Certified Pre-Assembled Retrofits

For most manufacturers, machine tools represent significant capital investments and must maintain their viability for many years. Upgrading to the latest control technologies via a CNC retrofit is one way companies can extend the productive life of their machine tools, decrease the mean-time-between failure (MTBF) and mean-time-to-repair (MMTR), lower energy costs, reduce cycle time and achieve a new level of manufacturing data accessibility. Specializing in FANUC control systems, CNC Engineering offers (CPR) for a wide range of manufacturing industries.

Design

A customized AutoCAD software suite is the foundation for the CPR process and helps ensure that the engineering team creates standardized schematics. PLCs are designed in a modular building-block system to reduce engineering time and allow for faster startups. CPRs are also designed with a focus on operator efficiency and machine up time. These elements allow CNC Engineering to supply the highest quality FANUC retrofit packages, designed to increase productivity, at competitive prices, said the company.

Hardware

According to CNC Engineering, its retrofits are designed using FANUC controls for the following reasons:

• FANUC sells more controls than any other manufacturer
• Most operators, programmers and maintenance personnel are already familiar with the technology and require less training
• At 27.8 years, FANUC controls have the highest MTBF rating
• FANUC maintains a 25-year replacement part availability commitment.

Installation and Startup

"Whereas most machine tool retrofitters bring the machine to their facility to install the retrofit, CNC Engineering specializes in in-field retrofits," said a company spokesperson. "Their experienced and professional installation teams travel the country installing CPR packages. When possible, the installation team will work overtime in order to install the CPR package with minimal downtime. Each CPR package is fully engineered, assembled and tested at CNC Engineering. At startup, each function on the machine is thoroughly tested to insure it is working properly. Operators and programmers are consulted to make sure the control parameters are set to their satisfaction, and FANUC servo turning is used to guarantee the servos are performing at optimum levels."

Training and Documentation

At least one day of operator training is included with each CPR. If needed, additional days can be supplied. Optionally, manufacturing specialist can assist programmers and operators with programming, options and probing applications.

A full set of documentation is delivered to the customer. To assist manufacturing personnel with maintenance issues, CNC Engineering keeps copies of each retrofit documentation package.

Machine Tool Enhancements

CNC Engineering's core competencies also include open architecture systems, rotary table integrations and machine tool probe integration:

• Open architecture: Designed specifically as a PC based front-end for FANUC controls, Open Vision Grind and Open Vision HMI are intended to simplify machine operation and maintenance while adding functionality and flexibility. Customized applications and special screens can also be developed to meet the needs of each machine tool or manufacturing process.
• Rotary tables: Complete turnkey rotary table and additional axis integrations to expand machine tool capabilities and reduce setup times. Fourth and fifth axes can be added to the control as well as a variety of rotary tables with accessories.
• Probes and lasers: Probing solutions inspect parts on the machine, set tool length and diameter offsets and check tools for wear or breakage. CNC Engineering is the exclusive Northeast Renishaw Distributor Integrator (RDI), offering Renishaw parts, service and turnkey integration solutions throughout North America. They can also customize macro routines and training for specific manufacturing applications.

Silver Boeing Performance Excellence Award

CNC Engineering was the recipient of a 2012 Boeing Performance Excellence Award. The Boeing Company issues the award annually to recognize suppliers who have achieved superior performance. CNC Engineering maintained a Silver composite performance rating for each month of the 12-month performance period, from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012.

Boeing recognized 594 suppliers who achieved either a Gold or Silver level Boeing Performance Excellence Award. CNC Engineering was one of only 441 suppliers to receive the Silver level of recognition.

"CNC Engineering has retrofitted a variety of large CNC machine tools for Boeing. Being recognized as a Boeing supplier who has achieved superior performance, at such a high standard, is an honor and demonstrates our commitment to exceeding customer expectations," said Gary Caravella, CNC Engineering President.

CNC Engineering has been retrofitting machine tools for more than 30 years. In that time, the company has installed FANUC controls on nearly 1,000 machine tools including grinders, lathes, machining centers and specialty machine tools.

For more information contact:

CNC Engineering, Inc.

19 Bacon Rd.

Enfield CT, 06082

860-749-1780

www.cnc1.com