MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Tool Management System records tool life online

Tooling costs typically represent an important share of the total production cost in fastener manufacturing. Despite this, many producers have very imprecise information about true tool life and available stock, resulting in high tooling cost and reduced availability.

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new Tool Management System by Schwer + Kopka GmbH tracks all tooling – starting with the receipt of new tools through rework and final disposal. This includes tracking the tools through all stages of the manufacturing process,

from delivery and inventorying, through preparation of the tool set and delivery to the machine for production. In addition, most machines are equipped with modern process monitoring systems, which are also used to record tool changes and automatically register the exact tool life and report it back to the main data server online. “When a tool has reached the end of its life due to wear or breakage,

the operator reports the tool change at their machine terminal. When the new tool is signed in (e.g by scanning a code or selecting the tool from a list) the old tool is automatically deleted including its production ‘life’. At the same time, the tool set currently installed in the machine is updated. All data collected provides detailed reports on true tool consumption, tool cost, and delivers reliable data for future tooling needs. The required tool set for the next job is now delivered complete – reducing waiting times at the machine.”