MACHINE CONTROLS
Simplifying Machining Tasks Previewed at FANUC’s open house in Japan and unveiled at EMO Milan in 2015, the latest look from FANUC America included its new HMI for the company’s line of CNC controls. The new HMI is scheduled for official roll- out in early 2016 and the system is said to be much more than a cosmetic face lift, according to FANUC, with completely redesigned hardware and a user interface featuring a flatter design with ergonomically positioned keys. FANUC’s new look coordinates
across the entire line, with the same user view on its entry-level 0i-F CNC all the way to its high-end 30iB series controls.
“The HMI itself is a new take, with better graphics, better transi- tions—it’s better from the operator’s perspective,” said Paul Webster, CNC engineering manager, FANUC America Corp. (Rochester Hills, MI). “The consistency of Fanuc’s always been a strength.” The new HMI has a more- friendly look, with a Home screen, he added, and built-in cycles that are aimed at job shops. “The built-in cycles just help you through the standard G- code cycles, telling you in a graphical way what to do,” Web- ster said. “It makes it easier to create programs in standard G code. The new HMI is also coming with a new look. The plastic’s a darker, deeper color, and the keyboards are more of a flush surface. It modernizes the whole look.”
“You’ve got basically an industrial iPad controlling the machine tool.”
Maximum usability is the foundation of the Max5 CNC that
was introduced in August 2015 by Hurco Companies Inc. (Indianapolis). Packed with features, the Max5 control includes a keypad that is adjustable up to 90°, a 19" LCD screen with touch-screen navigation that includes a second folding auxil- iary screen with die-cast stainless hinges, which is standard on most models in the company’s 65-model lineup.
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“I think today’s machinists are looking for a control that is easy to learn, quick to set up, and that will offer them some flexibility in the way that they program their parts,” said Michael Cope, Hurco product techni- cal specialist, CMTSE. “Not all jobs are suited for conversational pro- gramming, just like not all jobs require the need for programming in NC with CAD/CAM software. Just like machinists need many different types of tools in their toolbox, they also like to have many different features and benefits in the machine controls that they program and operate. The right control, especially for shops that manufacture a high mix of parts, will provide the versatility for the ma- chinist to determine the best way to approach the part.”
Photo courtesy FANUC America Corp.
The FANUC line of machine controls now feature touchscreens with a new HMI complete with a Home screen and built-in cycles aimed at job-shop applications.
Snazzy interfaces for CNCs are not an afterthought these days. Okuma’s open-architecture Win- dows PC-based OSP-P300 machine control has had an easily operated touch-screen interface now for a
number of years, noted Okuma’s Kosmala. “Everyone is switching to a new interface to control a machine tool,” Kosmala said. “People are attracted to the smartphone type of interface. When people walk up to any machine tool, im- mediately they’re saying to themselves ‘Yes, I can run this’ or ‘No, I’m going to need training.’ The younger generation is saying ‘Yes’ to machines with soft screens that look like something familiar.” CNC controls are an ever-evolving platform for machining,
said Wayne Nelson, eastern region manager, Fagor Automa- tion Corp. (Elk Grove Village, IL). “Among the features getting the most attention are simplifying the HMI and operator interface,” Nelson said. “Fagor Automation knows that the HMI and operator experience can always be improved for specific applications. The control has to have the ability to be custom tailored for and by the integrator or even the in-depth applications and service personnel.” This is not an option, Nelson said, but a standard feature of Fagor’s line of CNCs including the models 8055, 8060, 8065 and 8070.
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