Software & Digital Solutions

The coronavirus shutdown is an extreme situation for the entire economy and is hitting the CNC industry hard. Although there is huge uncertainty, we can be sure of one thing: Falling into a state of shock is the most dangerous reaction to this acute situation and is therefore not an option. Instead, the best way to counteract the problem is with a mix of flexibility, optimism and solidarity.

ESPRIT 2020 features plentiful updates for Swiss-type machining. This technique is defined by its small, often intricate parts. Medical devices, such as bone screws, are typically manufactured on Swiss-type machines. ESPRIT's 2020 update introduces or enhances support for 200 different Swiss-type machine models.

This free upgrade promises to assist all users of current model ACU-RITE digital readouts to be more productive and efficient in their manufacturing, as well as continuing its tradition of ease-of-use. ACU-RITE's current family of DROs include models 100, 200 and 300. The new software version is titled "v1.4.0.

AxiCheck helps increase production capacity by quickly and accurately inspecting the state of health of the machine, allowing users to identify and correct errors that may impact the workpiece, as well as planning maintenance operations in advance. This reduces the number of reject parts, particularly when dealing with single batches of expensive part production.

Gleason Metrology Systems' A2LA Accredited Gear Calibration Laboratory has added ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and invested in new metrology equipment to expand the scope of its gear calibration services.

SimScale released enhanced collaboration features and a multiple-user licensing package to support design, engineering, and architecture teams with multiple people who use simulation in medium and large enterprises.

Mazak's new Spindle Health Monitoring System tracks vital data.

Burr Oak Tool Inc. is a leading producer of dies used to produce two types of fins for window air conditioners. Evaporator fins on the side of the air conditioner inside the window transfer heat from the inside air to the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil. Compressor fins located on the side of the air conditioner outside the window move heat from the now hot refrigerant to the outside air. Burr Oak Tool dies progressively stretch and reform the fins through a series of metal forming operations that extrude and reduce the thickness of the fins.

Fastems Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) has proven to be a powerful solution for planning, forecasting, controlling, visualizing and monitoring automated manufacturing processes. The new MMS Domain, Work Cell Operations (WCO), makes it possible to include all manual production tasks, work cells and stand-alone machines in the IT-supported planning, control and monitoring of production. For this purpose, the solution can be used either separately for machines or manual workstations or in combination with an automated pallet and/or workpiece handling system.

Twenty proven software and hardware kits for the most popular cobot applications are available on the UR+ platform, a large and comprehensive ecosystem of products certified to integrate seamlessly with cobots from Universal Robots. By reducing recurring engineering decisions for common applications, the "plug and produce" kits decrease project risk and complexity and are ready for fast implementation for tasks such as finishing, inspection, assembly, machine tending, material removal, dispensing and material handling.

Robotiq announced new functionalities for its Finishing Copilot software. Designed for manufacturers with polishing or sanding processes, the software's new weaving motion and variable trajectory planning enables a cobot to adjust its own path. This means cobots can finish a family of parts without the operator having to adapt the program.