Machine Tool Bench Mapping for Automatic Tool Location Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in managing tools in machine tools, specifically the reduction of work efficiency due to the manual transportation of tools between machining and tool-change areas, leads to increased downtime and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A tool management device that includes a data storage unit for storing tool information and tool-bench information, a tool management unit for updating data, and a reception unit for receiving detachment notifications, which automatically updates the tool location from the machine tool to a corresponding tool bench, utilizing an automatic transfer machine to facilitate tool transfer between areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual transportation of tools between machining and tool-change areas is used, then workers can physically move tools, but work efficiency is reduced and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool management system enables automatic tracking and management of tools through sensors and communication units. The system self-updates tool location information and sends notifications without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing downtime associated with manual tool tracking and transportation coordination.
2Loss of information
If manual tool tracking is used, then workers can monitor tool locations, but the complexity of manual management increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated electronic system comprising sensors, communication units, and a management server. This substitution eliminates the complexity of manual record-keeping while significantly improving tool location tracking accuracy through automated data collection and real-time updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of tool location information through sensors and stores them in a database. This digital replication allows multiple users and systems to access accurate tool location data simultaneously without the risks of manual recording errors, thereby improving tracking accuracy while reducing manual management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool management device includes a data storage unit for storing (i) tool information including a location of a tool and (ii) a tool-bench information including at least a correspondence between a machine tool and a tool bench, a tool management unit for changing data in the tool information, and a reception unit for receiving a detachment notification when a tool is detached from the machine tool. If the detachment notification is received, the tool management unit changes the location of the tool in the tool information from (a) the machine tool to (b) the tool bench corresponding to the machine tool in the tool-bench information.