Freedom Digital Interface

5ME's new Freedom Digital Interface (FDI) with integral MTConnect adapter allows shops with legacy equipment to monitor machine tool performance using the company's Freedom eLOG, or other MTConnect monitoring software. Older CNC or manual machines that do not have Ethernet ports can be monitored with the small, self-contained, DIN rail-mounted assembly. The FDI is comprised of off-the-shelf components and has eight digital inputs (24VDC or 120VAC) and two analog inputs (0-10VDC). Each input is user-configurable based on specific use. An onboard adapter outputs a Simple Hierarchical Data Representation (SHDR) signal to the user's MTConnect agent.

"The Freedom Digital Interface makes any machine or asset MTConnect-capable and brings older workhorse machine tools into the shop-floor monitoring realm without special programming, ladder logic or part program modifications," said Pete Tecos, Executive Vice President Marketing and Product Strategy for 5ME. "This takes advantage of MTConnect's open-source standard to bring the benefits of efficiency monitoring to all shop floor assets."

5ME's Freedom eLOG software suite automatically extracts critical manufacturing data to produce web-based reports and analytics on asset utilization, availability, performance, quality and OEE. It is brand, asset and process agnostic. The software integrates seamlessly with ERP, MES, maintenance and quality business systems, and can be accessed anytime via smartphone or tablet device.