Author: Mario Rodriguez, Product Manager at Lantek
With a growing number of machine manufacturers and models available, it’s becoming more common for shops to have several cutting, punching, and bending machines of different brands. But, each machine comes with different technological characteristics, making production planning a tedious task.
The rapid creation of multiple manufacturers, especially from Asia, has contributed to the cheapening and improvement of technology. Each machine manufacturer, each machine model, and sometimes even each individual machine, have and use different technological characteristics. For instance, cutting a sheet metal on a 4000 W CO2 laser machine of brand X is not the same as cutting it on a 12000 W Fiber laser of brand Y. The space between parts, the radius of the cutter, the length of the lead-ins, and many other variables differ and are incompatible between both machines.
To solve these problems, the market is demanding a decoupling between the two worlds. The technical office should be less dependent on the various technologies present on the shop floor, and the shop floor should be better able to apply the "last mile technology and machining" to the production received from the technical office.
Traditionally, a shop with different machines (brands or models) plans its production based on the capacity and availability of the machines, as well as on the experience of the production manager/planner. But the reality of the shop floor often disrupts the planning, due to unforeseen situations such as machine stoppages, production peaks, location and transport of material, among others. This forces production to be reorganized, causing a chain reaction that reaches the technical office, with the necessary regeneration of programs for machines other than those initially planned.
The solution to these setbacks lies in a more flexible technical office. A technical office capable of reacting more quickly to the interactions and problems raised by the shop floor is essential. If a CAD/CAM programmer can redo the machining of an entire batch quickly and efficiently, the shop floor will run faster and with fewer breaks. With the help of advanced CAD/CAM software, the technical office can be less dependent on the various technologies present on the shop floor.
In the near future, CAD/CAM software is expected to offer the shop floor a complete range of all program combinations, allowing them to choose which machine to run them in real-time. The limit is set by the capacity of the CAD/CAM software. This will enable the shop floor to be more agile and efficient, reducing production setbacks, and increasing workshop productivity.
Implementing a more flexible technical office and utilizing advanced CAD/CAM software can help workshops improve their processes, reduce production setbacks, and increase overall productivity. The key to achieving this is by empowering the CAD/CAM programmer with the ability to quickly and efficiently redo the machining of an entire batch. This will enable the shop floor to be more agile and efficient, reducing production setbacks and increasing workshop productivity.
The benefits of a more flexible technical office go beyond reducing production setbacks. It also enables shops to keep up with the latest technological advancements, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of production. Additionally, it allows shops to handle more complex projects, meet tight deadlines, and offer clients a higher level of customization.
The current technological advancements in CAD/CAM cutting are only the beginning. The future of CAD/CAM software is expected to be more sophisticated, making it easier for shops to keep up with the growing demand for quality and efficient production. We can expect further improvements in the CAD/CAM cutting process, making it easier for workshops to stay ahead of the competition.
