The modern manufacturing floor is filled with a plethora of different machines and tools. Often, however, they are not managed very efficiently. Whenever our team visits a machining shop, they can usually count on seeing at least one of the following:
There are too many risks associated with these types of manual processes, including running outdated programs, placing programs on the wrong machine or failing audits. Since manufacturers typically work with expensive equipment and materials, such risks are unacceptable. The answer to these common problems is a machining environment involving Direct Numerical Control (DNC). The purpose of a DNC system is to provide a central repository for all your machining and manufacturing data, and to make this data automatically available for execution on the shop floor.
Shop Floor Connect (SFC) is a DNC application add-on developed for Siemens Teamcenter that delivers critical production information directly to the machine controller. More than just a traditional DNC system, the connection to the centralized Teamcenter database avoids data duplication and manages revisions to ensure that the correct data is used during production. SFC enables your production operators to access released programs, drawings, 3D models and other data sources through a user interface that runs on any browser-enabled device or controller. Shop Floor Connect supports different machines and the manufacturing programs they run:
Shop Floor Connect communicates directly with Teamcenter, Siemens' leading system for managing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) data and processes starting from product design and product engineering through production. Teamcenter provides an environment that you can use to manage product and process definitions, data files and resources. It maintains workflows and roles for users who work in process chains, and it provides tracking capabilities for monitoring document revisions and release statuses.
The integration eliminates the need for an independent shop floor database. Instead, all machining data is managed and stored within the controlled Teamcenter environment. When a job needs to be run, Shop Floor Connect enables machine programs to be pulled from the database directly at the machine tool interface. Shop floor operators can access the source data while it remains inside Teamcenter’s managed environment. Data files needed for production can be pulled directly at the point of use in a controller or pre-setter.
By providing the shop floor with direct access to the central source of manufacturing data, Shop Floor Connect streamlines and automates DNC processes to create a true “top floor to shop floor” machining data management environment.
Shop Floor Connect provides shop floor operators with direct access to released Teamcenter data. Using job numbers or work package identifiers, operators can locate the correct data files needed for production, including machine programs, tool lists, setup sheets and drawings. Depending on what has been stored as a part of the manufacturing plan and released for use in production, the following can be accessed directly at the machine interface:
When machine programs are created, modified or optimized by the production team, they can be saved and maintained by Teamcenter as new data or revisions to existing data.
Teamcenter workflows and user rules can be defined and implemented, ensuring that processes and SOPs are followed correctly and consistently.
Teamcenter maintains usage logs and generates audit reports, making it easy to understand where and when data was accessed, downloaded or updated and by whom.
Managing machining data within Teamcenter’s secure, controlled environment right up to the point of production helps companies meet even the most detailed regulatory requirements for process accuracy, accountability, traceability and auditing.
Shop Floor Connect can provide a direct connection to each machine on your production floor: CNC machines, CMMs, robots and additive manufacturing machines. Machines are connected via Ethernet or through serial connections using a separately available serial adapter. Most proprietary control systems can be connected. Tool presetters also connect directly to SFC, enabling you to take advantage of tooling and resource information from the Teamcenter database.
Based on HTML5 technology, Shop Floor Connect can be accessed and used on any device, including mobile phones, tablets and/or PCs. The latest user interface is easy-to-use and shares the look and feel of Teamcenter Active Workspace (AWS). Users appreciate the large format buttons and interface elements, which make touchscreens easy and natural to use. In addition, the user interface runs on web-based browser applications that users already understand.
You can install third-party file comparison software within the Shop Floor Connect environment in order to enable users to check and evaluate different versions of their data files.
Users can easily import legacy production data into the Teamcenter database for use on the shop floor by using automatic options that facilitate the loading of tooling data and machine programs.
Our company has been a pioneer in Digital Manufacturing long before the term “Industry 4.0” was coined. Our niche expertise in designing and delivering solutions that bridge the gap between manufacturing engineering and physical manufacturing on the shop floor continues to help our customers realize decreased time-to-market, increased efficiencies, lower production costs and improved process and product quality. Engineering Industries eXcellence is an expert system integrator of complete, end-to-end DNC systems. Our areas of expertise include CAM workflows, PLM integration, and industrial machine and robot connectivity. Our Industries eXcellence experts have experience connecting dozens of different CNC machine makes and models to state-of-the-art DNC systems for machining customers around the world.
