Why Upgrade?
The benefits of upgrading a machine you already own may equal the gains of purchasing new, but at a far lower cost and with faster implementation. You can focus your spending on solving a problem or shortcoming. And don’t be afraid to “Think Small”! Maybe all you need is to replace some obsolete or unreliable circuitry to greatly inprove productivity.
The benefits to a machine tool upgrade can include:
- Shortened cycle times
- Improved machine throughput
- Greater functionality
- Enhanced workpiece adaptability
- Increased machine utilization
- Increased production uptime due to system reliability
- Ease of programming
- Scrap reduction
Any Retrofit or Upgrade plan should consider
Safety, Reliability, and Benefits/Cost.
Safety
Machining is a serious business. Safety should always be the foremost consideration. A CNC control must have the ability to generate an Emergency Stop whenever software or hardware faults occur. Will the upgrade utilize all of the machine’s existing safety features and possibly add new features to reduce dangers?
Reliability
Any benefits of upgrading a machine are useless if the upgrade is unreliable or undependable. For that reason, all new hardware should be designed for a shop environment and software should be stable and reliable.
Benefits/Cost
The true measure of the value is determined by the benefits to cost ratio. Will the upgrade increase productivity enough to justify the cost? Since CNC control features vary widely between makes and models, selecting one that offers the greatest benefits for your application is important.Our Capabilities
AHS has developed packages for specialty machinery applying a variety of new technology components and successfully integrated a variety of controls, including Fanuc, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Dynapath, CamSoft and Centroid.
We have provided CNC controls for Mills and Machining Centers, Turret Lathes, Turret Punches, and Grinders. In addition, we have Simplified and modernized a variety of manual machine controls, utilizing PLC logic and Touch Screen Operator Panels.
We have also applied the same technology to several Specialty Machines; working directly with the machine fabricator.
In each case, the control was chosen to provide a “best-fit” match for the application, the customer’s budget, and the customer’s preference.