Num debuts CNC open-source communications interface

NUM has introduced the NUMConnect, a new communications interface option for the company’s CNC systems.

 

Fully compliant with the open MTConnect interoperability standard, the interface can work with both new and existing systems. It simplifies the integration of CNC machine tools with third-party manufacturing management software and enables users to implement productivity-enhancing real-time data collection and retrieval facilities for production monitoring and analysis.

 

 

CNC machine tool builders can use the NUMConnect to provide uncompromised connectivity for manufacturing data, thereby adding value to products very easily and cost-effectively. 

 

Although more manufacturers are using data from CNC machine tools on the shop floor to improve production efficiency, the lack of a vendor-neutral data communication standard posits a problem because the solutions for collecting and retrieving manufacturing data are proprietary. Furthermore, most CNC systems adopt a closed architecture and only provide a data link with their PLC, which limits data collection to the PLC’s scan rate. Besides being inflexible, this requires custom client software for each machine type.

 

The open-architecture hardware and software of Num’s CNC systems provide machine builders with unlimited customization opportunities and simplifies machine integration. These also render the systems widely popular for educational applications. Several leading universities currently use Num’s products to enable engineering students to learn CNC technology and advanced machining techniques.

 

Num Corporation general manager Steven Schilling said the company aims to use open, industry standard interfaces wherever practicable.  “The new NUMConnect interface option is a case in point. We believe that MTConnect-compliant communications will become widespread, to the point where the technology will be regarded as the ‘Bluetooth of manufacturing’,” he said. 

 

“NUMConnect will help our customers, who tend to be small to medium-sized OEMs, to compete with some of the larger players in the market by producing CNC machine tools that are ready for the trend towards even smarter manufacturing,” Mr. Schilling added.

 

Visit Num at TIMTOS 2015 at booth M0128 (4th floor) in the Taipei’s Nangang Exhibition Hall from March 3-8.