Without precise comparative data, the concept of interchangeable parts, as advanced by cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney in the early 1800s, could not have changed the face of manufacturing. Today, collecting, analyzing and applying data to improve productivity and achieve tighter tolerances is central to virtually any manufacturing process.

Taking this concept one step further is the enabling of CNC machine tools and peripherals to share part production data to improve productivity and minimize material waste. For example, the products LNS America Inc. produces, including bar feeders, chip and coolant management systems, vacuum unloaders, workholders and air filtration systems, enable CNC machines to operate more efficiently, according to Randy Lewis, the company's control manager. "Several years ago we recognized that by making it possible for our various products to communicate with the CNC machine tools they work with, we could improve the customer's productivity," he said. "That's why we developed e-Connect, which is a database and data transfer system."

The production/remnant management flow for the e-Connect system from LNS America.

Lewis added that the system can share real-time data between a lathe's CNC and an LNS bar feeder while using the LNS parts library function. The library can store 500 part programs, each of which has a unique identification number. Through e-Connect, the bar feeder automatically detects the program the lathe is running and loads the correct setup data for that part from the library to changeover—on the fly—without operator intervention, thereby eliminating downtime. This enables running a large family of parts or even a group of unrelated parts with little or no operator involvement after the initial setup.

The system can also reduce material costs through its data transfer function, which enables the bar feeder to continuously tell the lathe how much bar stock is available for machining, Lewis explained. After each part is machined, a CNC lathe's production-scheduling program checks the remaining parts to be produced and determines if there is adequate bar stock to machine the next scheduled part. If not, the system scans the production list for another part that could be made from the remaining material. Users can even set priorities for each part in the schedule, in which case the system identifies the highest-priority part that can be machined from the remaining stock.

The production-scheduling program then loads the appropriate part program in the lathe. The bar feeder recognizes the new program, recalls the associated part data from the parts library and automatically changes to the new configurations, Lewis added. If the new part requires a change in bar stock diameter or profile, e-Connect can send an e-mail to a remote computer or mobile device, altering the operator that a mechanical adjustment is needed.

If the system determines there is no part in the schedule that can be made from the remaining stock, the remnant is ejected, the system confirms the next part to be made, makes any necessary adjustments and the next bar loads into the bar feeder.

Article by LNS America Inc., Cincinnati. For more information, call (513) 388-5017 or visit www.lns-america.com. CTE

About the Author: Alan Richter is editor of CTE. Contact him at (847) 714-0175 or [email protected].