Partners Demystify Machine Tool Technologies

In my day-to-day life as an Applications Engineer at Okuma, I get a behind-the-scenes look at how Partners in THINC works, and this may provide more benefit to the machine tool user that you think. One unique benefit addresses a common customer need: knowledge of products they have not yet experienced. So in initial stages, our Partners often bring a new technology to the table. At first this can seem daunting…but in reality the learning curve can be surprisingly easy.

Upfront Prep

The products that our Partners in THINC members offer can be difficult to understand without opportunities to apply them. Some of our Partners integrate their products on our machine tools at the Partners in THINC facility in Charlotte. When they do this, they take time to teach Okuma Application Engineers (AEs) how to apply them. We are then able to test them in real world machining conditions and find their strengths and how to use them to complement Okuma equipment. This also allows Okuma to help identify any quirks or discover additional features they can implement. All of this work is done upfront so preparations are in place for a smooth integration at our customer’s facility.

It’s Not Always Complicated

Even so, the question I often hear from customers is “how difficult is this to implement?”, because the perception of new technology is that it’s very complicated. Generally the opposite is true. With a small amount of training, difficult tasks often become much easier. For example, the Graphic interface that our probe Partners have developed removes the need to write probe programs. Now questions with pictures are shown on the screen (as depicted in the image above), and from this information a program is automatically generated. This is so easy to use, most people can intuitively use probes before any training. The additional benefit is that this also makes setting up jobs on the Okumas much quicker and easier.

RELATED: Partners in THINC, a Complete List

Eliminate Implementation Struggles

Other partners whose products do not live on our machine tools but are very integral to the manufacturing process are the CAM software companies. There’s a strong collaboration between their AEs and Okuma AEs at the THINC facility, and it benefits all sides equally. This aids in development of solid Post Processors that have been tested on our machine tools, eliminating many onsite implementation struggles. Okuma AEs are also able to keep current on new tool path developments and enhance our skills in applying them. Additionally we determine how machine settings like Super-NURBS can complement each of these approaches. The insights we gain are extremely helpful when our customers are trying to solve issues and don’t know where to go for help. We all work as a team to solve manufacturing challenges.

Surprisingly Simple

While all of these shared experiences are seemingly intangible, the benefits to us as a team are huge. When your machine tool arrives at your plant, the new technologies will be very simple to use. This is due to all the behind-the-scenes development and testing at our THINC facility.

Have you ever been surprised by how easy your new machine tool is to use? Feel free to comment below and share your experience.

Ed Leeson is Applications Engineer, Okuma America Corporation.