Anyone using Tool Data managment systems?

We are looking for a system that would manage all tools, Lathe to mill, inserts and holders as well as custom/ modified tools, the system should be accessable by the Manufacturing Engineer and the Programmer and tool room, with tracking and inventory.
Would like to see tools available to CADCAM system and in verification process. Presently each gropup manages their own tools and descriptions none of which are usable in CADCAM (Mastercam).

Am I dreaming?

any suggestions recommendations or experiences are appreciated
Thanks Everyone
Kennebec

I know this thread is a bit old but I'd like to see if others are still tracking it. I'm also interested in this type of information. We've been looking at adding a production management system to our shop and if anyone out there has recently done so I'd love to hear about your experience with it.

We currently use Fabtrol for estimating but are likely to use it for production management in the future. Anyone have any experience with this?

As of right now, I am in the same boat. I would also like to hear some info on this.

Have a look at TDM Systems of Germany. I have seen their software and it looks good (though a sledgehammer to crack a nut for the scenarios described above). I know it links in with VeriCut and I believe has an SQL core enabling customisation.

What I've found so far is many of the toolmakers seem way behind the times on this kind of data collection. I come from a data warehousing background so it baffles me that the tooling software isn't designed from day one to collect production data, especially as it is not easy to tack on as an afterthought.

I'd love to be able to do a log dump at the end of each day and collect information such as part number and quantity made, amount of material run through the machine, etc. As it stands we're going to have to kluge together a tracking system that still uses and awful lot of human input, which is very prone to mistakes.

Actually Peddinghaus recently did something like this for their machines - it tracks the number of parts ran, number of holes, and all that other stuff.

Check it out -

http://www.peddinghaus.com/news_fullarticle.asp?vID=272

Our Tool Verification System (TVS-A) does some of what you are asking. It was designed more to verify the correct tool is in use, but it also automatically makes a database of results every time a cutting operation occurs. That database is available via a user interface over a network.

If there are particular features you are looking for, we do free customization of our sensors for many applications, please email us with a description of the things you are interested in seeing.

Here are some details on the TVS-A from a prior post:

The TVS-A sensor works in any CNC machine and automatically measures the type and length of tool prior to a cutting operation. If the type or length of tool do not match the values specified by the machine's cutting program (due to wrong tool, broken tool or wrong tool length), the TVS-A sensor automatically sends an alarm to the machine enabling it to shut down before damage is done to either the part or the machine. All this occurs in ~1 second with a database of up to 10,000 tools. Quoted length measurement accuracy is <1mm with demonstrated accuracy to ~0.15mm on average.

The TVS-A can be installed quickly by our certified installer and it operates in the background with no operator training necessary. The database of tools is automatically generated and the entire set-up process is nearly transparent to the users.

Once operating, the TVS-A can be connected to a PC directly or through a network in order to acquire performance statistics on the machine. Users can track a historical database of usage rates on the machine by time (shift), error rates, number of prevented crashes, amount of machine down time, tools with the most frequent breakage, etc...

For more information please check our website at:
www.Amasst.com

or email to:
John@Amasst.com

Nice idea. I'll keep it in mind if we ever install MRP here.