Shop Floor Automations (SFA), a distributor and Service Center for Predator Software Inc., has announced the release of Predator's Manufacturing Data Collection (MDC) software for Ethernet-based machine tools.
For many years, Predator has offered its fully automated, real-time MDC system for any size company to monitor and improve shop floor productivity using PLCs, macros and paper-based products. This integrated well into equipment with stack lights and older machines to capture running, alarms, feed hold and idle time, but left some users objecting to adding more equipment due to the costs of hardware requirements.
Today, most CNC machines include Ethernet ports and can be leveraged for data collection. CNC machines that use a FANUC controller may have a feature called FOCAS, which allows for the capture of real-time data such as overrides, spindle speed, program number, feed/speed rates, alarms and indicates control mode.
Another new standard for collecting data through an Ethernet port is called MTConnect. Like FOCAS, MTConnect can collect real-time data from a machine. SFA is a member of the MTConnect Technical Advisory Board and works closely with their partners and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) to continue to create open communication standards that provide the capability to pass data from machine tools to high-level systems for further processing using the XML-based standard. MTConnect can be added to CNC machines at a reasonable cost now from numerous machine tool builders.
SFA has implemented several machine monitoring systems recently using a new product from Predator Software called CNC Service. This product is designed to run as Windows Service and connect to any number of machines via Ethernet using an IP address and port number. The service is configured to "poll" the equipment starting at every five seconds and provides machine status to the user via tablets, desktops and digital signage on the shop floor.
All the collected data is recorded into one of three database platforms - Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL or Oracle - so decision-makers will have various reports and charts regarding production history at their fingertips. Analyzing production details provides a real understanding of the quality and efficiency of production resources, as areas of deficiency can be easily viewed, analyzed and eventually improved. Production and quality details can be analyzed for a particular machine and can be broken down by day, week, month, quarter or year.
Predator CNC Service can be integrated to provide feedrate, spindle speed, MDI, mode (MDI, Auto, Handle), emergency stops, machine alarms, single block, tool number length and diameter offsets, and part counters. Other information such as downtime reasons, job, part, operation and users can be captured in the reading variables as well.
For more information contact:
Greg Mercurio, President
Shop Floor Automations, Inc.
5360 Jackson Drive, Suite #202
La Mesa, CA 91942
877-611-5826 / 619-461-4000
info@shopfloorautomations.com
www.shopfloorautomations.com