What do people use for tool database management?

[woodwood]

Hi all,

We currently don't have any formal systems in place to keep track of our tools and backends in our milling workshop. Mainly because it's just never been done and it wasn't too much of a problem in the past, but now we are starting to acquire more and more tools I think it is time to get things organised.

What do other people use for cataloging and keeping track of cutters etc. Walter TDM, excel spreadsheets, Access....???
What also probably complicates things is that we use a couple of CAM systems NX and Openmind (occasionaly Delcam too), we also have Vericut.

Any info or examples of what other people use would be great to start me looking in the right area.

Thank you.
D.

 

[Zinov]

Hi WoodWood,
Is it a database no manage the tools only (Ref., type, tooth#, Diam., Length)
Or a database to manage tools, toolhoder (Ref., Type, tooth#, Diam, length, Balancing, job#, etc.)
Or a db intended to track the tools and replace them once worn,
Or just something as an ERP system to manage your stock.
what level of detail tracking are you looking for? because going to track every insert will be little messy
but if you have a very high volume that will justify going to that level this may be justified.
Regards,

 

[nornrich]

woodwood,

Depending on the level of tool management that you are dealing with, there are companies (like MSC) that will bring in a vending machine for tooling with a computer interface that tracks tool usage by operator and by job. Check out the link

http://www1.mscdirect.com/content/solutions/vending.html?cm_re=tpnv-_-sols-_-compad

Regards,

Rich.....

Richard Nornhold, PE

http://www.personna.com

 

[woodwood]

Hi Zinov,

At the moment it would just be a database to manage tools, toolholders as at the currently it's a case of going and having a look in the back of the machine or on the shelf to see what we have/what is free. We may eventually want to be and enable the creation of tool lists for each job etc.

Thanks.
D.

 

[woodwood]

Thanks Nornrich, I'll take a look at that.

D.

 

[Zinov]

Please check this :

http://www.machexhibition.com/ExhibitorLibrary/14/WP_01_AutomatedToolMngt_2.pdf

 

[CastMetal]

Depending on your level of familiarity with it, Access can be a great tool because you can add additional features at a later date. You could start with one of the pre-made inventory trackers available online and improve upon it from there, adding in tooling lists for specific jobs, reason for replacement, costs, etc. The next step up would be the MSC tool vending machine which provides a lot of helpful information along with automatic stock replenishment from MSC. They also allow a set percentage of other supplier's tools to be stored in them and tracked. Larger scale facilities I would consider something like Zinov's recommendation but they are generally cost prohibitive for smaller shops.

Comprehension is not understanding. Understanding is not wisdom. And it is wisdom that gives us the ability to apply what we know, to our real world situations

 

[EdDanzer]

We use Excel. There is a master sheet that has categories of the different tools by general description.(like an index) Then there are sheets for subcategories that are more item specific. We are a small shop doing low volume high mix items and have over 1200 differnet rotating tools and several hundered insert types.

Ed Danzer

http://www.danzcoinc.com

http://www.dehyds.com