If you’re using older CNC machines or working in a smaller machine shop, it’s typical to set up a job and input G-code on a machine’s control panel.
But when you’re running a larger shop or multi-site manufacturing business, or if you do high-mix, low volume manufacturing and change jobs on a machine frequently, inputting G-code on the control panel is a significant point of inefficiency.
Not only does programming on the machine dramatically slow down setup and changeover times, but it’s also another opportunity for error — humans are doing the programming after all, and we’re all fallible.
Luckily, we live in an age where many things, including modern CNC machines, are network-connected.
With the advancements in machine technology and manufacturing software, in many cases it’s best to set up your jobs and program your machines using computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software like Mastercam.
While utilizing CAM software may not be possible for every job or on every machine, it’s one of the ways we’ve worked to create a level of efficiency that allows us to specialize in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing and maintain consistent quality when handling repeat orders of complex precision machined parts.
CAM software is a key tool for driving efficiency on the manufacturing floor.
While effecting change is never easy — especially within our industry — implementing centralized CNC machine programming is essential for growing your business beyond a single machine shop and remaining competitive within the manufacturing industry.
Here are a few of the benefits we’ve experienced at ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions by switching from manually inputting G-code for each new setup to using CAM software and centralizing our CNC machine programming.
When you’re doing high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, switching between jobs can be time consuming.
That means higher setup costs for each job.
Additionally, for every minute your machine is sitting idle, it’s not machining a part — that’s unused capacity and lost productivity.
While you might be thinking that changeover times and setup costs don’t impact your business as a whole, the additional setup time you’re billing customers for and idle capacity you’re sitting on could in fact be costing you opportunities.
With CAM software, instead of punching in numbers for every new job at the CNC machine, you’re programming parts at a computer. This significantly reduces the time it takes to code a typical part from 2-4 hours to under 30 minutes.
Related to CAM software’s ability to decrease your setup and changeover times, centralized CNC machine programming allows you to increase efficiency and ensure greater reproducibility in the parts you regularly manufacture.
If you’re lucky enough to have customers who keep coming back to you for more parts, you’re likely handling repeat orders — not necessarily in volume, but of a specific part itself.
In this case, using CAM software isn’t only much faster than manually programming the part at the machine.
It’s also much more reliable.
At the console, every press of a button is a potential opportunity for error. When manufacturing complex parts or using exotic materials, errors can quickly have a significant financial impact.
However, with CAM software, a part’s G-code is stored on your computer or in the cloud.
This allows you to quickly deploy the exact same G-code from the last time you machined a part, accelerating the time it takes you to get up and running and eliminating the potential for error that comes with manual G-code entry.
Whenever increasing employee productivity or reducing labor costs comes up, it understandably can cause a degree of fear for those who are doing those jobs.
However, in manufacturing, skilled machinists are in high demand and short supply, so optimizing your operations to best leverage your employees’ knowledge and skills is absolutely necessary.
By using CAM software, you can centralize CNC machine programming and move it from the shop floor to the front office. This might seem like an opportunity to reduce your labor force.
Using CAM software and deploying code remotely requires fewer people to program the same number of parts. But that’s only true if you have an excess of skilled machinists — a “problem” most manufacturers wish they had.
Instead, using CAM software allows your skilled machinists to operate more machines at once and work on higher-value activities rather than spending time manually inputting G-code.
Additionally, CAM software is often easier to use and more intuitive than a CNC machine control panel. It can provide an excellent opportunity to upskill employees in using manufacturing technology while creating comfort with automation.
In high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, focusing on ways to be more agile and efficient are essential to success.
As a growing multi-site American metal manufacturer, we rely on CAM software and centralized CNC machine programming to drive efficiency within our precision machining operations, allowing us to switch between jobs quickly and ensure consistency and quality when producing complex precision machined parts.
As we continue to take on more jobs and expand our operations, the ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions team is dedicated to continuously improving our processes and operations to deliver the highest quality parts at competitive prices.
And while modern manufacturing solutions such as network-connected CNC machines and advanced manufacturing software certainly contribute to our capabilities and success, our people make us who we are.
If you’re looking to work with the best people in the industry who are leveraging the latest technologies to manufacture precision machined parts and custom sheet metal assemblies, upload your part files and we’ll have a quote to you within 24 hours — that’s a guarantee.