We all know the buzzwords circulating around digital data and the factory. You have heard them—Industry 4.0, smart factories, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). The question we all have is how will this impact workers in the long term? What do these terms really mean? Nevertheless, both traditional software suppliers and makers of advanced manufacturing equipment are offering digital solutions.
For machine shops in a competitive global marketplace, keeping spindles running and making product is the only way to stay in business. Still, adding a new piece of equipment, even with the promise of improving the efficiency of your existing ones, may be a difficult sell to management.
Overall, there are two overriding customer needs: reducing cycle time and machine downtime. They want higher feed rates and depth of cut for greater metal removal.
Cutting tool technology continues to advance, and manufacturers can take advantage of a wide range of new cutting tool products. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Tim Easton, National Sales Manager for NTK Cutting Tools.
A manufacturing execution system is often the first step for Industry 4.0 implementation, but most are optimized to serve OEMs. Pico MES Inc. is looking out for the little guy.
Case Study: Cobots help better serve customers and improve environment for workforce
IIoT solutions empower manufacturers with real-time insights to solve problems
Move from manual processes to automated solutions for smart manufacturing success
According to Siemens Industry Inc., the new digital thread leverages technologies from all four companies.
CAD/CAM software users are looking for a wide variety of functions from which to choose and customize based on their application.
