Tool management and component scheduling System

TOOLstat is an in depth tool management and component scheduling system comprising different integrated modules to give a fully universal tool and component scheduling system

Recently installed tool management and component scheduling software, from Forelink, the engineering software company in Warrington, at a major UK manufacturer, CP Desoutter in Hemel Hempstead, has contributed to reducing both set-up times on there two CNC machines by more than 50% and current tool spend through rationalisation of similar tools.

The machines are run on a four shift basis and both have 11 pallet pool systems and 210 tool magazines with in the region of 150 various components passing through, so imagine the task that befell Ian Perry, Production Engineer of CP Desoutter every day.

Ian says "Before the software was installed we were reliant on operator knowledge to determine which tools were built, where those tools were stored and what tools needed to be built.

The documented tool set up data we had was thought to be sufficient, but proved to be inadequate and problematic when we had a change of personnel.

With the advent of TOOLstat, all this is now taken care of.

Within a few moments we have all the relevant information available for a given schedule of components that we want to run on these machines." Brian Burridge, Strategic Project Engineer, adds "the system has performed so well we have already purchased an additional seat allowing the operators to relieve Ian of the scheduling function.

We are currently working with Forelink to develop a similar system for use on our Traub Mill/turn centres.

The help from Forelink to ensure the problem free integration of TOOLstat into our work flow was excellent and their willingness to customise the software to meet our demands has been a credit to them".

"Part of that customisation process", explains Forelink's Ronnie Bryan, "was to change the NC program work datum positions automatically from one machine to another, eliminating the need to re-clock and reset the datum positions when changing components from machine to machine enhancing the core purpose of the system which is to reduce set up times.".

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