Digital Grip Force Analyzer Software and Kit update

Kitagawa NorthTech Inc. announces its Digital Grip Force Analyzer Software and Kit for Windows help machine shops and metalworking operations to harvest, measure and analyze grip force data from their workholding equipment for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT or IoT), MTConnect and Industry 4.0 applications.

The Digital Grip Force Analyzer Software system from Kitagawa NorthTech serves as a digital tool for safety, process and service diagnostics to help users make their operations smarter, safer and more efficient. The software application outputs an Excel spreadsheet with grip force data collected, along with other testing data and a chart graphically detailing this information for users’ Smart applications.

The Digital Grip Force Software Analyzer is a Smart technology tool that provides a range of capabilities through its software application, including comprehensive grip force diagnostics. Once installed onto a PC or tablet and gripped by the Workholding system in the machine tool, the software immediately begins collecting, measuring, and outputting static and dynamic grip force data.

This valuable data can be shared for a variety of IIoT or MTConnect, including improving machine shop productivity, profitability, safety, maintenance and throughput. Compromised or incorrect grip force is often the cause of slippage or deformation of the parts in the chuck. When parts are not secure in the chuck, CNC machining operations are hindered from achieving maximum levels of productivity as more scrap is created. Generally, machining speeds are then reduced to accommodate operator safety concerns and issues.

In these instances, Kitagawa NorthTech contends that either the Workholding system design or improper calculations are often the cause. The benefit of a custom engineered Workholding system from Kitagawa NorthTech’s in-house, custom engineering team can easily address and solve all of these issues.

By measuring, analyzing, and sharing grip force data, machining operations can determine how to improve or replace inefficient Workholding systems. Maintaining proper grip force is attained through regular and scheduled maintenance. This intelligence will also help identify proper maintenance schedules will also extend the life of their Workholding equipment. Improper maintenance and lack of lubrication often causes grip force issues, causing damage to equipment and risking operator safety.

The collected data is also useful for fast retrieval of set-up information for future operation, Workholding testing and diagnostics. The Digital Grip Analyzer Kit comes bundled as a complete kit with rugged carrying case, super powerful Bluetooth dongle, USB flash drive loaded with PC analyzer software, digital load meter and the traditional handheld pendant for manual diagnostics, testing and measurement.

IIoT incorporates machine learning and big data technology, harnessing the sensor data, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and automation technologies in industrial companies. IIoT utilizes smart machines to captures data, which enables production operations to solve efficiency issues, saving time and money and supporting business intelligence efforts. MTConnect is a communication standard that provides uniform, robust communications for digital manufacturing which depends on data from diverse set of industrial equipment from the factory floor. The MTConnect standard enable manufacturing equipment to provide data in structured XML rather than proprietary formats.