Archive for category: Blog

The following is an archived copy of the Shop Floor Automations Newsletter – July/August 2014 issue.

We’ve added a convenient live chat feature to our website.

You can now communicate with a live person instantly via chat on our site. It is found in the lower left corner.

Our live chat staff can answer technical questions; provide shipment status, stock levels, and general pricing on product or services; help you navigate our website and online store; or help you consult with our sales staff.

Scytec’s DataXchange has updates that add some new features based on customer feedback.

The primary addition is being able to have saved charts and source connection notifications. Several other features include part numbers and counts being displayed on the real-time dashboard, filtering by shift, and having unlimited displays and reporting to clients on PCs, iPads, monitors, and more.

More customers have started adding machines due to the free 2-week trial, during which the payback can be seen immediately.

Leverage the power of Okuma THINC with Predator CNC Service to provide intelligent software-based machine monitoring via an Ethernet interface.

Predator CNC Service supports machine operation modes, cycle counters, variables, feeds, and speeds for all makes and models of Okuma Mills and Lathes with P300, P200 and P100 CNCs. Leverage the power of Predator Machine Monitoring and Data Collection from within Okuma THINC to simplify and track CNC machining and productivity. Contact us for a free 30-day trial.

Over the 16 years we have been installing DNC systems, both Ethernet and wireless, we have been asked many times if there is a way to connect our DNC systems to the RS232 port internally in the CNC control, with a hardware connection to the network, but still being able to leverage the DB25 connection on the outside of the machine. The answer is YES!

We have developed a “Y” interface cable to keep the outside serial port operational to plug in a laptop or external USB Connect device and run the DNC system. If and when things fail, simply plug in the external device and the Y interface cable does it all and keeps your system up and running. Send us an email for more details.

Link to original newsletter

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The following is an archived copy of the Shop Floor Automations Newsletter – March/April 2014

TRADE IN YOUR DNC SYSTEM FOR 25% OFF THE LIST PRICE

With the ending of support for Windows XP and the shrinking number of vendors that can provide you with the very best DNC system, SFA can provide you a competitive upgrade and save you 25% off the list price—leveraging the same procedures and giving you more value.

Programs are in place to migrate from Surban DNC, Refresh Your Memory, Cimnet, Greco Systems and other companies that no longer support existing systems. Contact Sales for more information.

YouTube & Hardware 

Check out our video series, “Automation Insights,” featuring information on “RS232 Cabling Solutions.” Our Newsroom webpage has also been updated with press releases and publications in trade magazine to help customers automate the shop floor.

Don’t wait until it happens to you—the computer hard drive crashes, the RS232 cable fails, the serial hardware that links all your critical machines to your network could be the point of failure that stops production. Contact us today to get a backup, portable USB device that can work with any CNC machine.

We hosted our first webinar on DataXchange on April 3 and the feedback was outstanding.

Viewers were able to get a good glimpse of the product and asked questions about the free trial to run on their machines. Ask us about future webinars.

MEET OUR STAFF

Name: Amy Gates
Title: Senior Account Executive
Time with SFA: 13 Years

Q: What is your position at Shop Floor Automations?
A: I am a Sr. Account Executive. I work with customers to determine their needs and help guide them to the products we offer that will be the best fit for them. I help them before, during and after the sale. What I like best about my job are the relationships I build with customers.

Q: How long have you been with SFA?
A:  I’m coming up on my 13^th year working for SFA, though it seems like it’s only been a few. Time sure flies.

Q: What are your favorite products and why?
A: My favorite product right now is probably the powerful JobPack Scheduler. It amazes me how many companies don’t have a true scheduling system; most just use whiteboards or an Excel spreadsheet, which is not very dynamic at all. I feel very strongly that JobPack is a great product that would benefit all my customers.

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like to go RV camping and 4wheeling and I love to cook.

Q: Tell us something we probably don’t know about you.
A: For fun, I’ve been taking professional “chef” classes at the local community college and I’m working toward a line cook certification. I don’t plan on changing careers, but it’s fun to learn some industry tricks, and it gives me a better appreciation for all the work that goes into running a kitchen in a restaurant.

Link to original newsletter HERE 

The following is an archived copy of the October 2013 Shop Floor Automations Newsletter.

Loading Offsets 

Many of our customers are faced with streamlining the process
of loading the NC program along with various other files.
Loading tool offsets are common on the shop floor but are typically a manual process.

By using a DNC system, the operator can request the NC program for the desired part
while the software automates the process in the background to look for the NC program
as well as the associated tool offsets.

If the tool offset file is located, it will queue the file and load the correct file
immediately after the NC program is loaded.  This allows the operator
to simplify the task and save time.

CNC Controller with Limited Memory

Limited to the CNC controller memory in your machine?

While some CNCs are arriving on the shop floor with hard drives and
Ethernet connectivity, most older machines are still in production
where programming departments are forced to break up NC programs or
streamline the program to fit into the controller.

There are several options to bypass these limitations and other
programming challenges by automating the process.  Expand the memory using
Behind the Tape Readers, use a tape mode or DNC function on the control
to drip-feed, or implement sub-programs and load them on the fly
from the PC hard drive to reduce the size of the program on the CNC controller.

Predator New CNC Service 

Predator CNC Service is a Windows service designed to monitor Ethernet-based CNCs machines,
Robots and PLCs.  The service now includes support for MTConnect, Fanuc Focas,
OPC and Structured Data type equipment. Various parameters such a CNC mode,
cycle counters, variables, feeds and speeds for all make and models of Okuma Mills
and Lathes with P300, P200 and P100 CNCs can be captured in real-time.

Improve your schedule accuracy and reduce costs using a real-time,
finite production scheduler that maximizes the use of your resources
and meets your delivery promises. Plan, schedule and manage with
one production management software solution.

Customer Success Stories

We would like to have your feedback of how we were able to help
improve your shop floor with our solutions.
Your story may be featured in leading trade magazines or online
website and can include a little background on your company to share.

Celebrating 15 Years

Shop Floor Automations is celebrating our 15th year in business
providing the best in software, hardware and integration services.

We are the premier service and support center for customers
throughout USA for a variety of Software and Hardware brands. This
includes being the #1 distributor for Predator Software and
recognized as “Dealer of the Year” for 10 years running.

Let us analyze your shop for free and provide you with the best solutions to suit your needs!

* DNC Networking
* Machine Monitoring
* Job Scheduling / Capacity Planning
* Document Control / Paperless
* CNC Editing / File Compare
* USB Solutions / Mobile / PDAs
* Wireless /  Wired Serial Hubs

Technical Note:

Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft in April, 2014.

In order to maintain support for your computer systems from
Microsoft, you will have to upgrade from Windows XP.

Contact us in advance so we can help walk you through this process.
(877) 611-5825 Toll Free
California: (619) 461-4000

More info about SFA here

Link to original newsletter HERE 

The following is an archived copy of the Shop Floor Automations Newsletter from May/June 2013.

Where do you stand with your competition?  Are you behind on the “automation” curve?

Shop Floor Automations has the solutions and expertise to put your company ahead of your competition. Over the years you have invested in infrastructure, tooling, machinery and people but what about the technology and software?

Are you being pro-active on maintenance of your machines?  Does your documentation reflect the latest version of the part being produced? Are you still using a white board or Excel to schedule jobs?  How are you tracking downtime?  Are you still using floppy disks, PCMCIA or USB sticks to manage your programs?

Swap Your CNC Communication System

Are you currently using serial hubs and RS232 cabling to your machine tools?

Is your DNC System outdated, problematic and/or no longer supported?

We offer two very competitive products to meet your requirements which are completely supported by the industry standards and are forward compatible in Windows 2008R2 Server and Windows 7 32/64 bit systems.

Now you can swap out your communication system with a new wireless solution.   More CNC machines are now network based and require connection to your company LAN.   Why not add our latest wireless CNC adapter to your new machine instead of running an Ethernet or serial cables across the shop floor?

If you still have serial ports on your controls, simply connect to the RS232 port on the device.   Swap your cabled system for wireless! Upgrade your DNC System by calling us and receive up to 25% off the list price for competitive upgrades.

$45 Per Month to Monitor Your CNC

You are constantly getting updates from your family and friends via email, texting, Skype, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter – but what about updates about your shop floor?

How often have we learned we missed the due date on the job because the machine was down for maintenance, the first article sign-off was delayed and the machine was in “setup”, or the operator indicated there was problems with tooling or the part program.

The answer is Machine Monitoring and Data Collection starting at $45 per CNC each month.  Stay connected to the shop floor by viewing real time data across the web, on your cell phone or on your tablet.

Shop Floor Automations is celebrating our 15th year in business providing the best in software, hardware and integration services.

We are the premier service and support center for customers throughout USA for a variety of Software and Harware brands. This includes being the #1 distributor for Predator Software and recognized as “Dealer of the Year” for 10 years running,

Let us analyze your shop and provide you with the best solutions to suit your needs!

* DNC Networking
* Machine Monitoring
* Job Scheduling / Capacity Planning
* Document Control / Paperless
* CNC Editing / File Compare
* USB Solutions / Mobile / PDAs
* Wireless /  Wired Serial Hubs

Link to original newsletter HERE 

The following is an archived copy of the September 2012 Shop Floor Automations newsletter:

New Tagline for SFA?

Since we do so much, we have often wondered:
What is the best way to describe ourselves?
Perhaps you can help. What few words will give new
and existing contacts the best understanding of all that we do?

We are thinking about “Manufacturing Systems Integrator”
Any feedback or alternate suggestions? Please email sales@shopfloorautomations.com

Book your installations NOW for service for the 4th Quarter!

The 2012 calendar will be filling up soon, so please get your orders
in ASAP (especially if you need to meet year-end budgets for 2012).
Ask your Account Executive about our year end clearances on hardware,
such as bar code scanners, as we close out our inventory levels.

SFA Monthly Survey – Win $25 – Ask us how! 

Congrats to last month’s winner – Glen Craig of Rochester Manufacturing
who won a $25 gift certificate. A randomly drawn winner receives
a $25 Gift certificate to their favorite store.
Complete the online survey for your chance to be selected at random for a gift card.

SFA is Hiring
We are looking for a qualified Field Technician in the Houston or Dallas area.
Do you or someone you know have the right skills to join SFA?
You can earn a $250 referral reward if we hire your recommendation.
Offer expires when a hiring has been made.

California Office Tel: (619) 461-4000
Toll Free:    (877) 611-5825
Link to original newsletter HERE