ANCA Academy March 2019

If manufacturing was a detergent – yes, a detergent – we would surely be inundated with commercials asking us:

“Tired of waste? Tired of slow production? Looking for better CNC grinder efficiencies? Then you need to try, New Improved CNC machining!” 

Cheesy, yes. But there is a point. With all the opportunities that connectivity, cloud computing and the IoT bring us, manufacturers are still putting up with inefficient design and production.

Perhaps it’s because of habit, perhaps it’s because of uncertainty around data security, perhaps it’s because of the perceived costs of shifting to connected machines. Whatever the reason there are some common, avoidable, reasons for CNC grinder inefficiencies.

Not collecting data

This is a bit like having a computer but not plugging it in. There is so much critical information available on your machines which can be produced, if we’d only ask them to provide it.

Not using data to make production decisions

Even if your machines are collecting data, someone still needs to analyse it. Some manufacturing insidersestimate that fewer than 5% of machines are being digitally monitored. At every working moment your machines are creating data that can give insight into efficiency gains. All you need is to look.

Staying manual

The days of manually loading programs into machines and then manually checking tool quality are over. Or at least they should be. Automation can manage repeatable tasks which frees up staff to focus on more productive things, such as analyzing data and looking for efficiency gains.

Keeping a single view

Assessing and managing each of the machines as individuals can be time consuming. In the connected world your bank of machines become a cohesive unit, and the whole process can be automated and managed from a single spot – generally a computer in the production office.

The good news is that most of these roadblocks to efficiency can be solved by connecting your machines so that data can be collected, and analysed from a central point, giving insight into inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

Here are five ways to make CNC grinder design and production more efficient:

1. Network machines to collect data

This is the first step to accessing insights and implementing production efficiencies. When the machines can talk to you and to each other, you’ll find a whole new world of insights. Newer machines should come WIFI enabled, making it easy to access the data through machine and production monitoring software. Older machines can be retrofitted with new technology.

2. Reconsider your factory setup

Another option is to consider your whole setup. Some manufacturers choose to use their older machines for more simple jobs, freeing up newer ones to work faster and smarter to boost production.

3. Use that data to identify production efficiencies

Your CNC grinder is telling you, in real time, what is going on. It can immediately alert you to any production issues but also pre-warn you of upcoming maintenance issues such as new parts being required. The level of information you’ll receive will make it easy to identify and rectify any design and production inefficiencies.

4. Keep on top of current trends

All industries that have been touched by automation and the Internet of Things are changing rapidly. CNC machining is no different. It’s important to keep up to date on current trends, and hacks, by reading social media, blogs and industry related articles. The next big efficiency gain could be just a click away.

5. Join forums to hear the discussion

Likewise it’s important to join in the discussion. Share your wins, learn from others and don’t hold back from diving into the world of connected machines.

Like the ads say, don’t put up with inefficient detergent or CNC grinders. It’s time to connect and get the insights you need to speed design and production.

18 March 2019