When engineers and machine tools communicate with each other

In order to increase the efficiency of production machines, it is obvious to use the digitalization of the value chain for promising solutions. For IBO GmbH, the current focus is on strengthening the number-one-capability through networking along the CAD_CAM_CNC chain.

IBO GmbH orients itself along the needs of the market. The demand for increasing component variance leads to higher planning costs. Basically the upstream and downstream steps of the actual production cause a large part of the total production costs, which make an increase of the total system intelligence necessary. This opens up the automated derivation of machining operations from the product definition, which is an essential prerequisite for industry 4.0. A very important step in which an economic quantity-one-ability is achieved or improved.

Using the Mastercam CAM system: What are the benefits?

IBO GmbH uses the CAM system Mastercam, which, in contrast to the creation of NC codes in the workshop (WOP = workshop-oriented programming), creates and simulates the NC codes using software that is independent of the CNC machine. The advantages are obvious: the CNC machine remains productive during the programming process. The same software can be used for several machines at the same time. This keeps the tool life short and improves cost-effectiveness. Collected experiences and functions can be stored. The result is a learning system. By simulating the machining processes, errors or collisions are decimated or avoided. Furthermore, existing geometry data is transferred by importing the CAD data from product development. A renewed, potentially faulty recording of the geometry is not necessary. The sum of the advantages results in economical production with the highest technical progress.

Technical in detail: error prevention per se

Of course, the quality of the component is not only determined by the NC code, but also by the interaction between process and machine. The Virtual NC Controller Kernel is used here. This enables the simulation of the NC code under consideration of the machine kinematics and the integration of physical properties before application on the machine. In this way, no errors or collisions occur on the machine on the one hand, and on the other hand the inspection effort is reduced, since initial tests on the machine are not necessary. Furthermore, the machining times are derived according to real conditions and the performance is checked.

Manufacturing benefits from digitization

The simultaneous processing of product development and production planning saves product costs and optimizes both the CAD data and the NC programs with regard to process quality. The acquisition and use of data across the entire process chain enables a new gain in information through BIG data analyses, which mean a faster production process with less effort and thus optimum added value for IBO customers.


Go back