In today’s manufacturing environment, equipment data collection and status monitoring are critical especially in long cycle-time dies and molds. The ability to connect multiple machines on a single network to a centralized computer has enabled manufacturers to retrieve, store and analyze high volumes of data in real time. Makino’s solution to these capabilities is a package of software tools known as the Machine Productivity Maximizer (MPmax).
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The MPmax real-time process monitoring and data management system provides manufacturers with the tools necessary to detect and react to bottlenecks on the fly, whether it relates to underperformance or recurring process errors. By delivering notifications by e-mail and enabling remote monitoring, this software package lets manufacturers always stay up to date with machining processes even while they’re away from the shop floor. This ability to better understand machine performance offers unlimited opportunities for manufacturers to optimize the efficiency of their shop floor and get the most from their machining investments.
Makino’s MPmax offers data management capabilities for a variety of key machine performance features, including multiple machine status monitoring, machine utilization, alarms, probe data analysis, spindle and axis movement, machine power* and tool management work scheduling.
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Improving Workflow Efficiency
Data retrieved from machine utilization, alarm events and power consumption offer mold manufacturers an opportunity to analyze and troubleshoot workflow inefficiencies.
With MPmax, mold manufacturers can confidently transfer work between machines based on conditions of overuse and underuse to even the flow of work throughout the shop floor. Its Pareto chart display of alarms offers manufacturers an opportunity to review a full list of alarm events to adapt machine process for alarm prevention. Recorded electrical energy usage can assist manufacturers in scheduling jobs for various times of day based on fluctuating energy costs for enhanced savings.
Machine Performance Enhancements
Through spindle and axis movement, probe data analysis and tool management data, MPmax provides the capabilities to measure current machining processes and their impact on critical die and mold features.
Its ability to collect probe data and calculate the Cpk process capability index lets mold manufacturers track accuracy performance in critical features and ensures the highest level of die/mold quality by preventing processes from drifting out of tolerance. The MPmax spindle and axis monitoring technologies record and display axis forces, loads and speeds. Manufacturers can then use this data to fine-tune their processes for faster cutting speeds and greater depths of cut in areas where cutting forces are low.
The MPmax tool data management system enables manufacturers to register, manage and monitor all critical tool data for multiple machines from one centralized location. By making appropriate adjustments based on this data, mold-manufacturers can get the highest level of performance out of each tool while extending tool life.
Machine Remote Viewing
MPmax software provides additional capabilities for remote viewing of machine tool controls, cameras and e-mail notifications for service assistance. Together these capabilities give operators and management the ability to respond to and track processes as they occur without interrupting other day-to-day activities.
A control remote view displays machine tool controls in real time from any networked PC. For jobs requiring quick turnarounds, this feature is an ideal way to provide operators or technicians with assistance in the repair or operation of a machine tool. Data cannot be input from this display mode, thus preventing accidental changes to tooling or part dimensions.
The MPmax machine camera monitoring** captures an internal view of a machine’s work zone. This unique perspective can assist manufacturers in solving processing errors before they become a detriment to die/mold quality.
E-mail notification capabilities enable operators to deliver current machine status information to their service department, including alarm texts and images of the work zone.** This ability to immediately notify service staff with the details and information required to address problems as they occur can dramatically improve productivity and process control.
*Available only with the machine power monitor option
**Available only with camera-equipped machines
