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There have been major advances in connectivity and digitalization in recent years. Many new machine tool developments are now integrating Industry 4.0 technology and enabling horizontal networking between machines and systems. The global smart machine market will reach US$32.5 billion by 2027, with Asia-Pacific to lead the smart machines market by US$12.7 billion, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. The trend towards greater flexibility in manufacturing drives product innovations like multitasking and additive manufacturing as suitable alternatives to traditional machine tools.
As the industry continues to adopt more digital technologies, we will see the manufacture of more machines built for automation and the industrial internet of things (IIoT). In much the same way we have seen an increase in connected devices from smartphones to smart thermostats, as the manufacturing world embraces connected technology.
Machine tools and robotics
Smart machine tools and robotics will likely handle a greater percentage of the work in industrial settings as technology advances. Especially in those situations where the work is too dangerous for human beings to perform, automated machine tools will become more widely used.
As more internet-connected devices populate the factory floor, cybersecurity will become an increased concern. Industrial hacking has resulted in several worrying breaches of automated systems over the years, some of which could have resulted in the loss of life. As IIoT systems become more integrated, cybersecurity will only increase in importance.
Smart Machines with AI Systems
With smart CNCs and AI systems, machines can provide essential data about how they operate when they make a good part, and process all that information automatically to improve future results through machine learning. In an AI-equipped CNC, the controller can collect data about everything from axis thrust levels to spindle temperature and RPM, coolant behaviour and more, providing a far more detailed picture of each production task than any operator’s notes could capture. All this information can facilitate faster setups and shorter cycle times, improve surface finishes and boost machining accuracy, all while making overall machine operation easier.
Mazak developed the MAZATROL SmoothAi CNC – the industry’s first dedicated CNC designed specifically for 5-axis machining and multi-tasking – and gave this new control the artificial intelligence to manage production project data, CAD/CAM software and machine behavior. This enormous volume of information includes programs, tool, and coordinate data, and all the parameters required for machining.
To process all this information automatically, the MAZATROL SmoothAi CNC includes the Mazak SMOOTH Project Manager, which provides an AI-managed set of analytics. Its advanced processing helps reduce the time required for data to flow into and out of a machine network, which in turn, speeds setup. With the SMOOTH Project Manager in charge, the system can communicate the machine’s configuration, condition, and behavior to CAD/CAM software, virtually eliminating manual input and the errors it can cause. These advanced capabilities help flatten the learning curve for new machine operators just as they enable less-experienced employees to succeed at more-advanced production tasks.
Digital Intelligent Management System
The "Digital Intelligent Management System - ART 2000" developed and manufactured by Taiwan’s Buffalo Machinery is a response to the future trend of industrial digital applications, and the response to intelligent manufacturing in meeting sustainable management. The digital intelligent management system-ART 2000 can monitor the management of machine wear parts, energy consumption, etc., to provide the real-time status of its parts, and through the generation of data, it can provide managers with industry insight information to help enterprises operate and manage effectively. Buffalo Machinery will continue to provide users with more sustainable digital services with leading digital intelligent automation solutions as products.
A Period of Change
While smart machine tools automation has always been about productivity and quality, scaling up and doing more. The shifts we are witnessing today -the greatest in a generation, mean that flexibility and simplicity are key to success. Today, flexibility is essential – it is a strategic need, essential across the entire value chain: from manufacturing and logistics through to the point of consumption. Smart machine tool is a vital enabler of this flexibility.
Machine tool builders’ goal is to help customers achieve this flexibility and add value to their businesses by driving innovation to create new possibilities with robotics, AI, and machine automation, supported by the digital services and training they need to get the most from their investment.
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