POSTED ON 7/24/2020 – Since the dawn of computer science more than two centuries ago, one thing has remained constant: Programming and data entry are tougher than they look. From the first computers’ punch cards to today’s programming languages, a single, minor error can mean the difference between a functional program and a crashed computer. And when a buggy program is run on a CNC machine tool, it likely won’t just be the computer that crashes.
In the decades since manufacturing entered the digital age, OEMs like Mazak continue to develop a comprehensive range of solutions to simplify programming, including MAZATROL conversational programming. Unfortunately, setting up a machine requires more than creating or uploading a part program – in many cases, tool data, coordinate data and machining parameters need to be entered separately, and every time an operator manually inputs data into a control, it increases the risk of human error. Even in the best case scenario, with an expert machinist flawlessly entering in the relevant data, it still adds minutes to setup time, eating into the profitability of the process.
With the introduction of the next-generation MAZATROL SmoothAi CNC and the MAZATROL TWINS suite of software solutions, Mazak has made it easier than ever to avoid issues created by data entry while simultaneously simplifying setup time. This is made possible by SMOOTH Project Manager and SMOOTH CAM Ai, parts of MAZATROL TWINS that allow for the easy sharing of data between machines and CAD/CAM software from a connected PC for a total data management solution.