TOOL

MANAGEMENT
TOOL MANAGEMENT
This is extremely important in automated
manufacturing and It is the right tool to the
right place at the right time which allows the
desired part mix and quantities to be
manufactured while maintaining acceptable
system utilization and minimizing work-in-
process inventory.
Tool Management

To fulfill the tooling requirements of an FMS the

following four areas must be addressed :

1. Tool Room Service

2. Tool Delivery
3. Tool Allocation and Data Flow
4. Fault Sensing
1.Tool Room Service
In Tool room service vast array of perishable tools,
inserts, tool holders, and tool components are
prepared, serviced, organized, and controlled

The information to build tools is based on the part

program requirements of the designated part spectrum
for a given production run.

Tools must be accurately prepared, inspected, and

gauged in a timely manner in order to meet the
stringent FMS production requirements
The principal elements of tool room service :

Buildup and teardown of tool assemblies

Inventory of tools, tool components, and related tool

assembly instructions

Control of idle (returning and least used) tool

assemblies along with determining tool disposition

Actively maintaining NC tool data for the remaining

tool life of returning or idled tool
2. Tool Delivery
Tool delivery is related to moving the tools between the tool room
and the various tool magazines of each machine tool in the FMS. Like
transporting the tools to and from the machine tool requiring these
tools and loading and unloading the tool magazine once the tools
arrive at the machines.

If the demand for tools based on the variety of part mix is high
enough, An automated tool receiver unit receives its commands to
operate (which tools to remove and which ones to add) from a
programmable controller, which receives its information from the FMS
host computer.

An additional tool delivery allows the tool delivery mechanism to

exchange tools, at the rear of the machine tool while the machine
stays in production. This is improves spindle utilization levels required
to run the FMS at optimum production rates.
3. Tool allocation and flow

Tool allocation is essentially assigning and controlling the total

number of tools required for each machine to process the
previously defined FMS part spectrum.

It is based on specific part process plans, NC program and

machining methodology, along with the varying part mix and
volumes that could be running through the system at any given
time.

Controlling the tool data flow relative to the allocated tools

requires that the MCU (machine control unit) receive data about
each tool at the machine. This should assume tool data transfer
from the preset area as tools are automatically gaged, identified,
and entered into the FMS tool system database.
4.Fault Sensing:
Fault Sensing is monitoring and detecting cutting tool problems at
each machine.

This involves electromechanical or optical sensing or detection of

worn or broken tools along with tool absences or misplacements.

Each tool is offset to a contact or non-contact sensor each time it

is used in order to validate tool presence, correctness, and
condition.
If the tool is broken or the tool life has expired, replacements
should he available in the tool magazine.

If any tool fails for any reason, a replacement must be obtained
from the tool room in a timely manlier.
Tool Strategies
1. Mass exchange
2. Tool sharing
3. Tool migration
4. Assigned tools
1. Mass Exchange

The mass-exchange strategy is removing all the tools in each

machine tool matrix at the completion of specific production
requirements and replacing them with the new tools required for
the new part

Every tool needed to manufacture each part coming to that

specific machine in the FMS for manufacture must be provided.

Mass exchange permits tool-exchange control to be minimized at

the expense of an increase in tool inventory.

The mass-exchange strategy is logical and attractive for FMS

applications only where high-volume and low-part variety
workpiece requirements exist.
2. Tool Sharing
The tool-sharing concept permits the logical sharing of tools within
the framework of a fixed production period and work piece
requirements.

Common tooling among the fixed production requirements is

recognized, identified, and shared among the various parts to be
manufactured in the fixed production period.

Since the identified tools to be shared are not duplicated in each

machine’s tool matrix for each work piece type, thereby reduces tool
inventory.

After fulfilling part requirements within the fixed production period,

a new set of tools for the next production period is loaded and
common tooling is again identified.
3. Tool Migration

It is an extension of the mass-exchange and tool-sharing theory. As

various parts are completed, many tools used to manufacture those
parts become available for removal from the tool matrix. Removing
these tools frees tool pockets in the tool matrix and permits other tools
needed for new arriving parts to be loaded,

Tools completing their manufacturing service are removed from the

matrix at the rear of the machine tool and tool matrix, while needed
new tools are inserted in available tool pockets.

The tool-migration strategy permits reducing the tool inventory even

more through sharing between various production periods. In order to
determine this strategy sophisticated computer software and decision
logic is required.
4. Assigned Tools
The three strategies previously discussed assumed that a given set of
work pieces will probably be machined at a specific machine tool.

Machine tools may be grouped, thereby enabling any machine in the

group to manufacture the part. But desiring flexibility among grouped
machines requires duplicate tooling at each of the machines in the
group. The assigned tool strategy can address the need for increased
flexibility among a set or group of machine tools.

This strategy identifies the most-used tools for the production

requirements and part mix and assigns permanent residence to those
tools in each machine tool matrix for the full production run. Tool
migration can then take place with the remaining available pockets.
The flexibility to respond to unplanned events and delays is
considerably enhanced.
TOOL IDENTIFICATION

Automated identification systems are important

because they are reliable, save time, and reduce
human error. The most common of these
identification systems are:
1. Bar Code Scanning
2. Machine Vision
3. Radio Frequency Identification
4. Optical Character Recognition
5. The Microchip
1. Bar Code Scanning
 Bar coding is the most popular form of automatic
identification
 With NC (FMS), bar codes are imprinted on paper or Mylar
and fastened to the tool holder with adhesive or engraved in the
tool. The control unit remembers the pocket where each unique
coded tool was placed.
 Bar codes are made up of binary digits arranged so that the
bars and spaces in different configurations represent numbers,
letters, or other symbols.
 Scanners that read bar codes. The scanner then transforms the
patterns of light and dark into electrical impulses that are
measured by a decoder and translated into binary digits for
transmission to the computer.
2. Machine Vision
 Machine vision is an imaging process involved with
scanning and interpreting objects, documents, or labels.

 Applications would include character reading, sorting by

shape or markings, locating defective parts, inspecting
products, and positioning carts, parts, or pallets.
3. Radio Frequency Identification

This employs bidirectional radio signals as the

encoding medium and is widely used to provide hands-
free access control.

Radio-frequency identification offers solutions to

application problems in industrial automation and
material handling where there is no line of direct sight
between the scanner and the identification plate or tag.
4. Optical Character Recognition

 Optical character recognition utilizes human readable letters

and numerals, rather than the lines and bars of bar coding, that
are scanned with a light source. When a particular pattern is
recognized by the scanner, the data are converted to electronic
impulses for transmission to the computer.
5. The Microchip

 Microchip identification employs the use of a microchip

embedded in a sealed capsule that can be inserted in the tool
holder.

 This system uses a non-contact read-only head that can he

attached to tool changers, presetting fixtures, or tool grippers.
Reading can occur at a distance of up to 0.080 inch, and the read
time is less than 50 milliseconds, with an allowable 0.120 inch
misalignment.

 The microchip can also be off-line with the tool identification

and other dimensional data. The embedded microchip can he read
by a proximity sensor to identify each tool.