A new CNC system, the OSP-P500, will be launched by Japanese machine tool manufacturer
Okuma at
EMO Hannover 2023, taking place 18 to 23 September (Hall 15, Stand B36). The smart machine control, which is manufactured in-house, combines highly productive and precise machining with ease of use, energy efficiency and safety features to protect against cyber attacks.
Initially, five-axis machining centres in Okuma’s MU-V series and the MULTUS series of multi-tasking turn-milling machines will be equipped with the new machine control.
NCMT, the sales agent for Okuma in the UK and Ireland, advises that this latest CNC system has twice the computing power of conventional machine controls, shortening cycle times by up to 15%. It is particularly well suited to high-speed machining applications for achieving top quality surface finishes.
The control is equipped with an on-machine ‘digital twin’ to facilitate high-precision simulation of machining processes, reducing set-up times and speeding production. By performing these simulations on the machine itself, production can start immediately afterwards. Alternatively, with a digital twin on a PC, simulation can be carried out offline while production is in progress on the machine.
Even inexperienced users benefit from the advantages of the control due to its user-friendly interface. A Smart OSP Operation function simplifies programming on the shopfloor by providing automatic guidance through all the necessary steps. People without any prior experience can learn how to machine a component in one day.
Featuring a comprehensive security system, the control protects machine processes, programs and data from cyber attacks. Advanced identification of users and encryption of communication according to the OPC-UA standard prevents unauthorised access. Potential for damage can be minimised with specific anti-virus measures, such as a whitelist and functions for the direct identification of counterfeit programs or irregularities. Data backup and recovery functions are also integrated.
Thanks to the integration of Eco Suite Plus, the OSP-P500 reduces power consumption. Smart features record and analyse every operating status as well as CO
2 emissions, switching to energy-saving idling if expedient and automatically adjusting the power drawn by peripherals such as the chip conveyor.
Okuma is gradually launching a range of new Green Smart Machines onto the market, which will provide even more functions for saving energy. These intelligent machine tools will be controlled by the OSP-P500. They are designed to support a reduction of CO
2 emissions by reducing energy consumption, while still ensuring high quality machining.
It is notable that Okuma, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, has been manufacturing its own OSP control system for nearly half that time. It also produces its own drives, encoders and virtually every other component part of its machine tools.