerization of Industry 3.0 and the digitization of Industry 4.0, technology plays an important role in today’s machining industry. A tool presetter is one of many solutions to enhancing decision-making. It is a smart machine that is designed to complement human decision-makers.
However, it can be harmful to be completely dependent on technology. Not every manual process needs to be automated. It depends on your shop’s unique circumstances and needs.
This is where the Triumph Team can help you. Our team of experienced and highly trained Sales Representatives uses an unbiased approach to offer you the best recommendation. Contact us today to take your machining to the next level!
References
HAIMER Microset Presetting Technology