Coventry-based NUM (UK) Ltd (www.num.com) has released new software for its latest-generation Flexium+ CNC platform; this places a tool management system at the disposal of manufacturers operating multiple CNC machine tools and can be used for complex high-end milling applications, as well as high-speed machining in the mould-and-die market.

Forming part of the latest version of NUM’s Flexium+ software (V4.1.00.00), the tool management facility provides an accessible database that can either be installed on a server platform (for use with multiple CNC machine tools in a large production plant) or on a single CNC machine.

The software includes PLC libraries, as well as dedicated CNC functions and HMI pages.

A large number of tools of different types can be accommodated — including those for turning, milling and boring — in standard, medium or large sizes.

‘Duplo tools’ with identical cutting characteristics are also supported, as are different types of tool magazine — such as disk, chain or rack.

New tool characteristics are managed at maximum speed and feed rate, while tool life can be monitored by time, by wear or by the number of operations.

Pre-emptive warning messages are generated automatically, whenever specified limits are approached.

NUM’s latest software provides a comprehensive set of extensions for tool characteristics.

In addition to standard items such as the name, type and number of cuts (as many as 18 can be specified), extensions are also provided to handle numerous other factors, including magazine size, life management, maximum speeds, and status/warning indicators.

The software also offers advanced NCK (numerical control kernel) features such as a large-block look-ahead capability (in excess of 1,000), together with short NCK cycle times.

NUM says the system is easy to use and requires no special software tools. Customers simply use the company’s Flexium Tools software to extend the scope of their project to the database server.

A full set of API functions is included to implement all necessary tool operations, together with a number of dedicated functions in NCK firmware.