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CNC Optimization Solutions



Caron Engineering's booth will have a fully equipped product kiosk running demonstrations of its entire product line at HOUSTEX 2019. Together, with its Texas area integrator, Wolfram Manufacturing, Caron will highlight the newest Caron Engineering product features. "Caron Engineering's unique line of products optimize the capabilities of CNC machines to improve performance, productivity and profitability," said a company spokesperson.

Caron Engineering will feature the newest version of its proprietary tool monitoring adaptive control (TMAC) system. TMAC monitors tool wear and breakage, with immediate machine stop and retract when a tool breaks to minimize damage. TMAC is enhanced for unattended operation. TMAC's adaptive control option monitors true power and automatically adjusts the feedrate to maintain a constant tool load.

TMAC version 3.0 is now web-based, allowing remote access to real-time monitoring and all data accessible from any network connected device (including smart phones). TMAC, and all Caron products, are MTConnect compliant, allowing seamless communication with OEE software and providing all the data necessary for Industry 4.0.

TMAC 3.0 offers an intuitive user interface designed to handle the complexity of the software while providing simplicity for the user. The web-based user interface (UI) has a dynamic display with completely customizable user views and monitors multiple processes and even multiple machine channels simultaneously.

TMAC can optimize almost any cutting operation but also mitigates specific manufacturing challenges with difficult to machine materials, such as hard aerospace components and metals used in the oil and gas industry. Typically, programmers must plan for the worst material condition, which leads to lengthy cycle times and accelerated tool wear. This is especially true of components that are machined from alloys and composite materials, and from either a casting or forging or single solid block of material. TMAC Adaptive Control overrides the machine tool feedrate to automatically make adjustments based on the cutting power load of the tool. Thus, TMAC is increasing the feedrate with low power cuts and decreasing with high power cuts and as tools wear. "By making real-time adaptive control feedrate adjustments, TMAC optimizes the entire cutting process, extends tool life and reduces cycle time up to 60%," said the spokesperson.

TMAC collects a large amount of data for analysis. It utilizes a separate high-speed processor capable of quickly processing data from multiple different sensors including power, vibration, strain, coolant pressure, coolant flow and spindle speed. Users can overlay cutting data to compare cuts, interrogate alarms and events, access historical tool wear data, inspect CNC position data and even analyze bearing health with the bearing analysis feature.

Caron Engineering will also be showcasing its latest version of ToolConnect, which is a more robust version of its tool identification and data transfer system. ToolConnect is a retrofit hardware and software package for machine tools that eliminates human error and reduces set-up time by automating the transfer of CNC tool data to and from the control.

ToolConnect uses RFID tags, embedded in toolholders. Utilizing a tool presetter, the measurement data is written to the RFID tag. The tool is then placed in a custom RFID read station at the machine, and the data is read by ToolConnect. ToolConnect automatically updates tool offsets to the control. When machining is complete, all tool life information is updated back to the RFID tag, which can be read anywhere.

This latest version of ToolConnect has a new flexible design which is completely customizable. The system is built specifically to the customers' requirements, from the (drag and drop) design of the UI to the overall process and functionality of the system. And with the new web-based interface, the UI can be displayed on any connected PC.

As an added benefit to the user, ToolConnect can now be programmed remotely. As the user requires more functionality from the system, new features can be added without waiting for an on-site service call.

For more information contact:

Caron Engineering, Inc.

116 Willie Hill Rd.

Wells, ME 04090

207-646-6071

marketing@caroneng.com

www.caroneng.com

HOUSTEX 2019 Booth 2112

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