Germany: 1,900 people visit CHIRON Open House 2016

Along with a comprehensive program of presentations, they were offered a major exhibition with fifty machining centers – including many innovations – doing live demonstrations. For the first time all the companies within the CHIRON Group presented their own machines – in addition to the host, the machine builders STAMA and SCHERER Feinbau as well as the retrofitting experts CMS. In addition, thirty co-exhibitors showed products and services from the entire milling process chain.

All visitors were personally looked after by CHIRON employees and guided through the in-house exhibition. Many prospective customers took the opportunity to discuss concrete projects right there.

Digitally enhanced machining solutions: New version of DataLine, the software for manufacture optimization

Under the heading "Digitally enhanced machining solutions" CHIRON presented technologies and applications on the subject of Industry 4.0 at the Open House.

At the center of this was a new version of CHIRON DataLine, a communication and monitoring program that allows remote monitoring of CNC machining centers, analysis of data and optimization of production processes.

In the current version, which was shown at the Open House, the program can be used with any browser-enabled device, including PC, smart phone and tablet.

The monitoring and diagnostic tool gives the user a continuous overview of the most important data, such as machine status, the status of the manufacturing processes, productivity or the number and quality of the produced workpieces. If the user finds deviations, he can quickly optimize the corresponding parameters. In the event of a malfunction, DataLine immediately sends a message that tells the user the cause, so he can quickly eliminate it.

The data is gathered and analyzed by DataLine in real time by numerous apps that enable the communication between machine, tool, raw part, operating materials and, for example, measuring technology.

The tool can be used on the majority of machine tools which are equipped with the current controllers from Siemens, Heidenhain or Fanuc. This allows convenient monitoring and controlling by DataLine of all machine tools in a production unit. DataLine is also open for customer and user-specific additions, since apps from other manufacturers can also be integrated.

Simulation for optimization of process procedures with CHIRON ProcessLine

Another important component of the "Digitally enhanced machining solutions" is the CHIRON ProcessLine program. It is used for the convenient, realistic and fast simulation of manufacturing processes on a machining center during the planning of turnkey projects. The use of automated processes enables the programming times to be shortened by up to 90 percent.

ProcessLine brings together geometry, kinematics and dynamics of a real CHIRON machining center with all its functionalities into a continuous virtual process chain. It maps all of the machine tool's CNC machining together with the automation solution. By simulating the process procedures, the manufacturing can be reliably optimized and precisely planned just as it is to subsequently run on the CHIRON machining center.

Many new machines and complete system from SCHERER and CHIRON

A number of innovations could be seen among the 50 machining centers that were doing live demonstrations. Along with the completely re-engineered series 12 and 18, CHIRON showed the new FZ08 MT precision plus for greater accuracy and the MILL 2000 high dynamics with new dynamics package.  

A collaboration between CHIRON and SCHERER Feinbau could also be seen at the Open House: an interface-free complete system from a single source for the highly efficient, automated and twin-spindle turning and milling of cylinder head components.

The integration of the successful manufacturer of vertical turning machines has expanded CHIRON's know-how for production solutions that involve turning. The company, headquartered in the Franconian town of Alzenau, recently became wholly owned by the CHIRON Group.

Presentation of Trumpf Managing Director Dr. Prokop about Industry 4.0

With the lecture "Get connected – Production in Transition" by Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Prokop, member of the management board of Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH and Chairman of the VDW, the program of events reached its peak on Thursday. Many guests took the opportunity to learn about developments and successes of Trumpf concerning topic of Industry 4.0.