The Future of Special Milling Tools

​A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

A machine shop periodically has their machining center spindles tap-tested with an artifact for tracking spindle health as part of their PM programs.

The shop is bidding on a new job that requires a special milling tool. They send a RFQ for the new tool to one or more manufacturers with a copy of their last artifact test for the target machine.

The tooling manufacturers create both a CAD & FEA model for use with their Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA) software. They proactively tweak their design, virtually, to tune it to the machine’s artifact measurement & maximize performance. They provide price, delivery and a Dashboard predicting how the tool will run in that machine. The shop makes its purchase decision based not on the lowest tool price, but on the lowest cost per cubic inch removed.

The shop uses the Dashboard to write a program & accurately bid on the project. They win and place the order for the new tool. Once received, they tap-test the tool in the machine for the final for-production Dashboard & uncover a few additional percentage points of profit.  It works first time right. No need for tool revisions or risk it won't make the quoted time.

FYI - All of this tech is available now, not in the future.