Page 29 - MetalForming June 2014

Benefits from Upgrading and
Standardizing Controls
• Ability to transfer part programs from machine to machine
• Simplified machine operation
• Simplified training and ability for employees to operate numerous machines
• Reduced setup times and scrap
• Improved process control
• Improved scheduling
• Simplified programming, and ability to edit offline while the machine runs,
reducing downtime
edit the program and had to completely reteach.”
Robust Architecture, Innovative Software
To address the lack of editing capa- bility, RMS now relies on MJC’s software suite for CNC metal-spinning pro- gramming, run on a Siemens 840D CNC control system. Software-suite components include the SpinCad tool- path-creation utility that uses point- and-click technology in an icon-driven Windows format, and requires no prior CNC control experience. Its graphic interface allows simplified edits of spin passes and the ability to grab and move points or whole passes. Another time- saver, the Blend feature, creates multi- ple passes from a given start and end- ing pass.
The suite’s SetupPro utility, explains Ratliff, simplifies machine setup and adjustment of CNC offsets. On a single custom screen, SetupPro allows the setting of angles and offsets, and brings
all required information into one screen to eliminate confusing screen navigation and excessive keypad entries.
The ability to set angles and offsets, says MJC president Carl Lorentzen, means that programs, once developed, can be reused even if changes occur to slide location, slide angle and roller dimension, due to wear, polishing or resurfacing. With RMS’s previous con- trol setup, changes to programs were not possible. New programs had to be created from scratch.
ZonePro software rounds out the suite, using joysticks for teach-in/play- back control. Users can edit and save spin passes, mandrel profiles and pro- tection zones created via ZonePro into SpinCad. Saving and editing functions mean no need to reteach when setting up repeat jobs. For short production runs, the software immediately can play back spin passes.
Bullish on Ability to Edit
Improvements in teach-in technol- ogy offered in the control retrofit,
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