(847) 934-4500

Contact us today:

Tag Archives: CNC

World leading chair manufacturer FAMEG invests in ANCA machines to produce cutting tools in-house and achieves major production improvements

See ANCA’s specialized grinding solution for greater flexibility and capability for unattended production of wood tools at IWF – Booth B8285 

FAMEG is one of the biggest chair manufacturers in the world. Established in 1881, FAMEG has dominated the market with a wide variety of product and commitment to quality. The company now has customers in 50 countries worldwide, an 800 strong production team and is headquartered in Radomsko, Poland. 

Andre Bronowski, Sales Director at FAMEG said: “The chair design is similar to a fashion business. The product needs to be attractive, but it also needs to be strong enough for use. We work with many designers, from Poland and abroad from Germany, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland.” 

“The process to manufacture a chair is not so simple. First, you have to source round wood, cut and bend the wood or make as plywood. For these processes we need cutting tools, a lot of cutting tools. After cutting, we assemble the complete chair – staining and lacquering to produce a final product.”  

“Two to three years ago, we decided that we would make all our own woodworking tools in house and that’s why we contacted ANCA. Nowadays, production requires a lot of flexibility and short lead times. We calculated that it would be best to control this process ourselves.”  

“Furthermore, to ensure our quality standards we try to control all steps during production.  Having the ANCA FX7 in-house means that we can now supply all the tooling for ourselves, save money and are even looking at manufacturing cutting tools for other companies,” Andrea stated.  

Ireneusz Idzikowski, FAMEG Product Manager said, “We decided to purchase an ANCA machine because of how long it was taking to source cutting tools. We need our cutting tools fast. Our manufacturing deadlines are very short, so if we couldn’t get the tools we needed quickly, it was a big problem.”  

“A second reason was diversity of cutting tools. Our production requires using specialized tools that have unusual dimensions. Obviously, we also use standard cutting tools, but the majority were specials. Tools made for special request and of special construction are not always perfect. Often you have to make a correction, which doesn’t have to be related to the tool itself but the production process of the used machine, which we can now do in real time – rather than shipping it back to a supplier.” 

“We use the ANCA FX7 for both production and resharpening. For production we have equipped the machine with a robot to produce tools in an automatic cycle, replacing the operator’s work.”  

“The machine has solved a lot of production problems. Now we can access cutting tools when we need them. It means we have stock or can manufacture the required cutting tool pretty much immediately, which wasn’t possible until now. It completely changed our work quality production wise.”  

“We are also very happy about the service, ANCA service technicians help us in solving various technical questions and we know who to call and that they won’t leave us alone with our problem,” Ireneusz concluded.  

Duncan Thompson, ANCA Special Projects Manager said: “FAMEG approached ANCA to see if we could find a custom solution for our FX grinding machine to have greater flexibility and capability for unattended production of wood tools. In partnering with FAMEG, we now have developed a machine package ideally suited to companies operating in the wood cutting tool industry.” 

“The solution has a special tooling system that can be used on our highly affordable and versatile FX7 machine. With its inbuilt robot and dedicated tooling, the FX7 can easily change automated production between woodworking profile blades, used to form skirting boards and architraves, and solid round shank tools such as routers and drills used in production of furniture and nested flat panel applications.”  

FX7 includes an inbuilt robot for tool and wheel pack changing, making it the ideal foundation for FAMEG’s application.  Two systems of work holding are offered: one for flat profile blades and another for round shank routers. Changeover between the two is designed to take less than 15 minutes. To support unattended production, a new robot head changes not only wheel packs (up to six for ultimate grinding flexibility), but also loads profile blades, or round shank routers without the need to make any changes to the robot tooling.  Changeover of the machine from profile blade grinding setup to routers takes less than 30 minutes.    

Production of different tool types is supported by dedicated tool software packages for programming profile blades, compression routers, standard and profile routers and drills.   All these grinding programs can be verified offline on the ANCA CIM3D package, ensuring the first tool produced is exactly as expected.  

ANCA’S SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE YOUR WOODWORKING TOOL PRODUCTIVTY AT IWF 

ANCA offers a variety of CNC grinding application solutions to suit the woodworking tool industry. Through collaboration with different companies, such as FAMEG, ANCA offers a range of CNC Tool and Cutter Grinders, along with dedicated woodworking software and automation solutions, to suit a range of tool types. 

With ANCA, manufacturers can diversify wood tool applications on FX machines. ANCA’s woodworking solution for the FX7 offers outstanding flexibility for unattended production. At IWF, visitors can see ANCA’s FX7 grinding compression routers.  

Diversify your wood tool applications on ANCA FX machines: 

  • Workholding solutions with quick changeover times 
  • Option for up to six wheel packs with automatic changing 
  • Dedicated application software 
  • LaserUltra can be applied to guarantee router diameter is accurate and consistent in unattended production 

Visit ANCA at IWF at Booth B8285. 


For further information, please contact: 

Johanna Boland 
Group PR and Communications Manager, ANCA 
M: +61 407799779 
Johanna.Boland@anca.com 

ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.  

ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical. 

Continue reading
Siemens Simotics S-1FS2 Stainless Steel Motor

New SIMOTICS S-1FS2 servomotors for food, beverage, sterile packaging, pharmaceutical and other process applications

Stainless steel housings suited to high standards of hygiene and cleanliness; three sizes to 2kW (2.68 hp) power range and up to 14 Nm (10.32 ft-lbs.) torque

Siemens is introducing the new SIMOTICS S-1FS2 line of servomotors, designed for the clean condition requirements of the food, beverage, sterile packaging, pharmaceutical and other process industries.  These new servomotors are offered in a variety of power ratings, from 0.45–2kW (0.60–2.68 hp) with torque from 3.1–14 Nm (2.28–10.32 ft-lbs.).  Crafted with housings of 1.4404 (AISI 316/316L) stainless steel, EPDM seals and bearing grease with NSF H1 approval, these new servomotors are highly resistant to corrosion and acidic chemicals found in the process industries.  This extremely high degree of protection is in accordance with IP66/67 standards on the entire motor, with IP69k (30-bar) protection provided on the motor housing. 

High dynamics due to low inherent inertia plus high overload capacity for use in pick-and-place applications, plus precise movement of heavy loads, are added features.  One cable connection is provided for easy installation and cleaning.  The standard absolute encoder is 22-bit multi-turn. 

The SIMOTICS S-1FS2 family of motors is suitable for clean-in-place (CIP) processes and for use with all commercially available cleaning agents used with washdown motors.   

Quality construction further highlights this new family of motors, providing the machine builder and end-user long service life.  These motors are especially designed for the 3-A (U.S.) and EHEDG (Euro) requirements of the food and beverage industries.

Options include a holding brake, stainless steel shaft with or without feather key, cable tail for direct drive connection and a MOTION CONNECT coupling.  MOTION CONNECT is the Siemens fully assembled power and signal cable design for use on production machinery of many types. 

SIMOTICS S-1FS2 is compatible with the SINAMICS S210 drive system.

Selection/configuration data, dimensional drawings, CAD models, data sheets and full specifications for SIMOTICS S-1FS2 servo motors are available immediately from Siemens. 

Siemens Simotics S-1FS2 Stainless Steel Motor

Siemens introduces the new SIMOTICS S-1FS2 stainless steel servomotor for food, beverage, sterile packaging, pharmaceutical and other process applications


For more information regarding SIMOTICS S-1FS2 servo motors, please visit:

usa.siemens.com/simotics-s1fs2   

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 75,000 employees internationally.

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. For more than 160 years, the company has innovated and invented technologies to support American industry spanning manufacturing, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. In fiscal 2018, Siemens USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.0 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Continue reading

Siemens supports the machine tool industry in utilizing the full potential of data for flexible and sustainable action

Under the theme “Digitalization in Machine Tool Manufacturing — Infinite opportunities from infinite data”, Siemens will demonstrate how the full potential of data can be used for increased productivity during this year’s EMO Milano tradeshow, October 4-9, and during the virtual Siemens Machine Tool Days 2021 event.

The challenges are quite large: the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the pace of change in manufacturing markets. Added to this are growing demands of individualization and the urgent need for more sustainability — and these can be achieved with the help of digitalization and automation. Siemens brings together the extremely large volumes of data generated in this process during a continuous cycle between the real and digital worlds. This enables the employees of industrial manufacturers to make the appropriate decisions based upon data and respond more quickly to trends and changes.

Sinumerik One
NEW SINUMERIK ONE Machine Control Panels offer machine tool users intuitive operation, increased efficiency and greater flexibility

SINUMERIK ONE is core element of highlight case with two technologies

During EMO in Milan and the Siemens Machine Tool Days virtual event, Siemens will demonstrate how to react quickly to trends with the new SINUMERIK ONE CNC, which was introduced in the North American market as a digital-native control. To demonstrate this, the focus of the real and virtual Siemens booth is a production line that shows two machines controlled with SINUMERIK ONE — a 5-axis milling center and a robotic-based additive manufacturing machine.

With these two machines, for example, the gears of large gearboxes can be repaired instead of replacing them. Such large gearboxes are used in industries such as wind energy, where they are subject to natural wear-and-tear due to the enormous frictional forces and must be replaced at certain time intervals. Siemens will demonstrate how the gears are initially milled flat in the milling center. Next, a robot is used to rebuild the teeth in an additive manufacturing process. And the final precision grinding takes place at the end again on the 5-axis milling center.

Instead of new production, the repair not only saves material resources, but also approximately 60 percent of energy. SINUMERIK ONE, the first digital-native CNC, represents the core element for the digital transformation of the machine tool industry. Thanks to the Digital Twin known as Create MyVirtual Machine, both machines could be developed, tested and functionally approved simultaneously, long before the real machine was put into operation. This gives machine tool builders the advantage by getting to a better machine faster, while machine tool users can get to the right workpiece even faster.

With the Digital Enterprise portfolio, Siemens supports manufacturers exactly where the current challenges lie. With the help of Digital Twins, such as SINUMERIK ONE, the use of future technologies such as artificial intelligence or industrial edge computing, and the Siemens digitalization portfolio, machine builders and machine users can collect, analyze and understand the data generated and use it in a productive way. This allows them to react quickly and flexibly to challenges, adapt their products and manufacturing processes to new requirements and save resources.


The NEW SINUMERIK ONE is the first-ever digital-native CNC for the machine tool industry
The NEW SINUMERIK ONE is the first-ever digital-native CNC for the machine tool industry

Greater flexibility and innovative technology for machine operation

SINUMERIK ONE offers new functions and technology updates that further increase manufacturing performance, flexibility and modularity. Visitors to the Siemens booth during EMO in Milan, as well as the visitors attending the virtual Siemens Machine Tool Days event, will have the opportunity to see new SINUMERIK ONE Machine Control Panels (MCP) in action.

With the new SINUMERIK ONE MCPs, Siemens brings intuitive machine tool operation to CNC users including more comfort, increased efficiency and greater flexibility. The new ergonomic metal design can be integrated into existing operating concepts and fits 19-inch to 24-inch panels. The new MCPs can even be configured individually for customer-specific requirements.

New functionalities make machine operation even easier. Powerride combines the override switch with the NC start button for easy and efficient machine setup. With the integrated LED scale in Powerride, ACTUAL values can now be visualized. With Powerride, the feed is automatically reset after the end of the set, which makes operation effective and easy. In addition, Powerride provides haptic feedback through short vibration as soon as a defined limit value is exceeded. This increases the perception of these values and supports the blind operation of the panel.

The QWERTY keyboard is provided as standard for the MCPs for the 22-inch and 24-inch variants, so users no longer need an additional keyboard. An integrated RGB LED in the QWERTY keyboard enables customizable color concepts for simplified work. The SINUMERIK ONE MCP can be used in harsh industrial environments thanks to its IP65 protection class rating.

Siemens Industrial Edge — extensions for machine tools

With Industrial Edge, Siemens offers a concept in which both machine tool builders and machine users can flexibly use the advantages of data processing using Edge or Cloud computing as required. Siemens is also expanding its Edge computing portfolio for machine tools that will enable real-time analysis of data on-site during production. During EMO and Siemens Machine Tool Days, the scalability of Edge hardware will be presented with new Industrial PCs IPC 127E and IPC 427E hardware variants.

For specific product information and inquiries, send an e-mail to: cnc.marketing.us@siemens.com   


Contact for journalists:
Siemens
John Meyer
(847) 952-4158                                                       
john.meyer@siemens.com   

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 75,000 employees internationally.

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. For more than 160 years, the company has innovated and invented technologies to support American industry spanning manufacturing, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. In fiscal 2018, Siemens USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.0 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Continue reading
Kodlin Siemens

Easily creating one-offs

Kodlin Motorcycle customizes motorcycles based upon bikes from the legendary American brand Harley-Davidson. Sophisticated technology and an easy-to-use control system are essential—which is why the company chose the Sinumerik 828D CNC from Siemens.

There is no denying it: the Kodlin family has motorcycles in its blood. Master blacksmith Fred Kodlin gave his son Len his first motocross bike for his fifth birthday. There was never really any question about what Len would do when he grew up. Today, the father-and-son team runs the Fred Kodlin Motorcycle workshop, founded by Fred Kodlin back in 1984, in the small town of Borken in the German state of Hessen.

The company is highly specialized: together, father, son and 10 employees customize Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Up to 50 motorcycles leave their shopfloor each year, to the great excitement of their new owners. Many customers simply want to have their series-produced bikes adjusted to suit them better, or to look more individual. Other customers come to the company looking for bigger modifications, such as the installation of a big front wheel, which has a very striking effect and is popular among Harley-Davidson fans.

The most passionate bikers, however, want their bikes to be completely personalized. “These unique bikes cannot be beaten in terms of exclusivity. When it comes to design and technology, we make the virtually impossible possible,” explains junior manager Len Kodlin. In some of these models, the only thing that’s left is the engine, with its unmistakable Harley-Davidson sound: the rest of the bike is made up of components that have been developed and produced entirely by Kodlin. Customers’ budgets are the only thing limiting their imagination. Enthusiasts pay up to $130,000 for these unique cycles. And then, of course, there are also the technical approval restrictions (TÜV, for example).

Avoiding imitations

When fulfilling a customer’s dream of owning a personalized motorcycle, the customizers at Kodlin Motorcycle not only adapt parts, they also manufacture many individual parts themselves. Various styles of footboards, footpegs, turn-signal trim, air filters, engine covers, hand grips and mirror brackets are manufactured individually or in very small series. Outsourcing production could be cheaper in many cases, but for Kodlin, this is not an option. Len Kodlin explains the reasoning behind the decision. “Unique pieces are the basis of our whole company. The risk of copies appearing is simply too great. Our customers pay for something unique and that’s what we give them. This is why we do everything ourselves, from sheet-metal work and welding to milling, turning, painting and assembly,” Kodlin says.

Kodlin has an extremely large range of manufacturing capabilities to prevent imitations and rival products, thus safeguarding its competitive edge. The company invests heavily in production expertise and machinery. Kodlin even has a world manufacturer identifier. This official designation signals that Kodlin is officially a manufacturer that can build and approve motorcycles.

An integrated process from the design to the machine

Anyone who wants to survive the competition as a small, independent customizer needs top-quality CNC machines. That’s why the core of Kodlin’s production process is a PreMill VL 1000 CNC machining center from MMD Werkzeugmaschinen with a Sinumerik 828D CNC system. Len Kodlin, a trained precision mechanic himself, explains what matters to him and his father, “MMD was extremely cooperative and, with the PreMill VL 1000, gave us a machine that meets our needs perfectly. The price/performance ratio was good and with the Sinumerik 828D control—including the intuitive Sinumerik Operate graphical user interface—our core requirement, namely ease-of-operation, was met to our utmost satisfaction.”

The demands on the machine tool and control system are high and diverse. Many simple parts are programmed directly on the machine. For this type of application, it is important for the shopfloor programming to be as simple as it is reliable and efficient. Jan Rosenkranz, a mechanic on the Kodlin team, gets straight to the point, “The ShopMill menu-based navigation makes everything really quick and easy.” He also appreciates the convenient setup functions.

The production of custom parts, which often involves extremely complex contouring, is entirely different. The junior manager creates the programs for these parts separately at an external CAD/CAM workstation and then transfers them to the machine, using a USB stick. This means the machine can remain in operation while the junior manager can design parts for his spectacular creations, far away from production noise, in peace and quiet. Once the blank is in place, the entire machining process itself goes very quickly. With the help of various Sinumerik CNC cycles, the workpiece and the tool are set up quickly and machining on the PreMill VL 1000 can begin.

Len Kodlin specifically mentions the clearly organized folder structure in Sinumerik Operate, which is designed in a similar way to that found on a traditional PC. Meaningful names—such as “Handlebar1-Customer3”—with up to 28 characters can be assigned to the programs. This improves the ability to maintain an overview and products that have already been made can be clearly identified and accessed again at a later date.

The entire production spectrum covered

In terms of production technology, the PreMill VL 1000 offers everything needed for bike parts. The machine gets extra points for its framework construction, which makes it very stable and easily accessible. The majority of the components are less than 500 mm long. However, there are exceptions, such as long fork tubes. With travel paths of X = 1020 mm, Y = 510 mm, and Z = 560 mm, plus a 1200 x 500 mm clamping table, the machine comprehensively covers the spectrum. The 10-kW milling spindle provides the power needed to quickly and precisely machine the parts, which are usually made of aluminum or steel. The changer can be equipped with up to 30 tools and the linear guides on all three axes ensure utmost precision. According to Jens Bubenheim, a sales consultant at MMD, the PreMill VL 1000 achieves a repeat accuracy of ± 3 µm and a positioning accuracy of ± 5 µm, which means that the desired quality is always guaranteed.

A special feature on the Sinumerik 828D CNC scores additional points for high quality, namely the Sinumerik MDynamics technology package with integrated Advanced Surface motion control. The program sequence can be set or adjusted at any time, ensuring that the machine generates an optimal ratio of speed, accuracy and surface quality. Take the turn signal trim, for example.  In this case, production accuracy is of less significance. Corresponding settings in MDynamics and the activated Advanced Surface therefore ensure that the machine works with a focus on both surface quality and speed of production.


Contact for journalists and product information:

John Meyer
Marketing Communications Manager
Siemens Industry, Inc.
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
T: +1 847 640 1595
E: john.meyer@siemens.com
Website: usa.siemens.com/cnc

Continue reading
Siemens Sinumerik 828D Fast Package Program

Siemens Offers Its Popular Sinumerik 828D CNC Through New Fast Package Program

  • Pre-defined system packages with the most frequently used CNC, drive, motor
    and accessories will be stocked in the US to ensure quick delivery
  • Additionally, the offering includes a price discount 

Siemens Sinumerik 828D Fast Package ProgramTo offer a fast solution to US-based machine tool builders, system integrators and retrofitters, Siemens is stocking typical system packages that include the most frequently used Sinumerik 828D CNC, Sinamics drive, Simotics motor and accessories such as cables in their Elk Grove Village, IL facility to ensure fast and efficient delivery in less than 10 business days.

Additional benefits of ordering the pre-defined packages include a price discount, a simplified ordering process and a shortened lead-time. The program is subject to availability and delivery time will depend upon the stock available in Elk Grove Village, IL. Only customers located in the United States with a physical mailing and delivery address are eligible for this program.

“Siemens is bringing the Sinumerik 828D to a highly competitive price point in the US market. The 828D is a compact, panel-based CNC that offers machine tool builders very flexible machine design integration”, says John Meyer, Marketing Communications Manager, Siemens Industry, Inc. He continues, “End-customers will benefit from our highly intuitive and easy-to-use ShopMill and ShopTurn graphical programming interfaces, which increase machine tool usability and shop-floor productivity.”

There are seven pre-defined Sinumerik 828D packages covering the most typical standard milling and turning machines. They include:

  • 3+1 Milling with 6.5 Nm feed axes + 10 kW spindle
  • 3+1 Milling with 12 Nm feed axes + 22 kW flange mount spindle
  • 3+1 Milling with 12 Nm feed axes + 22 kW foot mount spindle
  • Milling with three 12 Nm feed axes, No spindle with S120 Combi drive
  • Milling with three 12 Nm feed axes, No spindle with S120 Booksize drive
  • Turning with 3 6.5 Nm feed axes, No spindle with S120 Booksize drive
  • Turning 2+1, 12 Nm feed axes, 10 kW spindle

With its popular CNC system for milling and turning machines, Siemens is offering the Sinumerik 828D Fast Package program for quick delivery to machine tool builders, system integrators and retrofitters. These pre-defined packages for typical standard milling and turning machines include the CNC, drive, motors and accessories (e.g. cables).


Learn more by visiting our website:  http://usa.siemens.com/828-fp

Follow us on Social Media:
www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us
www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC

 

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 75,000 employees internationally.

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. For more than 160 years, the company has innovated and invented technologies to support American industry spanning manufacturing, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. In fiscal 2018, Siemens USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.0 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Continue reading

Schütte Offers Its SCX, CNC Multi-Spindle Automatic Lathe

SCX - CNC Multi-Spindle Automatic LatheSchütte (Jackson, Michigan) now sells SCX, its new multi-spindle automatic lathe.

In today’s industrial production, more complex workpieces are being produced in smaller batch sizes and shorter life cycles. To remain competitive, manufacturers have to react quickly and flexibly to market requirements.

These conditions have been met with the creation of Schütte’s multi-spindle automatic lathes. Everything that is not directly related to the production of workpieces has been eliminated from the machining area. There are no drives, cables, slides, lubrication lines or cooling lines within the tooling area. The clean and freely accessible machining area provides clients with the greatest possible configuration flexibility and the simplest retooling and tool retrofitting.

The SCX from Schütte offers several benefits. Some of these are free speed selection and free falling chips. Furthermore, extended machining options are available on the second workpiece side through exact transfer and three additional spindles. Expansion of the machining range is achieved through extended rear-side machining including C-and Y-axis. Lastly, multi-spindle production provides clients with a wide variety of workpiece geometries.

 


For further information, please contact:

Brittany Oulch
SCHUTTE USA, LLC
4055 Morrill Road
Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: 517-782-3600 ex.10
www.schutteusa.com
boulch@schutteusa.com

Continue reading

Machining Takes Center Stage

Sinumerik CNC ensures high-quality guitar craftsmanship

Fryer Machine Systems supplies an American guitar builder with milling machines for the production of high-quality guitars. Right-angle head compensation is essential to the accurate, repeatable milling of guitar necks — an easy task for the Sinumerik 840D CNC on board Fryer machines.

The challenge of repeatable product performance is not new to C.F. Martin & Company. Six generations ago, company founder C. F. Martin Sr. was confronted with managing a guitar-making enterprise that was producing totally handcrafted guitars, one by one, with little means for standardization. Since those days, guitar legends such as Gene Autry, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and new-comers Ed Sheeran and Hunter Hayes have relied on ­the consistently distinctive tone, treble and bass specific to Martin acoustic guitars. When Martin learned that its previous machine tool builder had exited the market, the company turned to Fryer Machine Systems for new machines to cover a production increase and seized the opportunity to upgrade the control technology with Sinumerik CNCs.

Larry Fryer (left) and Mark Bickert from Martin Guitar are satisfied with Siemens CNC technology, service and part quality.

Larry Fryer (left) and Mark Bickert from Martin Guitar are satisfied with Siemens CNC technology, service and part quality.

Hands-on support in customizing the CNC

“We use right-angle head aggregates in our CNCs,” explains Mark Bickert, engineering project manager at Martin. “We needed to find a machine builder that could give us right-angle head aggregate capability in conjunction with right-angle head compensation and a high-rpm spindle.” Fryer Machine Systems has earned a reputation for building reliable production machines that come with unexpectedly advanced features and functionality. The company happens to be the largest purchaser of Siemens controls in the United States, and the customizable aspects of a Fryer machine can often be attributed to the versatility of the Siemens controls on board. This time, however, Martin needed to be certain that the new Fryer machines would perform as expected.

“Anyone can sell you a machine with a controller on it and say, ‘Here you go,’” Bickert says. “But that’s not what happened this time. We were buying a machine through a Fryer dealership, and the machine had a Siemens control. Siemens invested their time in us during our transition and set-up. They really excelled.”

Bickert says a potential constraint to the transition was that all-new milling programs might need to be written for the Fryer machines, including the right-angle head cutter compensation programs, which were essential. “Siemens not only gave us the right-angle head cutter compensation we wanted and the ability to do it properly, they also helped write the programs,” Bickert says. “They took the programs that we already had for cutting parts on our existing machines and reconfigured them to work in the Fryer machine with the Siemens controller.”

Guitar body castings now also machined in-house

Having made a smooth transition to the company’s new Fryer-built machines last year, Martin has not skipped a beat in its ability to perform right-angle compensation milling. Martin now has eight Fryer/Siemens machines, utilizing one for the guitar maker’s tooling and machinery operations and seven for various other guitar production operations. It is here, behind the scenes, that the company’s machinists reside and modern CNC technology and Old World craftsmanship come together to create the fixtures, tools and wherewithal that contribute to the mastery of Martin guitar making. It is also here that ­Martin found a way to bring previously outsourced operations in-house, a step that has improved repeatable production quality while reducing production costs. “The machining of our castings had been another hurdle for us,” says Terry Kline, Martin’s manager of tooling and machinery. Until the company invested in the Fryer machines with the Siemens controls, Martin had outsourced the machining of its guitar body castings, with inconsistent results. “Now we’re holding close tolerances on our guitar body castings,” Kline says. “The quality of the castings is consistently accurate.”

CNC technology meets craftsmanship

On a daily basis at Martin, Kline sees what is possible when CNC technology and craftsmanship work together. “Without CNC technology, we’d be still carving out all our necks by hand, and that’s just not efficient enough to compete in today’s world,” he says. The intersection of technology and craftsmanship has come naturally for this 180-year-old guitar company, without one side compromising the other. “I think every manufacturing company needs to ­embrace technology,” says Kline. “Technology and craftsmanship go hand-in-hand. People are amazed by how much handwork still goes into our guitars. We’ll build a neck and a body and then assemble the two elements together, which makes that guitar come to life.”

Right-angle head compensation is essential to the accurate milling of guitar neck components. The function requires the sophisticated Sinumerik 840D sl CNC and ShopMill software from Siemens. Guitar image courtesy of C.F. Martin & Company.

For more information on this story, please contact:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
DRIVE TECHNOLOGIES – MOTION CONTROL (MACHINE TOOL BUSINESS)
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595
Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/cnc
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.sea@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communication

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC or Twitter: www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us.

Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.

The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.

Continue reading

Model Turbines 
from One Mold

Energy production specialist MCE uses a simultaneous 
five-axis mill-turn center with Sinumerik 840D sl 
for producing model running wheels in one setting and thereby reducing throughput time.

MCE Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH CEO 
Gottfried Langthaler (right) and Buz Bozner, head of the Alzmetall Technology Center, agree: The efficiency of the Sinumerik 840D sl makes an important contribution to enabling simultaneous milling and turning in every position with the GS 1000/5-FTD.

MCE Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH CEO 
Gottfried Langthaler (right) and Buz Bozner, head of the Alzmetall Technology Center, agree: The efficiency of the Sinumerik 840D sl makes an important contribution to enabling simultaneous milling and turning in every position with the GS 1000/5-FTD.

MCE Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH 
in Linz, Austria, produces various components for large gas, steam, and water turbines, as well as for wind power stations and other segments of energy production. But before the company receives any orders for these products, realistic models must prove their efficiency, underlines MCE CEO Gottfried Langthaler: “It is therefore very important for us to be able to manufacture 
the turbine models in high quality and, at the same time, productively with a short throughput time.”

In mid-2010, the running wheels were still being milled individually on a five-axis machining center 
and then bolted or welded together. The average throughput time was six weeks. Thanks to a few technical tricks and the Sinumerik-controlled GS 1000/5-FTD from Alzmetall, which has been used 
in model production since the end of 2010, the machining expert Langthaler was able to reduce throughput time by up to one-third — to about four weeks, depending on the product. As a qualified master of mechanical engineering and design, 
he already knew before purchasing the Alzmetall machine that it would be ideal for his model production if a Francis turbine could be produced from solid brass: “I was merely skeptical that a machining center could do that. After all, we have to achieve 
a high roughing cut and smooth with maximum 
precision and surface quality.” Initial tests with the GS 1000/5-FTD revealed that the technical conditions were right. Langthaler adds: “Alzmetall 
also flexibly adapted the machining center to our needs so that we can meet 
all the requirements regarding accuracy and surface quality — 
in one setting if necessary.”

B02b_Siemens_MCE-Alzmetall copy

User-friendly CNC for milling 
and turning jobs

Because this machine must also perform turning tasks, in addition to milling tasks, at MCE, this requirement is also in the specification and is met 
by the GS 1000/5-FTD. Buz Bozner, head of the 
Technology Center at Alzmetall, explains the technical basis: “We integrated torque motors in all round axes. We therefore achieve speeds of 300 rpm in 
the c-axis.” The mill-turn center offers an enormous machining space that not even standard lathes achieve. Parts with a diameter of up to 1,000 mm can therefore be machined. A highlight of the 
GS 1000/5-FTD is that it can be turned to any round axis position and level.

The energy professionals in model construction 
have been relying on Sinumerik controllers since the mid-1990s because, according to the mechanical engineering boss Langthaler, these were always 
convincing, especially in complex five-axis machining: “The handling of Sinumerik 840D is also clear and simple on the ShopMill and ShopTurn graphical user interfaces.” The operator 
can work particularly easily and clearly when a GS 1000/5-FTD with the new Sinumerik Operate user interface 
is used. Operation and programming always have 
the same structure, regardless of whether milling or turning processes are to be programmed and set-up. The operator is also supported by graphical displays and animations. Many intelligent functions are available, which are helpful, among other things, for tool and workpiece measurement. The operation and programming of 3+2 axis machining is also supported by the integrated Cycle800 functions. Animated 
Elements simplify the explanation of functions such as selection of the direction and free running, as well as swiveling.

Another highlight of the new GS 1000/5-FTD is the Sinumerik MDynamics technology package, which 
is especially important for complex five-axis machining. Maximum surface quality and exact contour accuracy can be achieved even more rapidly. The 
key is in the new Advanced Surface intelligent path control, which contains an optimized look-ahead function and an optimized online CNC data compressor, among other things. The integrated intelligent jolt limiter relieves stress on the machine mechanics because it enables gentle acceleration and deceleration despite extreme dynamic response.

B03a_Siemens_MCE_Alzmetal_1910

Customers reap the benefits

As a specialist in single-part and small-series production for small to large workpieces, MCE is equipped to meet even extraordinary demands on-time and with top quality. By equipping its machines with state-of-the-art Siemens technology, the company 
is able to achieve high throughput times in model production and pass these advantages on to its -customers.

For more information on this story, please contact:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
DRIVE TECHNOLOGIES –  MOTION CONTROL (MACHINE TOOL BUSINESS)
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595
Fax: 847-437-0784
Web:  www.usa.siemens.com/cnc
Email:  SiemensMTBUMarCom.sea@siemens.com
Attention:  John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communication

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC or Twitter:  www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us.

Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.

The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.

Continue reading

New Generation of Operator Panels For High-End CNC Applications

The Sinumerik blackline panels from the Siemens are a new generation of operator panels  for the Sinumerik 840D sl CNC system and offer new options for machine tool operation.

The Sinumerik blackline panels from the Siemens are a new generation of operator panels
for the Sinumerik 840D sl CNC system and offer new options for machine tool operation.

  • Robust and durable capacitive touchscreen operator panels
  • 40% energy savings compared to conventional neon lamps
  • Liquid and dust resistant, ideal for harsh conditions

The Sinumerik blackline panels OP 015 black and OP 019 black are a new generation of operator panels for the Sinumerik 840D sl CNC system and offer new options for machine operation. The inductive sensor technology enables rapid interaction with the user interface even when the operator is wearing gloves. Similarly, it prevents incorrect entries, for example caused by the heel of the operator‘s hand.

The 19-inch display of the OP 019 black can show all the entries made in widescreen format at a glance. The OP 015 black also features an alphanumerical keypad on the right that can be operated via touch control. This feature means that the 15-inch display is not restricted by the superimposed keypad during data entry, which ensures clear and efficient operation. Both blackline panels also have an integrated glass panel on the front side and are designed with IP65 (OP 019 black) and IP66 (OP 015 black) degrees of protection. They are resistant to liquids and dust and can be operated even under harsh industrial conditions. An integrated key lock helps safeguard against operating errors. The operator panel can provide a basic machine display, with three or four channels showing up to 13 axes.

The blackline panels also feature durable LED background lighting, providing 40 percent energy-savings compared to conventional neon lamps.

In combination with the Sinumerik 840D sl control, for use on high-end milling, turning, grinding and laser cutting machine tools, the blackline panels can be used as an operating and programming station for aerospace composite machining, power generation and medical part manufacturing, in addition to tool- and mold-making, rotary indexing machines and in shopfloor manufacturing.

For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079
ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com

Follow us on Social Media:

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC

The Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly automation and drive technology, industrial software and technology-based services. The Sector’s comprehensive portfolio covers the entire industrial value chain, from product design, engineering and production to services. Siemens enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency, and flexibility in a wide variety of different industries. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies.

Continue reading

Siemens at IMTS 2014: Integrated CNCs and Robots

DATE: Tuesday, September 9
TIME: 1:15 PM – 2:10 PM
ROOM: W-193B

Abstract

Aerospace manufacturing is changing faster than ever before.  The Industry seeks cost-effective and increased productivity through multi-function machines, agile manufacturing processes and re-taskable automation.

To increase productivity, traditional CNC machines are being combined with more and more automation equipment.  Robots are playing an ever-increasing role in this automation.  Their flexibility, range of motion and efficient floor space utilization make them ideal automation partners for traditional CNC machines.

And most recently, CNC-controlled robots are beginning to perform some of the manufacturing operations previously reserved for more traditional CNC machines.

This presentation focuses on the integration of CNC and robotic technologies in aerospace manufacturing.  Topics covered include typical control architectures for various process needs, programming and synchronization.  Lastly, the importance of manufacturing process design using product lifecycle management (PLM) tools prepared for the integration and simulation of CNCs with robots is discussed.

Click here to view the Conference Details on the IMTS Website.

Click here to add Siemens to your IMTS Show Planner! BOOTH E-5010

Speaker Biography

Roger Hart is an Engineering Manager at Siemens Drive Technologies Motion Control R&D.
Roger has 29 years of experience in CNC architecture, design, and software engineering.
He has a BS in Math and Computer Science from Marietta College.

 

Please forward all inquiries to:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
DRIVE TECHNOLOGIES
MOTION CONTROL
MACHINE TOOL BUSINESS
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595
Fax: 847-437-0784
Web:  www.usa.siemens.com/cnc
Email:  SiemensMTBUMarCom.sea@siemens.com
Attention:  John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communication

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC or Twitter:  www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us.

Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.

The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.

Continue reading