Loll Feinmechanik 's manufacturing technologies include simultaneous 5-axis milling, the erosion of challenging materials, multitasking machining on turning centers and CNC profile grinding. The range of reference objects is diverse. Managing Director Jens Loll says: "We like to work a lot for market leaders with high technological demands. We supply them with complete and functional modules and devices consisting of up to 300 individual parts."

Every project usually starts with a customer's idea or concept: "We manufacture according to the customer's drawings. However, the collaboration often begins earlier and we develop the complete component or device on behalf of the customer." Almost every project starts with SolidWorks. Loll: "In many cases, our designers and the customers work in parallel with the files, and the customers then release the drawings in the PDM system. This speeds up the work in the design phase." With SolidWorks, the entire workflow can be mapped in the 3D CAD software. "We are aiming for a completely integrated process chain in design and production - with SolidWorks as the leading system and DPS Software as the supplier," says Loll. "Every single component goes through at least five or six work steps in production, and in some cases up to 30. This also includes processing steps at external service providers." For this reason, the PDM system is very important, as is the connection to the ERP system: "We can bring the data records from SolidWorks PDM into our ERP via an interface, so that a continuous process is also guaranteed here."

Programming with SolidCAM

In addition to CNC turning and milling centers, the machine park also includes systems for wire eroding, profile grinding, deburring and other processes. All CAM processes are programmed using SolidCAM. Those responsible at Loll Feinmechanik are currently working on enriching the PDM system even more with production data. The aim is to store complete and component-specific documentation. There will then be individual documentation for each individual production part. Loll: "In this way, we are continuing to pursue our goal of ensuring consistent and uniform data management across the entire design and production process." Gerald Scheffels, freelance journalist