Tool Management

END USER: Helac Corp., (800) 327-2589, www.helac.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance and programming time on a large vertical turning center. SOLUTION: Retrofit the VTC with a new CNC and AC digital-axis servodrives and servomotors. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MAG IAS LLC, (859) 534-4600, www.mag-ias.com

END USER: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., (513) 728-4040, www.cinmine.com. CHALLENGE: Improve throughput and maintain higher part-quality consistency. SOLUTION: A machining cell with 24 pallets and two horizontal machining centers. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Makino Inc., (513) 573-7200, www.makino.com

END USER: Richardson Manufacturing Co., (217) 546-2249, www.rmc-bigcnc.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve a tight tolerance without increasing cycle time. SOLUTION: A combination drill that eliminated an unreliable boring operation. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., (800) 321-5537, www.alliedmachine.com

More shops and builders are remotely monitoring machine tools, which quickens maintenance and repair.

END USER: Attica Hydraulic Exchange Inc., (586) 949-4240, www.atx1.com. CHALLENGE: Increase profitability by effectively managing tools and other industrial supplies. SOLUTION: A vending system. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MSC Industrial Supply Co., (800) 521-9520, www.mscdirect.com/vending

Look Ahead features an on-demand, integrated adaptive control

Vending machines can help manage tool and supply usage and keep costs in check.

Retrofitting is an effective and economical option to make new money with old machine tools.

Networking option: Could the introduction of a small electrical cabinet turn out to be a big step toward more widespread implementation of the Industrial Internet of Things? This special electrical cabinet, called the SmartBox, was developed by machine tool builder Mazak Corp., working in collaboration with networking equipment provider Cisco Systems Inc. The SmartBox is designed to overcome concerns about complexity and security that have led to resistance to connecting machine tools to a plantwide network.

Every machine tool owner can reap benefits from a good spindle maintenance program. These include reductions in costly unplanned machine downtime, longer spindle life and improved part quality. But effective spindle maintenance requires perseverance and the appropriate technology—plus a little common sense.