b'Use automation and digitization for maximum quality and sustained success in the setup of tooling assemblies.By Brendt HoldenH ow does a shop that makes 4,000 toolholders a day effec-tively manage the toolholder as-sembly process to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible? In addition, how does the business manage to do the work in a con-sistent, accurate manner without depending on the ever-shrinking trained workforce available today?Most people think about adding automation to the parts productionAt IMTS 2022, Haimer showed a shrink-side of a manufacturing operation,fit and presetting Automation Cube, and this is of course a good thing towhich can incorporate a balancing look at in general to become moremachine if required.efficient. However, how many compa-nies look at the toolroom as a placeHaimerwhere automation can play a key role in reducing costs and eliminat- Efficient machining demands pow- denced by manufacturing facilities at ing human interaction with the pro- erful machines and tools, as well asthe headquarters in Igenhausen and cess while still providing the most ac- high-precision toolholding technol- in Motzenhofen, which is just six min-curate, consistent toolholder assem- ogy, which ensures that the precisionutes away. Motzenhofens production bly in the production each and everyof the spindle is transferred from theplant in particular, which has been time? spindle to the cutting edge, said An- operating since 2018, was equipped Igenhausen,Germany-baseddreas Haimer, managing director offrom the beginning with numerous Haimer GmbH, an innovative globalHaimer GmbH. automated machining centers.player in tool management for ma- That statement has many yearsIf, like us, you depend on a very chine tools, asked itself this exactof experience behind it. The com- high level of in-house production question for its own production, andpany started 45 years ago as a ma- completely made in Germany, or for it is convinced that production engi- chining service provider for the aero- other shops manufacturing in other neering needs to advance by imple- space and die mold industry andhigh-cost manufacturing markets, menting automation and digitization.soon began to develop high-preci- Andreas Haimer said, there is no way (Haimer USA LLC is in Villa Park, Illi- sion toolholders for its own use. you can avoid extensive digitization nois.) This development is an estab- and automation. Otherwise we would lished part of Haimers own produc- Necessity of Automation not be able to keep up economically tion and also has found its way into theHaimer also has ample experiencewith our global competitors.product range: from Industry 4.0-ca- in automation. The Bavarian familySoft machining of toolholders is pable devices all the way up to the Au- company decided to equip its ma- carried out in Motzenhofen, along-tomation Cube robotic cell, which canchine tools with robots for loadingside all precision components for be scaled as required and is suitableand unloading over 20 years ago.shrink-fit and balancing machines, in-for automated shrinking, presettingSince then, automation at the com- cluding accessories. Up to 4,000 ro-and balancing. pany has advanced swiftly as evi- tating toolholders can be turned and 30JANUARY 2023ToolPresetting.indd 30 12/15/22 1:38 PM'