Intelligent Automation
Automation was obviously one of the more important technologies on display at TIMTOS, but companies emphasized more than just bar feeders and robots. Instead, the focus was on intelligent automation — the use of sensors and other digital tools that enable machine cells to adapt to changing parameters. This approach to automation is designed to provide flexibility to the user.
According to Dah Lih Machinery Sales Manager Ricard Wang, “The premise of smart automation is that mechanical equipment must have intelligent capabilities so that it can have intelligent functions such as fault prediction, precision compensation and automatic parameter setting.” For example, his company’s Tool Breakage Monitor tracks the spindle motor for changes in the current load. When the load is abnormal, it automatically stops machining and sounds an alarm.
This kind of system can help avoid scrapped parts during lights-out machining, in addition to making it easier for one operator to serve multiple machines during their shift.
