THINC CNC Powers Steel Manufacturer

THINC CNC Powers Steel Manufacturer
  • Industry: Primary Metals
  • Process: Milling
  • MGI Division: Morris South
  • Builder Tool: Okuma MB-56V
  • Customer: More Information
  • Outcome: Having the internal resources to design, develop, test and implement every aspect of this turnkey helped to ensure the customer’s expectations were met completely and on-time.

 » Challenge

MGI THINC Technology Team develops software interface that allows Steel Manufacturer to connect to a remote database and manipulate the program for a wide range of different parts while maintaining the capability to manually intercede.

 » Solution

We developed a simple, easy to navigate HMI that connected to a SQL database. We then synched the SQL database to The Manufacturer's Oracle database (replication to the SQL database was a customer request). Once connected, we were able to use simple true/false statements to determine if each sub-fixture would be used. The material "machine-ability" factor, dimensions, and all other relevant data were populated into a sub-program. Through the use of the control's API, the program would be reselected with the new cutting data included.

 » Assessment

The Manufacturer purchased an Okuma MB56VB with a two-pallet pallet changer. We were required to write all the programs for the machined parts specific to the two different pallet configurations. Each pallet ran up to 18 different parts per cycle. The part numbers were to be stored on an Oracle database on a remote server. We were tasked with designing an interface that would connect to this Oracle database, pull specific information from this database and populate the data into a sub-program that would drive the machine tool. The customer wanted to use .NET framework for the applications architecture and a 22" touch-screen as the control monitor. The machine operator also needed the ability to manually configure settings for special machining circumstances.

 » Results

Having the internal resources to design, develop, test and implement every aspect of this turnkey helped to ensure the customer's expectations were met completely and on-time. The Manufacturer appreciated our depth of manufacturing knowledge. Designing an interface to populate data that drives a CNC cutting file requires a thorough understanding of machining. Knowing the machine, the control, how the parts are to be machined, and the interrelated dynamics are critical in developing a successful software interface.

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Keywords: THINC Control, THINC, Okuma, Morris South, Macro, Turnkey, MB56