Cutting Software’s Collision Prevention Can Shave Downtime 80%

Lantek (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) has made over 100 improvements and updates across the whole range of solutions comprised in the latest version of its software. The most significant include collision prevention on the cutting machine and a new algorithm for destroying scrap metal efficiently on tube cutting machines.

Another relevant aspect: It can be used remotely.

“In a time of great uncertainty, and without a clear understanding of what will happen later this year or next year, many clients are demanding a solution prepared for teleworking,” says Carlos García, CTO of Lantek. “The 2020 version of Lantek software includes a huge advance in the support, installation and configuration of the software and machine without requiring visits from our technicians and allows different configurations so that technical teams for machining, production planning or budgeting can work from their homes.”

Lantek Expert: Safety In Cutting and Automation

The update to Lantek Expert, the suite of programs for cutting and punching sheet metal focuses on providing functions that maximize the productivity and efficiency of clients’ machines. In the new version of its accredited CAD-CAM 2D software, Lantek offers 34 new features.

The main development is the ability to run an algorithm that prevents collisions during the cutting or punching process. This works by automatically adding fasteners (or micro-joints) to the holes or parts that, once they have been cut, could cause a collision between themselves and the cutting head.

Lantek has also improved the usability of all of the functions related to fasteners (or micro-joints): (1.) improved precision of the final width of these elements and accurate simulation, in real-time, when they are added manually. (2.) For shapes that the user does not want to fasten into the sheet with micro-joints, Lantek makes it possible to scrap them using a new zig-zag technique that ensures the waste material discharges safely.

Lantek Expert now includes functions to help with production management in the workshop. Waste or leftover sheet material can be automatically marked on cutting machines so that it is easy to identify. The material can be marked with the company’s identifier code as well as its measurements and weight.

Lantek Flex3d Optimizes Tube Cutting to Avoid Collisions

The tube cutting market is growing exponentially thanks to the fact that new machinery manufacturers are beginning to develop this technology, and existing machinery is evolving with new devices and systems to improve efficiency and automate the cutting of tubes.

Evolving with the needs of the market, the new V40 version of Lantek Flex3d incorporates a new algorithm that allows you to destroy scrap generated from cutting holes in tubes. Without this new capability, hole cutting can cause numerous collisions with the machine head as well as possible damage when scrap falls onto supports. Further, a new head management algorithm allows users to avoid contours that have previously been cut – collisions are minimized and machining time reduced by avoiding unnecessary raising and lowering of the head.

The combination of these two software features eliminates over 80% of current machine downtime caused by collision.

For new devices that automate the loading and unloading of parts, Lantek Flex3d V40 incorporates automated management of supports and unloading trays, allowing the machine to work autonomously.

This new support management function, as well as avoiding collisions with the supports, allows for optimal use of material that would previously have been considered scrap, obtaining improvements in the utilization of tubes of over 5%.

“The many new features incorporated into the new version of Lantek Flex3d have been designed to satisfy the tube, pipe, and structural steel market’s search for “intelligent” solutions that allow for the automation of large production cycles by avoiding unnecessary downtime while, keeping track of production and reducing costs”, says García.

Lantek Integra & MES

The new 2020 version of Lantek Integra incorporates significant improvements in its interface to adapt it to the current design standards in applications. The new graphics offers better use of space on the screen and an improved visual experience that includes changes to the colour palette, icons, font sizes and some navigation mechanisms. This results in greater efficiency in the users’ daily tasks. In addition, the advanced visualization dashboards of the commercial function, Customer Analytics has been enabled.

For Lantek MES, the improvements aim to continue equipping production managers with control mechanisms for carrying out workshop operations. Lantek MES Manager now has a new extension, MES Monitoring, that displays the sequence of operations on each work center graphically and in real-time. It offers different Gantt display modes, as well as different mechanisms that allow you to visually search and skip through the operations according to different criteria. This version also enables the advanced manufacturing visualization dashboards, Manufacturing Analytics.

www.lantek.com