Renishaw, a precision engineering and manufacturing technologies company, has presented a summary of its diverse technology portfolio and extensive experience in automated process control.
Renishaw's range of smart factory process control solutions are designed to help machine shops across many industries transform their production capabilities. "Renishaw's product portfolio supports the full spectrum of industrial metrology applications, delivering benefits in speed, ease-of-use and flexibility, which help manufacturers integrate smart factory technologies of the future into their existing operations today," said a company spokesperson.
Using fully integrated process controls - in combination with a high-productivity machining cell - incorporates high levels of automation and connectivity into CNC machining operations to improve productivity and process capability. Renishaw applies these same process control techniques in its own factories to deliver highly automated precision manufacturing.
More and more manufacturers are recognizing the benefits of having the flexibility to re-purpose equipment to accommodate shorter product life cycles and increased design variants. "Renishaw's innovative technology is key to bringing this level of flexibility to the automotive and aerospace manufacturing industries," said the spokesperson.
For example, the multi-sensor capability of the REVO system on coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) rapidly acquires data about dimensional and surface finish characteristics on a single platform, which allows manufacturers to reduce measuring time and provides actionable data more quickly.
On CNC machines, SupaScan uses the latest OSP60 probe to offer fast workpiece set-up cycles. The system can also monitor surface condition (waviness), which is a critical-to-quality requirement for product efficiency.
"The increased flexibility and application range of the Renishaw Equator gauging system is also noteworthy," said the spokesperson. The new Equator 500 accommodates larger parts and the introduction of intelligent process control (IPC) software allows manufacturers to automate process control and tool offset correction directly to CNC machines from any Equator gauge.
The latest developments in Renishaw software also deliver improved ease-of-use as metrology moves closer to the point of manufacture on the shop floor. These include MODUS 2 software for CMMs and Equator gauging systems, mobile apps for on-machine probing and CNC controller-based apps for probing and reporting.
Renishaw technologies are designed to provide the data that enables intelligent decision-making for Industry 4.0. Machine calibration, on-machine measurement and off-machine gauging and verification allow manufacturers to optimize their processes and minimize quality problems and CNC machine stoppages.
"As manufacturers ourselves, Renishaw has significant first-hand process control expertise to help our global partners apply high levels of automation and connectivity to their own production processes," said Paul Maxted, Renishaw's Director of Industrial Metrology Applications. "This will enable them to benefit from the factory of the future, today."
"Renishaw has also made advances in its latest additive manufacturing (AM) system and software. The new multi-laser RenAM 500Q increases productivity in the most commonly used machine platform size," said the spokesperson. Renishaw's suite of AM software includes QuantAM build preparation software, InfiniAM Central remote process monitoring and InfiniAM Spectral for live feedback on energy input and emissions from the AM build process.
"To remain globally competitive, manufacturers must satisfy the need for parts machined to closer tolerances, reduced product life cycles and increasingly consumer-driven demand for product variety," said the spokesperson. "This, coupled with a need for increased factory automation, requires a range of intelligent process control solutions throughout the factory. Manufacturers find that partnering with Renishaw's process control experts offers them a breadth of experience and product solutions, which help them to achieve smarter manufacturing processes. They benefit from optimum quality, efficiency and resource utilization on the shop floor."
For more information contact:
Renishaw, Inc.
1001 Wesemann Dr.
West Dundee, IL 60118
847-286-9953
usa@renishaw.com
www.renishaw.com
EASTEC 2019 Booth 3151