Hi all,
Tool Wall sounds like a fantastic utility, but is probably rendered useless by the simple fact that we do not have enough tool-holding components to keep every conceivable tool set up. Plus the fact that no 'type' of tool could ever be suitable for every job, ie every tool we setup would have to be about 500mm long to be sure to be suitable for every situation. Me and my fellow operators sometimes have no choice but to strip down 'dedicated' tools just for an extension or adaptor. It can go as far as 'every man for himself' as far as tooling goes!
One thing that makes me smile about our current setup is the time and effort put into the 'job file' which involves photographing each tool and recording the serial numbers of each separate component. I often make the joke that the photo is 'the tool you're not gonna find' and I tend to use whatever is to hand - hence the need for flexibility and my parameter based system.
I will continue to make suggestions to improve our lot (as mentioned previously, thousands of hours can be lost locating tooling). Unfortunately management seem more intent on improving machining times (probably a small fraction of the overall time/money spent on the job) by investing in new and exotic tools. This, of course, can compound the problem, as instead of sticking to a standard set of tools you end up looking for a particular needle in a stack of needles.
Can Tool Wall keep track of extensions/adaptors/arbors as well as dedicated tools?
DP  |