FOUR-POSITION TOOL CHANGER ELIMINATES WAIT TIME IN MACHINING
Toyoda Machinery (Arlington Heights, IL) is the only manufacturer that offers a four-position tool changer or revolver within the tool magazine on its machining centers equipped with Matrix Magazines. The four-position tool changer greatly maximizes machine productivity and cycle time.
By staging tools in the revolver for the current part process, time usually lost waiting for pocket index is virtually eliminated. Toyoda's large capacity Matrix Magazines allow storage for multiple part processing and additional back up tooling as required. This reduces those time-consuming trips to the tool room. Toyoda's design benefits customers with shorter cycle times and greater process flexibility.
How does it work? When the part program starts, tools in the magazine are called in process order and staged in the revolver, indexing in as needed during the part process cycle. As soon as a tool completes its cycle it transfers back into the magazine to its assigned pocket. Any ready tool waiting for a place in the revolver will then be transferred to the open pocket in the revolver.
All this flexibility needs strong software to oversee tool management. Toyoda's OP Supporter Software provides tool management and a convenient overview of all the tools within the magazine at the machine CNC screen. This Toyoda Machinery proprietary software monitors tool time usages, keeps track of the TLS (Tool Loading Station), revolver, back up tools and all stored tools while the machine is still running.
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