Innovative Strides in Sheet Metal and CNC Machining
Innovative Strides in Sheet Metal and CNC Machining
Date：2024-02-06 16:50
An industry where accurate and efficient outcomes are of utmost importance has markedly changed in recent years. The sheet metal and CNC machining world continues to evolve, with a focus on increasing productivity and decreasing per-unit costs. While advances have certainly been made in these areas, we remain far from being able to offer innovative solutions in the face of tall orders and tight deadlines. Why is that? Well, it has a lot to do with the way our processes are set up—more specifically, the linchpin of those processes, which is our reliance on all-too-human judgment at the maintenance level.
Although using robotic arms and automated equipment in metalworking and CNC machining has transformed these processes in terms of speed and consistency, there is still potential for growth. The "smart" operation for metal fabricating and CNC machining is just around the corner. Automated equipment can now do the work of a human operator, but what happens next? Predictive maintenance is the next step for these industry robots and applications. If fabricators can use the AI-driven algorithms employed by the CNC shops in combination with "smart" tools, anticipate upcoming equipment failures, and nab them before they turn into unmanageable situations, then they will have a definite edge.
Lean manufacturing minimizes waste and synchronizes production with customer demand. It accomplishes this in the realm of metal forming and CNC machining with a basic plan: "touch each workpiece only as much as necessary to convert it to a finished state; do this in the correct order and at the correct time, and attach absolutely no unnecessary operations." The leaves of this plan must be adapted to the particulars of programming and to the particular setups and tooling of the machines. Increasingly, personalization and customization are becoming significant. The lean way in metalworking must adapt to a new customer reality of many different, many made-to-order, and made-to-fit forms.
Modern manufacturing depends on data, and this is as true for sheet metal and CNC machining as for any other aspect of production. Having long been a standard in the industry, the continuous improvement process known as "Plan-Do-Check-Act" (PDCA) is effective but could be much more powerful if it integrated real-time data analysis. We at KUKA use the expression "smart manufacturing" to describe what happens when you link comprehensive production data from your machinery to your processing logic. The result: more refined processes; swifter, surer bottleneck elimination; and quality that's under control in a whole new way.
The sheet metal and CNC machining sectors are moving forward, and the association between technological development and traditional methods is becoming more and more symbiotic. The use of modular design, together with the application of rapid tooling change technology, is enabling a great deal of flexibility in these production processes. The sector is characteristically tending to use more quality management tools, like Six Sigma, for reducing defects and improving consistency. These tools are used not just in assembly line operations, but also in the design and fabrication of production jigs and fixtures, which can be thought of as prototype models to help achieve assembly line conditions.
The current deficiencies in the sheet metal and CNC machining industries offer ample opportunity for innovation. By correcting these shortcomings, we can ensure that these two key areas of the manufacturing sector grow and thrive. Their growth benefits not only the companies involved but also strengthens the entire U.S. manufacturing sector through fusion of technology with traditional methods. The smarter, more responsive market attuned to the "nuanced needs" of its customers increasingly benefits us all.
Although using robotic arms and automated equipment in metalworking and CNC machining has transformed these processes in terms of speed and consistency, there is still potential for growth. The "smart" operation for metal fabricating and CNC machining is just around the corner. Automated equipment can now do the work of a human operator, but what happens next? Predictive maintenance is the next step for these industry robots and applications. If fabricators can use the AI-driven algorithms employed by the CNC shops in combination with "smart" tools, anticipate upcoming equipment failures, and nab them before they turn into unmanageable situations, then they will have a definite edge.
Lean manufacturing minimizes waste and synchronizes production with customer demand. It accomplishes this in the realm of metal forming and CNC machining with a basic plan: "touch each workpiece only as much as necessary to convert it to a finished state; do this in the correct order and at the correct time, and attach absolutely no unnecessary operations." The leaves of this plan must be adapted to the particulars of programming and to the particular setups and tooling of the machines. Increasingly, personalization and customization are becoming significant. The lean way in metalworking must adapt to a new customer reality of many different, many made-to-order, and made-to-fit forms.
Modern manufacturing depends on data, and this is as true for sheet metal and CNC machining as for any other aspect of production. Having long been a standard in the industry, the continuous improvement process known as "Plan-Do-Check-Act" (PDCA) is effective but could be much more powerful if it integrated real-time data analysis. We at KUKA use the expression "smart manufacturing" to describe what happens when you link comprehensive production data from your machinery to your processing logic. The result: more refined processes; swifter, surer bottleneck elimination; and quality that's under control in a whole new way.
The sheet metal and CNC machining sectors are moving forward, and the association between technological development and traditional methods is becoming more and more symbiotic. The use of modular design, together with the application of rapid tooling change technology, is enabling a great deal of flexibility in these production processes. The sector is characteristically tending to use more quality management tools, like Six Sigma, for reducing defects and improving consistency. These tools are used not just in assembly line operations, but also in the design and fabrication of production jigs and fixtures, which can be thought of as prototype models to help achieve assembly line conditions.
The current deficiencies in the sheet metal and CNC machining industries offer ample opportunity for innovation. By correcting these shortcomings, we can ensure that these two key areas of the manufacturing sector grow and thrive. Their growth benefits not only the companies involved but also strengthens the entire U.S. manufacturing sector through fusion of technology with traditional methods. The smarter, more responsive market attuned to the "nuanced needs" of its customers increasingly benefits us all.
Share to：
Recommend wonderful blog posts