Automation Insights

We are happy to announce the Shop Floor Automations Insights series, featuring our President Greg Mercurio and other employees. This new series will provide useful information on shop floor concerns.

The videos will help you see that upgrading your shop is as simple as adding hardware and software, instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on new machinery.

We also invite you to interact with SFA on social media. We are located on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, plus more! Find our social media pages, watch the premiere of Automations Insights below, and check out our helpful YouTube transcriptions. They are especially helpful for technical aspects.

We would also love it if you subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can do so by visiting our main channel and then clicking the red “subscribe” button.

We aim to have new content every month for our customers, current and future.

Thanks for visiting the site, and we hope you enjoy our videos!

 

Please contact us for more video ideas at info@shopfloorautomations.com

If you want to leave a less than perfect review, we encourage you to reach out to us first. Please call (877) 611-5825 or contact us via this form. We would love the opportunity to fix the situation.

 

February 2014 Manufacturing News

Read our article about DNC in this month’s Manufacturing News issue, “SFA + Predator DNC Software For Windows”

Shop Floor Automations NewsletterShop Floor Automations (SFA), a provider of software for the manufacturing shop floor, installed Predator’s version 9.0.16 through the end of 2013 while beta testing version 10.0 of Predator DNC Software and Editor.

Version 9.0 has been installed at hundreds of different sites. The main benefit is its compatibility with Windows 7 and Windows 2008/2012 server, including both 32- and 64-bit Operating systems.

“The DNC is easily migrated from previous versions running under Windows XP to the latest Predator DNC with our migration tools and hardware program,” said SFA President Greg Mercurio. “Customers have used the same solution for years from us and if it works, they do not want to change anything unless needed. Because of the end to Microsoft’s support for Windows XP, we have created a program to assist customers in keeping their machines up and running without interrupting production.”

SFA can provide end users with new hardware to integrate their existing wired system into wireless 802.11 B/G or embrace Ethernet technology on the shop floor. The use of RS232 serial ports is being phased out and networking CNC machines is becoming more prevalent. Predator Software includes functionality to communicate via FTP or Windows Share, and supports the use of the FANUC FOCAS to simplify file transfers. RS232 standard protocol is also included to support the hundreds of legacy CNC controllers with enhanced file management tools to automate the download and upload process.

Read the whole piece here! You may also call SFA and ask us about more Predator Software solutions at (877) 611-5825.

The different Predator solutions we are offer: DNC. Touch HMI, EditLock, MDC, CNC Editor, CNC Editor Express, CNC Editor Light, PDM, and Tracker. We have been the number one reseller of Predator Software since 1999 and continue to customize this solution to fit customer needs. Ask about demos and free trials!

 

Shop Floor Automations NewsletterThe following is an archived copy of the Shop Floor Automations Newsletter from January/February of 2014.

Windows XP support is ending

Do you still have computers running XP in your shop? Microsoft is discontinuing support as of April 2014. You don’t want your shop to be running on a system that has no support. We can help you transition and upgrade over to Windows 7. Our team has the expertise to provide a complete, reliable hardware and software solution to keep your CNC machines up and running. Contact us today!

Facebook posts contest for our customers

Amy Gates, our Senior Account Executive, is taking over the daily responsibilities of our Facebook page and updating it regularly. We have noticed people enjoy seeing stories and pictures about our customers – especially in their facilities.  So we started a contest. Get a chance to win a $50 gift card! Post your picture or video to our wall. Ideally, it is of you using or talking about our services or products. Each quarter this year we will choose a winner. You must “like” us to be eligible to win.

Be sure to like our page https://www.facebook.com/shopfloorautomations

Educational videos coming your way via “Automation Insights”

Our President, Greg Mercurio, has begun a new campaign for 2014: educational videos on YouTube! View his message on this year’s campaign.

Feel free to suggest topics you would like to hear about in the future.

Workshops for Warriors Visit 

Last summer, we reached out to our community and found an opportunity to help promote San Diego veterans at a vocational training center called Workshop for Warriors. This site is a safe environment at which veterans receive vocational training, work experience, and job placements, and also have careers in manufacturing. We donated our time to help network a few of their CNC machines and serve as a resource for veterans who wanted to learn more about automation.

Control your file edits with Editlock

Looking for a way to control NC program edits on the shop floor? The Predator EditLock System enables the “hardware” EditLock key switch on the machine tool to be managed using Predator DNC or Predator PDM software. The EditLock System works with any CNC control that has “EditLock” or “Memory Protect” key switch. It simply installs in the machine CNC cabinet on a DIN rail and can be externally powered via the 110vAC power supply, or directly powered via an internal 24vDC power source inside the machine cabinet.

The solution requires a simple dedicated serial connection to enable the lock to control when to “enable” the download into the machine. It works wireless or wired using Predator software. If there’s ever a need to override the functionality, there’s a disconnect toggle switch that maintenance uses. Learn more

Toll Free: (877) 611-5825
www.shopfloorautomations.com
Email: sales@shopfloorautomations.com

Link to newsletter