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Armbruster uses ToolDirector VM to digitize and manage around 3,200 individual components and 4,500 complete tools for around 22,500 items to be manufactured. © Coscom

A look at the store floor of contract manufacturer Armbruster reveals just about everything that makes a production worker's heart beat faster. A total of 25 machines, including 3- and 5-axis machining centers with robot systems, turn-mill centers with main and counter spindles, wire and die-sinking EDM machines as well as extensive measuring technology for quality assurance are reliably at work.

The Coscom ToolDirector VM as a data center combines heterogeneous infrastructure systems. The TCI technology provides process-capable data for all target systems. © Coscom

The specifications were derived from the requirements specification together with the consultants from Coscom. The first step involved the procedure for transferring the tool master data and storing the order information. The second step was to create the complete tools. Then came the implementation of the Mastercam interface and finally the integration of the measuring devices and the tool cabinets. In the short time available, around 4,600 complete tools were created digitally with all technology data. "The division into the individual process steps in terms of tool lifecycle management has brought us great benefits," says Hubert Griesbaum, and Coscom Sales Manager Sascha Utech adds: "Thanks to the comprehensive configuration options, the Coscom portfolio can adapt very well to the different working methods of our customers." According to Armbruster, Coscom's TCI technology is a wonderful technology for integrating additional systems into the process chain step by step. ToolDirector VM is installed at a total of 15 workstations at Armbruster. Even the commercial department has a workstation, for example to check whether the discounts stored in ToolDirector VM match those shown in the invoices for the tool deliveries.

Push-button solution for repeat parts

The master data is transferred from the ERP system to ToolDirector VM once a day via a CSV connection. In total, data from a pool of 22,500 items belonging to the "Production" group in the ERP system at Armbruster is synchronized. More than 1,350 NC programs, some with multiple operations, have been programmed since the new tool management process solution was introduced. They all have a tool setup list that was used to set up and dismantle the machining centers. At Armbruster, between 60 and 70 % of orders are repeat orders - the Coscom infrastructure system is a push-button solution for these recurring revenue drivers.