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Cutting Tools 24 MoldMaking Technology —— SEPTEMBER 2017 Tool lifecycle management software manages assemblies of tools typically used in mold and die applications. Assemblies like a milling ballnose can be visualized in 3D, and all items are listed and managed in 3D as well. vendors and applications; and MTConnect, a standard that enables manufacturing equipment to provide data in a struc- tured XML format rather than proprietary formats. These standards are only part of the solution, however. Because it is not just storing the data, but efficiently searching for and finding the right data that is critical, as well as provid- ing that data to other systems that need it. The right tool life- cycle management software should have options that extend from managing the tool crib to interfacing with other systems, such as those for purchasing or CAM programming. Examining the Problem Companies often rely on a CAM system's generic cutting tool models, but they may pay a price for that. How many times have you seen programmers leave their desks and go to the shop floor to ask, "Do we have something like this?" Remember, if your NC programmers can't search the access database for information about the contents of the tool crib, they will need to get up and physically look for the cutting tool or tools in question. The result is lost time. Using actual cutting tool graphics contained in tool lifecycle management software, not generic cutting tool models, takes the guesswork and uncertainty out of cutting tool creation. When individual cutting tool assemblies and items are spe- cifically identified, you can achieve efficient and repeatable accuracy. This will be particularly evident in high-speed mill- ing, where knowledge of cutting tool weight and balance are critical to success. Other questions that arise during cutting tool selection include which tools are best suited for which process steps? Which combinations are most efficient? Tool lifecycle manage- ment software helps designers quickly answer these questions by providing basic information on cutting tools and their potential applications. Along with helping with cutting tool selection for each NC operation, the software stores geome- try and cutting data for each cutting tool assembly, makes 3D tool graphics available for NC and simulation analyses, and saves cutting tool lists from the NC programs for future use. In addition, the recording of cutting data, machining condi- tions and best practices permits the optimization of cutting tool use in future applications. When it comes to presetting, precision is important. Tool lifecycle management software offers presetters access to the nominal data for each cutting tool assembly and then trans- fers the actual measured data back to the software so that the database can be continually fine-tuned. The cutting tool data and NC programs, together with the actual preset tool data, simultaneously are sent to the correct machine via direct numerical control (DNC). Radio frequency identification (RFID) chips are another possibility for transferring tool data to the machine. Machine downtime reduction and damage prevention through elec- tronic generation of machine-specific tool offsets, based on the actual tool data, are two benefits of connecting presetting in your tool lifecycle management software. Centralizing Data Information contained in higher-level systems such as MES often operate as isolated "silos" of data. For example, purchas- ing has its own silo, CAM has its own silo, and tool cribs have their own silo. This means that a great deal of time is wasted recreating data. A central database for that information is needed. It will not replace your purchasing system or CAM system, but tool lifecycle management software can become the easily accessed repository for vital cutting tooling data. You can have one central data point that these systems are directly