Oliver Eckstein

Making huge amounts of data manageable for seamless monitoring in CNC production

Episode 61 of the IoT Use Case Podcast is about digitizing the machining of metallic workpieces with CNC-controlled machine tools. Two practical examples are discussed in this episode: one use case from the monitoring of single-part production and one from repetitive manufacturing. The application example from series production comes from the automotive sector. It will be shown how processes are monitored and quality management is optimized with IIoT at Siemens’ own engine factory in Bad Neustadt. Have the components been correctly inserted into the clamping device? Is the quality of the gear right? Does the torque of the tool spindle fit or are there anomalies? – these are all processes that can be seamlessly mapped. The second use case comes from single-part production in the aerospace industry. This is about titanium machining of aircraft landing legs. This complex milling process is mapped completely digitally in order to detect errors in the part program and deviations from the nominal geometry and avoid them before costly iteration loops occur. Mapping the huge component in the virtual world helps to search (for causes) of quality defects and reduces immense costs. The linchpin of the solution is the so-called Industrial Edge for Machine Tools – an IPC that’s directly in the machine’s control cabinet and preprocesses the data. It enables high-frequency data access and analysis to optimize workpiece quality and productivity. For example, old machines can be retrofitted with connectivity by having the tool act as a kind of converter, turning old interfaces into new ones, such as OPC UA. Madeleine Mickeleit’s guests in this episode: Oliver Eckstein (Product Manager Industry Software for Machine Tool Digitalization, Siemens) Bjoern Rosenbaum (Product Manager Industry Software, Siemens)