|
The two vertical lathes were becoming a major problem with regard to reliability. They were key pieces of plant but were
only achieving an up-time of 60% before the retrofit. Each machine was
fitted with a Hertel 60 tool drum. Each tool contained a tool identity
chip which the tool changer could read by one of its tool manipulator arms.
A-Tec Systems fitted a new control system, servo
drives and spindle motor and the up-time was dramatically increased to
98.5%. In addition tool management
was simplified by a new database software developed in house. The productivity
of the machine was also increased by improved tool-change software. The
tool pre-selection facility created by A-Tec Systems reduced
the cut to cut time from two minutes to thirty seconds. |
