Production Machining - Your access to the precision machining industrial buyer.
Issue link: https://pm.epubxp.com/i/850117
Edited by Chris Koepfer M uch actionable information about the operation of a machine tool and the accessories that work with it can be contained in the machine's CNC. is information, when connected to a wider in-house network and then made available outside the machine, can be analyzed to help make informed decisions about machine performance. is is at the heart of Industry 4.0. Index Corp. is an example of a machine tool builder moving forward with Industry 4.0. e company now supplies all its machines—single and multi-spindle machines as well as turn-mill centers—with the newly developed Xpanel operating system. e system is designed for easy setup and control of the precision turning machines. Designers are including more functionality in compo- nents to be machined; workpieces are becoming more and Preparing Precision Turning for Industry 4.0 more complex. To produce them economically, machines creating these parts must be powerful and flexible. Lathes must have multiple toolholders and a variety of axes. To ensure a smooth production process, operators need plenty of information and ideally a reliable 3D simula- tion directly on the machine. erefore, Index created the Xpanel operating system. In its standard version, the Xpanel interface offers exten- sive user assistance through complete integration into networks. Drawings, setup sheets, user manuals, circuit and hydraulic diagrams, and so on, are available directly on the machine without additional hardware. Also, the system, with an additional industrial PC installed in the control cabinet, permits the user to run 3D simulations coupled with the machine in real time or creates complex :: Integral to the Xpanel is its 18.5-inch touchscreen, to which numerous rotary and tip switches have been moved from the machine CNC panel. The high resolution screen is suitable for 3D simulations. :: The interface displays useful information such as setup sheets or tooling lists on the machine's CNC as it operates the machine tool. They are displayed on a second screen page, which the operator can toggle to by pressing one button. Ready or not, Industry 4.0 is moving forward, and it's critical for manufacturers to be ready for it. Many machine tool builders and accessory builders are equipping their products with Industry 4.0 compatibility in anticipation of its implementation by customer shops. CNC MACHINE CONTROLS 28 PRODUCTION MACHINING :: AUGUST 2017