IMTS OMAC meeting focuses on CNC productivity

By Control Engineering Staff August 24, 2006

Interested in computer numerical control (CNC) efficiencies for machine tools? There’s a lot to learn at the upcoming International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Sept. 6-13, including an OMAC Machine Tool Working Group meeting on Sept. 11, 1-3:30 p.m.

OMAC Machine Tool Working Group is charged with maximizing the business value of discrete part machinery by providing automation guidelines, developing best practices, and assisting in international standards development for end-users, control vendors, and OEMs, says Sid Venkatesh, technical chair of that working group (and also with Boeing). OMAC stands for open, modular architecture control.

“We want to thank the continued participation from end-users, CNC controller vendors, CAD/ CAM [computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing] suppliers, and CNC OEMs for their support of OMAC-endorsed best practices through their products and practices,” Venkatesh says. “We always welcome new participants to join OMAC as this is a great chance to network with fellow technology enthusiasts, form valued industry partnerships, and create new business opportunities,” he adds.

This meeting is expected to cover the group’s continuing efforts for STEP-NC standardization and industry adoption, along with OMAC pilot efforts for automating CNC-ERP (enterprise resource planning) integration, or “closed-loop manufacturing” (the collecting and sharing of real-time part accounting data with an ERP inventory and procurement subsystems). Meeting topics are:

State of STEP-NC and status on Early Implementation of AP-238;

OMAC HMI (human machine interface) status update, with review CNC-ERP connectivity pilot projects progress and impact on closed-loop manufacturing, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma manufacturing, and touch to no-touch manufacturing;

Ongoing ERP/ OPC Strategy, with road to standardized CNC/ERP integration – XML or OPC UA or generic Web Services, Impact OPC Unified Architecture, and the so-called “Mom/Pop requirement;”

Revisit end-user and vendor participation and applications.

For more on machine tool efficiency from Control Engineering , please read: “CNC Programming.”

For more about the show, search IMTS atop www.controleng.com .

—Edited by Mark T. Hoske , Control Engineering editor in chief