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The contract manufacturer LIDU Maschinenbau Lienenbrügger GmbH in Dülmen, northwestern Germany, is reducing its lead times, increasing its flexibility, and enhancing process reliability in production through streamlined tool organization, »venturion« setting and measuring devices, and the TMS Tool Management Solutions tool data management system from ZOLLER.
“To benefit from similar advantages, we also intend to manage our measuring and testing equipment using ZOLLER’s TMS Tool Management Solutions software system,” says Benedict Dammann. This digitalization with ZOLLER software systems plays a decisive role in enabling significantly more flexible and cost-effective production while also improving process reliability. Frank Schaefer summarizes: “Taking advantage of these benefits is a key factor in continuing to manufacture in Germany and remaining internationally competitive in the future. ZOLLER is clearly the right partner for us, especially with regard to our future goals.”
“When selecting a suitable software system, the features and benefits of ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions convinced us on every level,” say Thomas Lorrek and Benedict Dammann. As they further explain, the software needed to be as integrated as possible, compatible with existing setting and measuring devices, easy and convenient to use, and scalable. “With ZOLLER’s TMS Tool Management Solutions, we found a system that was precisely tailored to our requirements.
A particular advantage is that all relevant departments in production work with the same user interface: the AV department with CAM programming, tool preparation, the tool warehouse, as well as the setup technicians and operators at the machining centers. That was one of the decisive reasons for choosing ZOLLER TMS,” reports Thomas Lorrek. To make the additional benefits of the ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions software flexibly available at all workstations, LIDU has installed freely movable tablets with a data connection via Wi-Fi.
This variety of workpieces and machines naturally requires a virtually unmanageable number of different drilling, reaming, turning, milling, and boring tools. As Benedict Dammann notes, up to 50 tools must be prepared, measured, adjusted, and set up for each workpiece. For example, the tool magazine of the machining center automated with a pallet station holds up to 120 different tools. To set and measure this multitude of tools reliably and accurately, LIDU invested over ten years ago in a setting and measuring device from ZOLLER’s »venturion« series, on which predominantly rotationally symmetric tools such as drills and milling cutters for the machining centers are measured and set.
The setting and measuring machine proved its worth within a short time. “Since turning tools of any design can also be measured and set just as easily and conveniently on the ZOLLER machines, we decided as early as 2015 to purchase a second ZOLLER »venturion 600« setting and measuring machine.” This allows even exotic tools, such as long-overhanging angle heads for driven tools, to be set and measured without any problems.
Benedict Dammann highlights the advantages: “The ZOLLER operating concept with touchscreen and pictograms meets our requirements exactly. The system guides users quickly and intuitively through the process of measuring and setting up the tools.”
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