Cell Control Solutions

Upgrade your Makino MMC automated pallet control system with a CNC Engineering designed and integrated Cell Control retrofit solution. Each Cell Control package includes a new Fanuc Powermate i-D control system and Open Vision™ Cell Control Software. An improved operator interface and up-to-date hardware mean easier operation and less downtime, as well as better access to support, service and parts if needed.

CNC Engineering’s Open Vision™ Cell Control Software package was customized to meet the needs of current Makino MMC operators. We’ve emulated existing MMC functionality in an easy-to-use, industrial PC-based, touch screen environment.

Features include:

User-friendly HMI: The graphical user interface of Open Vision™ Cell Control Software allows the operator to easily set and view the status of the pallets and pallet stations. Pallets can easily be marked as “Ready to Load” and their load priority can be easily set or changed to alter the order in which pallets are processed.

Improved Pallet Placement: Makino’s MMC system required a pallet to be moved to the workstation before it could be marked as “Ready to Load” and made available to the machine. This is no longer necessary, as any pallet can be moved directly to the machine from any pallet station.

Flexible Workstation Settings: The original MMC configuration designated two pallet stations as workstations, therby limiting the number of potential pallet stations. The funtionality of these two stations can now be determined by the operator and set with a simple click of the mouse (or touch of the screen). These stations can be designated, independently, as either a pallet station or a workstation.

Home/Random Pallet Placement: The new “Random” configuration setting allows the operator to specify whether a pallet can be moved to any available pallet station, rather than having to be moved to its specific, “Home” station. The “Random” configuration can result in faster Cell Control operation and increased spindle utilization.

Direct Machine-to-Worksation Pallet Placement: Another new configuration setting allows the operator to specify that pallets should be moved directly to any available workstation upon being removed from the machine. This allows the operator to more easily access the processed pallet and perform any post-machining operations.

Manual Machine Functions: The system’s Operator Panel allows the operator to move the shuttle in MPG and Jog modes. It also allows the operator to raise and lower the pallet on the shuttle. These functions provide a way of manually moving pallets from station-to-station, including the load station, without being in Auto mode. They also aid in the setup of the machine.

Improved Setup Procedure: Using the manual mode of the Operator Panel, the system’s setup screen allows for capturing the shuttle’s position at the press of a button. This means quick and easy establishment of the shuttle position at each of the pallet stations, should a change be necessary due to mechanical changes or repositioning of the stations.

Diagnostics/Troubleshooting: Access to the Fanuc control ladder, settings and other diagnostic tools is provided through the use of Fanuc HSSB-based software, including the Ladder Editing Package and CNC Screen Display. This access will help in any problem resolution or changes that may be required in the future.

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