FASTECHNOLOGIES

SmartParts automatically fine-tunes your CNC drill and rout programs, as they're being send to your CNC drilling machine.  This automated “just in time” adjustment allows intelligence to be added to the part programs, to improve both the control and flexibility of the drilling process.

The SmartParts drilling parameter control module offers a central “command-post” for all drilling process parameters. The parameters are applied to downloaded part programs on a per-machine-type, per-part-type basis, allowing each part type to be drilled using the optimum capabilities of each available machine and spindle.

This SmartParts module allows you to define up to 10,000 unique drilling processes. Each drilling process calls out a specific set of feed, speed, and related parameters for each type of machine on your production floor. When a part program is downloaded, the feed and speed parameters are automatically applied for that part's process type, running on the specific type of machine, which downloaded the part. The drilling parameter control module even handles separate parameters for normal drilling, slot drilling, and special-series high-copper content drilling. 

RS-232
DNC1.3/4

ethernet

part
program
library

DNC
UltraServer

Drills &
Routers

Standardized part programs reside on the CAM fileserver.

Feeds and speeds, G93 offsets, and command translations, specific to each machine and job type, are processed by the SmartParts server.

The DNC server sends fully-configured programs to the drilling and routing machines.

Q: What does SmartParts do?

A: SmartParts automatically fine-tunes your CNC drill and rout programs, as they're being downloaded to your CNC drillers and routers.

Q: How does SmartParts work?

A: SmartParts works like a Novell or NT file server. It runs on an NT-4 computer, connected to your CAM network and your DNC server(s). For each CNC download, your DNC requests the part program from SmartParts. SmartParts reads your standard, archived CNC program, modifies it for the requesting machine, and sends it to the DNC system.

Q: How does SmartParts solve the drilling process control problem?

A: By automatically managing all feed and speed parameters. SmartParts "knows" the spindle speed capabilities of each machine. You tell SmartParts what type of job each part number is by adding one simple command to each part program. When a drilling machine downloads a part program, SmartParts adds the correct feeds and speeds (and hitcounts and Z-offsets, etc) parameters for that job running on that machine. So, with SmartParts, every job always runs with the right feeds and speeds.
SmartParts even solves the problem of running special tools like slotting drills or short-fluted drills with different, special parameters. This surpasses the capabilities of even the most sophisticated new CNC's. With SmartParts, this works on every type of machine.

Q: What else can SmartParts do?

A: A lot, from drilling machine ID's into every panel to variable-cusp slots. SmartParts offers numerous process improvements. One good example is drilling either coded or plain-text labels into each table load, identifying the machine, operator, time, and date that the load was drilled. This is great for tracking down problems caused by the operation of an individual machine.
Another SmartParts productivity-enhancer is its variable-cusp nibbled slot algorithm. With SmartParts, you can specify how smooth or rough you want your nibbled slots to be. Rougher slots plate better and drill faster, while some customers prefer the smoothest slots they can get. With SmartParts, you can specify a different edge finish for each slot, and the slots run equally well on older and newer drilling machines.

Q: What does SmartParts do for laser drilling?

A: SmartParts eliminates all manual data preparation! SmartParts can completely prepare laser drilling programs for the Hitachi Mark-20L controllers. This includes complete control of fiducial placement and style directly from the CAM system. It includes automated laser recipe selection from your own data and processes. It includes all positional offsets and orientations. In short, SmartParts makes your laser drillers a "pushbutton" operation.