It’s about time
If the old adage, “time is money” is still true, then vendors at IMTS will help you find and reduce “wasted” time. The focus is on fine tuning processes to eliminate wasted minutes that prevent productivity from increasing.
Developers of cable management systems, such as igus Inc., and Kabelschlepp, for example, have made improvements to their cable carriers to reduce the time it takes to slide in cabling to mere fractions of
seconds.
A new CAD/CAM program from VX CAD/CAM promises to eliminate the barrier to learning new CAD systems. Rather than attend training seminars, it lets users learn while doing — that is, while developing a CAD design. In addition, it removes the time necessary to convert CAD to machine ready instructions.
It is not lost on vendors that many of their customers have lost their engineering installation and integration expertise to job cuts, job moves, and attrition. So, they are offering to do the integration of components and devices into full systems for you. Again, this can save you time.
And how much time do operators spend warming up their machines to eliminate the inaccuracies of thermal expansion? Estimates are that it takes about 60 to 90 minutes. If you use a linear encoder scale, such as those from Heidenhain, you no longer need to wait and can use that time for making parts.
Be sure to visit other exhibitors and see for yourself the tips and techniques they offer to enhance productivity.
Filed Under: Factory automation, Machine tool industry + subtractive manufacturing, Electronics • electrical, Encoders • linear, Fluid power, Linear motion • slides, Motion control • motor controls, Mechatronics, Networks • connectivity • fieldbuses
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