Cnc Pallet Changing Systems

Targeting Individual Setup Tasks for Elimination

Zero setup time means a CNC machine consistently goes from job to job with no time in change-over. This can be difficult to achieve for most applications. While it may be possible to achieve zero setup time, it’s probably not feasible. That is, you may find ways to achieve zero setup time but not be able to justify the cost of implementing them. Some machines and applications make it easier to achieve zero setup time than others. For example, I know of more than one company that uses bar-fed CNC turning centers that can go from one job to the next mid bar. They accomplish this with a series of custom macro call statements in the main program—one for each job being run. Each consecutive job is required to use the same cutting tools and bar sizes because one machine is dedicated to each bar size. The first part of the next production run comes out seconds after the last part of the previous production run. Keep in mind that we’re talking about zero setup time for the machine tool. That is, you may be able to achieve—or come close to achieving—zero setup time by doing many of the setup-related tasks offline, while the machine is producing. For example, many horizontal machining centers are part of a flexible manufacturing system—able to go from one job to the next in the time it takes to swap out a pallet. To achieve this, however, several people might be working to keep setups and workpieces loaded on pallets and cutting tools placed in the machine’s automatic tool changer magazine. Again, you may not be able to justify what it takes to achieve zero setup time. However, with a little ingenuity, you may be able to justify the elimination of some setup-related tasks. By eliminating a given task, or moving it offline, you will reduce the time a machine is down between production runs by the amount of time it takes to perform the task during setup.

MSS Lasers Provides Reliable and Affordable Laser Cutting for MPJ ...

MSS Lasers has helped Kenilworth based MPJ Fabrications to optimize the efficiency of its laser cutting machinery at reasonable cost, through its expertise in the technology. MPJ started as a management buy-out of the fabrication workshop of a pump manufacturing company in 2002. With three years of contracts and co-location on the pump manufacturer's site the business prospered. The company used an old Strippit CNC punch press to produce many sheet metal parts, but subcontracted laser cut components. In 2005 it decided to replace the punch press with a laser cutter and was recommended to MSS Lasers in Rugby. Mike Jeffs, Managing Director of MPJ Fabrications says, "MSS Lasers was completely professional. It carried out a site survey, evaluated the type of work we were doing, recommended the most appropriate laser and produced a schedule of works for machine installation. For us, the cost of a new machine was prohibitive, so we needed to find a reliable partner for used machinery." The company started with a pre-owned 2kW LVD Helius machine and then shortly afterwards added a second 3kW Helius. To achieve further efficiency improvements and to cut manufacturing costs, MPJ decided to trade in both machines for a much larger 4kW LVD Axel with pallet changing system and 11m footprint from MSS Lasers. By now, the company had broadened the range of parts it produced, supplying components for specialist vehicle manufacturers, motor sport and even James Bond films! Mike Jeffs adds, "The pallet changing capability of the Axel made a big difference to our efficiency, maximizing the cutting time and minimizing the handling of sheets and components. Service from MSS Lasers ensured the reliability of this pre-owned machine, enabling us to easily meet customer deadlines which can be as little as 4 hours. The installation was seamless too, as MSS Lasers left us with one of the Helius machines until the Axel was up and running.

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