Collaborative Manufacturing Cells

Sept. 8, 2008
Okuma automated oil-coupling cell. Okuma Millac 33T automated lathe cell. Partners in THINC (www.partnersinthinc.com) will highlight its collaborative efforts with a complete manufacturing cell demonstration that will produce an ...
Okuma automated oil-coupling cell.

Okuma Millac 33T automated lathe cell.

Partners in THINC (www.partnersinthinc.com) will highlight its collaborative efforts with a complete manufacturing cell demonstration that will produce an Op 10/Op 20 aluminum piston on two Okuma Millac 33T vertical lathes and other products made by the Partner companies and integrated by Gosiger Automation.

The Okuma Millac 33Ts feature the THINC-OSP control, external program select capability, device net I/O, chilled ballscrews, Absolute scales, a right-angled tool to drill pin bores, and an Anybus robot loader interface.

The multi-function capabilities of turning, milling, drilling, tapping and boring make the cell efficient for machining a wide range of parts from automotive to medical in a compact space.

Each Millac 33T has a 1 m by 4-m footprint with special automatic doors for easy access by an ABB robot moving between the two vertical lathes. The tool data system ties to a Zoller tool presetter via the THINC-OSP control and is prepped with auto gauging by a Renishaw MP-400 probe.

Caron Engineering Inc. provides an AutoComp program for quick statistical process capability and for the THINC-OSP control and Zoller presetter to communicate in real time. Sandvik and Kennametal provide turning and rotating tools necessary for the machining, while ToolBoss and Iscar Matrix tool-storage cabinets manage redundant and other tool replacements.

A Marposs Quicksetter monitors part size, and an Exact Boss MRP system shows factory process flow and captures production times, material costs, operational flow and other real-time data.

Also, Okuma America Corp. and several Partners in THINC collaborators will feature a new automated oil-coupling cell for producing 4-in. to 7-in. API and premium couplings for the deep-oildrilling industry.

The new Okuma oil country lathe, LOC500, two Millac 33T vertical machining centers and a Fanuc R-R0000iB-165F robot work seamlessly through the THINC-OSP control with partnering collaborators Gosiger Automation, ChipBlaster, Schunk, LNS America Inc., Caron Engineering, Maxi Grip Inc., Marposs, Kennametal, ToolBoss and Renishaw.