Connecting the raw material of data

The evolution of its software allows its products to reach new levels in facilitating and streamlining production, providing total visibility and control of processes. PES reports.

Sheetmetal CAD/CAM and production control software specialist Lantek’s 2019 software release features a number of developments intended to extract and use data generated in the daily operation of factories so that it can be used to optimise processes and analyse data to enable knowledge-based decision making.

In the 2019 release, Lantek says it has included more than 60 new features focused on production management and the integral automation of technology.

“In the current connected world, there is little doubt that data is the raw material that enables progress in manufacturing development, adding value and providing a competitive advantage in the market,” says Asier Ortiz, technical director at Lantek.

“With this in mind, a major part of Lantek’s R&D effort has been aimed precisely at how to obtain quality data from different vectors to allow the integral control and management of any cutting machine and process. This enables us to provide global visibility, raise the production levels and increase agility, while reducing complexity.”

Focusing on its aim to help companies manufacture better and more efficiently, using the latest technological advances such as AI, the Cloud and machine-learning, and to give machines greater connectivity and automation, Lantek Global Release 2019 provides users with the following improvements.

Automation and traceability

Lantek has taken a new step in order to attend to the needs of a market that demands greater efficiency in processes and timesaving on common tasks. Continual collaboration with its clients has resulted in more than 40 general improvements within the Lantek Expert CAD/CAM 2D sheet metal cutting software.

These include innovative technology for managing holes, skeletons, and remnants to assist the operator in the evacuation of finished parts. Automated processes have also been introduced to simplify workflow. By automating tasks, routine processes are combined and nesting groupings can be improved according to the customer’s needs.

To resolve part identification and traceability requirements, Lantek has increased the possibilities within its parts databases so that parts can be marked with QR codes automatically and semi-automatically in addition to marking metal sheets and remnants. This innovation makes it possible to encapsulate the information associated with the part – which may include the operations and characteristics that must be incorporated into the part once it is cut such as colour, processing and bending.

Lantek has also optimised data collection and control capabilities, increasing its cutting machine database, which, at present, includes over 1,200 models from practically every manufacturer on the market, as well as improving the quality of production data collected.

Integration and design

For improved integration and management of 3D models for the cutting and bending process, the 2019 version of Lantek has been enhanced through the integration of the main CAD systems.

This important development increases the possibilities for working with programs and files incorporating all of the main 3D graphic formats that are currently available. The system can now also manage different bending parameters for each operation, such as bend length, bend angle, bend radius, K-factor, special bends, rotation or tool change and is able to generate STL files (which allow for 3D part viewing); DXF files, which can generate CNC code; and LSTC files, with all the bending information.

Flexible tube cutting

The 2019 version incorporates new machine models and includes the latest different methodologies for laser tube cutting. Optimised cutting depends on the mechanical capacity of the machine and, for the operator, simplification of cutting management, management of remnants and the evacuation of the part.

Production planning

Adequate production management and planning is one of the keys to achieving manufacturing success in the factories of the future. Lantek MES incorporates a total of 19 highly significant new features, with the objective of finding new ways to optimise production.

Users will now be able to see production planning fully and in real-time in different views, sequences or Gantt charts, thanks to the new Lantek MES Monitoring module. The simplicity, power, and immediacy of this module keeps daily production always in focus.

Added to this is a series of general efficiency improvements: nesting with sheet metal selection, entire production traceability, data collection and improvement of data quality in more ranges of machines, reports, and filters amongst other enhancements.

Mr Ortiz concludes: “Our only aim with this full repertoire of improvements is to give Lantek solutions new power our customers become more productive. With the data tracking and analysis that we can carry out, we are ready to bring intelligent manufacturing closer to a sector that needs to move towards Industry 4.0 to remain competitive.

“To make this a reality, we have transformed our clients’ needs into powerful manufacturing and management tools. This update is truly worthwhile.”

Lantek www.lanteksms.com/us