Another use involves applications
engineers. “They are quite interested in
wearing the headset themselves and
actually demo-ing to a customer in the eld
– all a customer needs is a Google Chrome
browser and a password-free link that is
sent, allowing them to access the call.”
The customer can see whatever the
applications engineer wants to show him via
the headset, and multiple parties can
similarly join the call via a sent link.
Interestingly, Price says that, when ready,
the company believes it can go to market
with a 4G-based offer, using a roaming SIM
that makes use of all networks. But while
4G is 99% reliable, that 1% represents
almost 15 minutes downtime a day; not
good enough to build trust in any service –
5G will see that 15 minutes/day become
3 minutes/year, he offers.
He also revealed that the company has
successfully tested a maintenance scenario
where 12 on-machine sensors plus software
can stop a machine, if, say, it is overheating.
“That piece of software on the
machine might cost £30,000-£35,000 for
something that a customer might use twice
a year. An alternative is to put that software
in the cloud and pay for access. In the test,
a 5G signal was transmitted from here to a
centre in Surrey, with the command to stop
the machine transmitted back within 10 ms.
That’s what we do it in now, on premise.
That was amazing; it proved the concept.”
A further option is that customers might
buy a single licence for a service, have it onsite,
but switch its use between machines or
even allow use by a subcontractor, he
enthusiastically concludes. It’s the future,
and not that far away.
INDUSTRY 4.0 & AUTOMATION MAZAK OPEN HOUSE’S LOW-KEY 5G MESSAGE
The new QT-Compact 300M features a new optional 24–index position turret, which
will be rolled out across the other models in the range. This new machine completes
the QT range
The HQR-250MSY, a twin-turret, twin-spindle CNC turning centre specifi cally
developed to offer best-in-class cycle times. This model completes the range
Event news in brief
Industry 4.0 – Mazak’s I-Smart Industry 4.0 solution launched a couple of years ago
has been much written about but has been slower to gain traction, although
installations are growing, Machinery was told. Part of that slow uptake has been due to
the way the company initially supported it. Over the last eight months, a core team has
been created that can perform the necessary site surveys from an IT perspective, into
which Mazak’s machines can then be slotted. Maintenance – the company launched
its simpli ed, two-level Mazak Maintenance Care package. At the top level it includes:
accidental damage; free labour; all spare parts; 48-hour engineer onsite target; one
full, one interim service per 2,000 running hours/year (eight hours/day); and 24/7
phone support.
A second Quick Turn 250MSY was
shown being auto-loaded by this
FANUC collaborative robot having
7 kg handing capacity
www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets August 2019 33
All photos Andrew Allcock
/www.machinery.co.uk