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Their team isn’t using geometry groups. By utilizing geometry groups properly they can streamline toolpath creation and potentially save several hours per project by reducing total number of steps.
Potential Improvement: 10% reduction in programming time
· Programming style is out of date. By updating their programming style, they’ll see improved programming time (less clicks) and toolpath efficiency with cleaner toolpaths that look at solid model and limits potential crashes.
Potential Improvement: 15-20% reduction in overall programming
· Not using master model approach effectively.
Potential Improvement: 5-10% reduction in programming time
· Poorly imported surfaces.
Potential Improvement: 60-70% reduction in programming time for complex surfaces
· Not using CAD to modify geometry for manufacturing.
· Lack of Synchronous Modeling
PHASE TWO: Programmer Mentoring and Methods Improvement
Next up in our plan is phase 2, which has our team members returning for onsite mentorship for five days. We’ll provide over-the-shoulder assistance as needed to their current projects, specifically when it comes to Feature Based Machining (FMB) creation and template creation. We’ll also help with data set & programming transition in greater detail and give recommendations for template creation and streamlining. Issues fixed in phase 2 are:
· Overly complex NX component file structures.
Potential Improvement: 30% reduction in programing setup
· Not using FBM for similar features, pockets, holes.
Potential Improvement: 75-90% programming reduction on features with hundreds/thousands of similar features
· Improper standardization.
Potential Improvement: new programmer onboarding & training reduced from days to hours
· Under-utilization of templates
· Continue the master model refinement from phase 1
PHASE THREE: Process Automation
Finally, our phase 3 plan would spin out of the results of phases 1 and 2, giving us a chance to provide a more detailed assessment. Without giving away too many details, a short-list of items in phase 3 could focus on:
· Tool list is currently in an external database
· Currently using many GRIP routines.
· Not using custom environments
· NX machine simulation
We here at Applied CAx have helped a number of customers who have reached “artificial ceilings.” Utilizing our experience, staff of trained professionals, and our own in-house manufacturing experience, Applied CAx has developed our Audit/Remedy Practice specifically target to stalled processes. We help companies assess their situation and identify the low cost/high return changes that blast through these artificial ceilings and gain new levels of productivity and competitiveness. Expect no less, after all, we do this everyday.