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The role of numerical control and automation is essential

Increasing the flexibility and productivity in veneer cutting

Ramon Urizar11/06/2013

Tecoi, specialist in the design and manufacture of cutting machines, found in the signature Fanuc to be the ideal partner to develop innovative and highly competitive production systems and machines. Fundamental has been the role of numerical control and automation, to achieve the objectives set in its own strategy of company.

The signature Tecoi founded in the year 1995 in the heart of the Valley of Sabero de León, like result of the unification of a skilled factory in the manufacture of automatic machines and of an engineering devoted to the development of technological solutions for the sector of the metal. Fruit of this integration between technological resources and humans is the constant bet by the innovation and design typical of all his machines and components.

Initially devoted to the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of tables and industrial machines for the cut of metals by plasma and oxicorte. Later it expanded the range with the machines of cut by laser and the combined machines of cutting and mechanised of sheet and manufacturing of edges for welding.

To give a solution to the real problems of his customers, in Tecoi have resorted to the machines of mechanised by start of shaving realising operations of taladrado, threaded rigid and milling.

The last generation of machines of mechanised arose like an improvement of the process of cut, being complementary to the previous. In some applications of manufacturing of edges for welding and for determinate industries owe to fulfil some determinate specifications. For example, in the wind sector, does not suit to realise the manufacturing of edges by thermal sensors means since it produces a warming and can vary the properties of the material. Thus and to give a solution to these real problems of his customers, have resorted to the machines of mechanised by start of shaving realising operations of taladrado, threaded rigid and milling. It is necessary resaltar that all the machines that produce at present, have a high degree of personalización in function of the requests of each customer.

An ally to win

Precisely when having to go implementing to his greater machines provision arises the need to instrument them with controls that resolve them and govern them with precision and reliability. In this moment, is when it arises the alliance with Fanuc, that today day is a strong point in the strategy of the company. “It chose to this mark -aim Jorge Rodríguez, CEO of Tecoi-, mainly by the capacity of his control and by the flexibility regarding the government of different applications like the one to realise works of bevel-edged. When implanting a cabezal of bevel-edged in our machines, these had some more demanding requests that did not resolve the controls used until then. It needed a numerical control with greater provision and more powerful for comandar a series of functions eat: the cut with bevel, realise the control of height of the sheet, improve the precision of the motors and the own coordination of movements with 6 axles, etc.”.

At present all the machines that produce in Tecoi have a high degree of personalización in function of the requests of each customer.

In this field, Fanuc contributed his wide experience in controlling operations of mechanised to the ones of cutting that already dominated Tecoi. It attained a perfect tandem. With a same numerical control of high provision, the 31i, govern the operations of plasma and oxicorte, cutting by laser and the ones of mechanised, mainly taladrado, threaded rigid and milling.

“Besides, —comments Marcos Fernández, director of shopping of Tecoi—, has optimised the productive process of the machines since it has happened to assemble previously a CN in forty hours to do it now, in hardly six”. Another strong point of the controls Fanuc is his extreme simplicity of utilisation and of programming.

In Tecoi has developed an own software very versatile and intuitive: CISCAD. His main characteristic is the capacity to work applying distinct qualities of satisfied cutting the type of cut to realise. In this way, can cut holes with distinct speed and control of height that the outlines. The software CISCAD fits perfectly with the functions of the control Fanuc that contributes big reliability to the group. Likewise, they use other programs for gestión of sheets, sheltered automatic, gestión of works, parametric developments of boilerworks, gestión of costs, etc.

“The advantage to have a control like the 31i, is that we mount it so much in the machines produced by us as in which we reconvert” add Marcos.

Another essential service is undoubtedly the learning and learning of the personnel, that Fanuc ensures with necessary intensity to the equal that the service and technical assistance.

With a same numerical control of high provision, the 31i, govern the operations of plasma and oxicorte, cutting by laser and the ones of mechanised, mainly taladrado, threaded rigid and milling.

The challenge of the competitiveness

But in the industrial world does not suffice only with knowing do well a machine and at good cost, has to innovar and do it more competitive. In this type of combined machines with a big production begin to arise problems in the load and download of the material losing time in these operations. It has to to procure have stopped the machine the minimum possible time and shorten the cycle of work to increase the productivity. In this context, Tecoi has gone back to trust Fanuc. They have supplied them a robot to realise the load and download of pieces and the automation of the process. For the download of the pieces finished have developed a harp with 40 independent suckers to incorporate to the robot and that depending on the pieces that are, the control has of the precise information and proceeds of automatic form to take them and paletizarlas before packing them. In the case of the pieces cut with bevel do not go out directly and has to to realise, besides, a small manoeuvre to take them and apilarlas. Before taking each piece happen him to the robot the data of the same to know which type of piece is and what windy has to to activate to collect it.

“Sure enough, aims Rodríguez, in our case with Fanuc the tarpaulin has been double, as by a part have had his support in the implantation of numerical controls of high provision for our range of machines and by another have been able to incorporate in the process a robot of load and download that shortens the time of the cycle and increases of significant form his productivity”.

Fanuc Also have supplied them a robot to realise the load and download of pieces and the automation of the process.

The automation of the process has reported diverse improvements. Especially in the optimisation and the standardisation of the productive process that has allowed to keep constant the time of the cycle and therefore the performance of the implantation; as well as improve the conditions of work of the operario.

But although the product of Tecoi has matured a lot the challenge follows here. Continuously they have to develop new functions to resolve new needs, trying increase speeds, increase productions, etc. still exist possibilities of improvement that this technological tandem of companies: Tecoi – Fanuc will go discovering and implementing day in day out, together in profit of the sector metalmecánico. The market, in addition to a competitive price, sues flexibility, capacity of innovar, reliability and quality and working in this line, are safe that the answer will be useful and fast.