Design in the CAD system, programming and preparation of production data in the CAM system, simulation of machining on a virtual machine, tool provision, tool measurement, tool management - all of this has long been available in modern production. However, smooth data exchange between all the people and systems involved is by no means a matter of course. A lot of manual work is still the order of the day here - in the best case a manually initiated data transfer, in the worst case the passing on of a handwritten note.

The workpiece is created at the machine. This is where all the information must come together. And this is also where crucial information about the status and quality of a workpiece must flow back into the production IT systems - i.e. into the process chain. The skilled worker responsible for component quality and adherence to deadlines must have access to all data and must be able to reflect his experience from production back into the process chain.

There are many ideas for networking all the people and systems involved in the process. But making the machine control in the workshop the linchpin in the company network has a very special charm under the conditions described. This was demonstrated, among other things, by a live demonstration that Heidenhain realized together with partners from the fields of CAD/CAM, machine tools, tool measurement and tool management on the topic of networked manufacturing at EMO 2017.

The pallet on the machine contains the clamped blanks for the upcoming machining process. Already measured tools are inserted in the machine's tool magazine. They are clearly identified by a code on the tool holder. When loading the tool magazine, the user has read in this code via a scanner. In this case, the TNC 640 from Heidenhain therefore knows which tools are present in the machine. The data for this comes directly from the tool management system via the Heidenhain DNC interface.

The user can access the CAM system directly from the TNC 640 control via the Remote Desktop Manager. The CAM system in turn accesses the tool database for program creation. The user can now schedule the execution of the production order on the machine via the TNC's Batch Process Manager. In the Batch Process Manager, NC programs and the position of the workpiece clamping on the pallet are linked order-related and sorted according to priority in the list of open orders.

Real-time view of the machine status

The Batch Process Manager allows the TNC user to plan several production orders in parallel with machining time. The control supports the user by comparing the tools used in the NC program with those actually available on the machine. It then provides feedback on any missing tools and the expected machining time. For example, the user can output a tool difference list that only contains the tools that still need to be set up.

The information on the expected machining time can also be used for further order planning, for example to plan future logistics for the manufactured components or follow-up orders for the machine. Together with the information from tool management, it is also used to reorder new tools. The new StateMonitor software supports the TNC user in this process. StateMonitor records the data from connected machines, provides a real-time view of the machine status and can send messages to computers throughout the company and to mobile devices. The program also uses the DNC interface for this purpose.