FLORENCE, KY – More than 2,000 manufacturers from across North America attended Mazak Corporation’s DISCOVER 2019 event held November 5-7 and 12-13 at the company’s North American Manufacturing Headquarters in Florence, Ky. The event featured over 30 live machine tool demonstrations, and Mazak unveiled for the first time in North America several productivity-enhancing technologies, such as its new MAZATROL Smooth Ai control as well as a new mixed reality training and service support system. The company also showcased some of its investments in its Florence manufacturing campus, including a preview of the latest improvements to its Mazak iSMART Factory and a new Spindle Rebuild Facility in the campus’ South Building.
Mazak’s DISCOVER 2019 event drew more than 2,000 attendees to the company’s Florence, Ky. facilities.
Developed with automation in mind, Mazak’s new SmoothAi control includes artificial intelligence-driven machining functions such as SMOOTH Robot Cell Controller and SMOOTH Robot Teaching Assist that make it easier than ever to integrate a wide range of digital technologies into part-production operations. Featuring graphical user interface enhancements, an optional second monitor and operation panel enhancements to support other new SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY solutions, including SMOOTH Ai Spindle, Solid MAZATROL and Ai Thermal Shield, the SmoothAi CNC also incorporates new products like SMOOTH CAM Ai, MAZATROL TWINS software and SMOOTH Project Manager.
Another focus of DISCOVER 2019 was Mazak’s Mixed Reality Training and new remote service modalities, which are focused on training, service and maintenance. The system takes virtual objects from VR and overlays them in the real world with an AR approach, enabling risk-free training and new possibilities for machine service and maintenance, according to Mazak.
On the machine tool side, many of the machines under power and cutting parts during DISCOVER 2019 included those paired with automation solutions such as articulating robots and palletized part loading/unloading systems. Other machine tool innovations included Mazak’s HYBRID Multi-Tasking series of machines, which add technologies such as 3D metal printing with Hot Wire Deposition (HWD) and using force to join metals with Friction Stir Welding (FSW) to conventional machine tools.
“Our customers have come to rely on these events to keep up with the latest manufacturing advancements and strategies, which is why Mazak DISCOVER continues to hold the distinction as the industry’s largest privately held manufacturing technology and education event in North America,” said Dan Janka, president of Mazak Corp.
As part of DISCOVER 2019, Mazak offered tours of its Mazak iSMART Factory, with one feature being a new automated manufacturing cell currently being installed and the initial stages of a new Spindle Rebuild facility. The rebuild facility will provide OEM-factory certified spindle rebuild services.
The new automated manufacturing cell features Mazak’s SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY digital manufacturing solutions, including its new Smooth Spindle Health Monitoring system. It also features Mazak’s MAZATEC Smart Manufacturing System (SMS) for both machine pallet and raw material stocking, six Mazak machine tools and the Mazak SmartBox IIoT technology for process monitoring and optimization.
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