ZOLLER | MAGAZINE 2018 EDITION

Set-up Times Minimized, Cutting Performance Increased by Up to 15 Percent “In particular for the big machines, that have a six to seven hour run time and that use up to 60 tools for one work- piece, the setup times added up; [especially] when the specialists had to also spend time looking for the tools,” explains Planning Engineer Florian Niggemeier. A combi­ nation of external tool presetting and management has reduced set-up times at ANFOTEC significantly today, since there’s no need to look for tools and setup can be completed in parallel to machining operations. “The orga- nization is tip top, and the success is apparent: We have between ten and fifteen percent more cutting perfor- mance,” confirms CEO Hast. “The specialist fits the tool changer, checks all the technologically relevant settings once more, and the machine runs. Before, our specialists set up everything on the machine themselves. The ZOLLER system’s setup sheets are a major advantage, especially for repeat parts. 20–50 Percent Lower Tool Costs A separate position was set up to design the tool manage- ment – all of the components and complete tools were systematically recorded and a transparent process flow was developed, from creation to follow-up orders. “Today, over 1,200 complete tools and more than 2,000 single components have already been created in the ZOLLER tool management system” explains Niggemeier. All tools are managed centrally; thanks to the ZOLLER warehouse man- agement, they can also be found immediately in the cabi- net. The “Ordering” module allows tools to be re-ordered at just the right time. “Of course, when you’re introducing a tool management system you have to do some internal work winning over employees, getting rid of habits, and involving employees right from the start” says Niggemeier. Tool management combined with a reduced supplier di- versity drastically lowered tool costs. “It really paid off,” summarizes Christian Hast, “the costs in purchasing were cut by almost half in the first year!” Today, a savings of 20- 30 percent over the initial prices has resulted. More Productivity – Safely and Easily The switch to ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions has paid off in the area of prototype manufacturing. Valuable tools are produced here using expensive machines. Specialists benefit not only from fast setup times, but also from additional safety at the machine during unmanned cutting. Narrow tolerances have been established for tool presetting. If these are not complied with, the tool is never approved for the machine. “The user interface of the ZOLLER presetting and measuring machine is very easy to operate. Guidance through the measuring process is great; even a non-machinist can preset and measure a tool using the »venturion«” explains Hast. Nothing goes wrong anymore; machine crashes caused by tools are a thing of the past. The Future Will Be Even Better “The success is there – but of course we can still expand on it. The interface to the CAM system ‘SolidCam,’ for ex- ample, still isn’t being used to its full extent. And we are also going to take a closer look at data transmission from the presetter to the machines, above all the new »zidCode« solution ZOLLER offers,” says ANFOTEC’s Managing Director of the company’s future outlook. They have already achieved their most important goal: faster retooling plus safety in relation to the tool and much shorter lead times. Today, ANFOTEC focuses on production, not setup. “The organization is tip top, and the success is apparent: We have between 10 and 15 percent more cutting performance.” Christian Hast, Managing Director of ANFOTEC Antriebstechnologie GmbH COVER STORY 34 Z.magazine 2018