Currently installed in a wide variety of industries and configurations, a flexible machining system has been enhanced to with a PC cell controller using open-source SUSE Linux operating system.

Flexible manufacturing pioneer and industry leader, Cincinnati Machine will introduce a suite of enhancements designed to increase the productivity and flexibility of their widely used Cincron automated pallet cell technology at IMTS 2006 in Booth A-8218. Currently installed in a wide variety of industries and production configurations, Cincinnati's Cincron technology has been enhanced to feature a new PC-based cell controller using the open-source SUSE Linux operating system, and a new pallet system and rail-guided vehicle (RGV) optimized for use with Cincinnati's best-in-class, MEGA horizontal machining center (HMC). Cincron is a flexible manufacturing control system that utilizes standard and custom HMCs with standardized modular automation systems and controls to operate highly efficient cells that offer maximized processing flexibility and exceptional expandability to meet changing production requirements.

Meeting a broad range of production demands, more than 130 Cincron cells are presently installed at aerospace suppliers, automotive tier suppliers, construction and off-road equipment builders, pump and valve manufacturers, and large job shops.

* Linux-based cell controller - the new Linux-based cell controller being introduced at IMTS 2006 takes full advantage of the latest developments in open source, open architecture computer technology.

Linux provides a robust operating environment in which users can run a full spectrum of both proprietary and open source software on widely available PC hardware.

This technology offers Cincron cell users much greater flexibility than proprietary solutions with significantly lower capital and operating costs.

The new cell controller will be demonstrated on a 4-axis MEGA HMC in Cincinnati Machine's IMTS booth.

To accommodate customer preferences and maintain the expandability of existing Cincron cells, support is provided for legacy controls including Cincinnati Machine's Acramatic 950 and 2100 models, the Siemens 840D, and FANUC 160i-MB controls.

Over a dozen of these new cell controllers have been installed on existing Cincron cells going back to ones installed in the early 1990s.

* Productivity and flexibility - Cincron's flexibility is demonstrated by the productive improvements it provides to those who use it.

The same cell controller software is used for high-volume/low-variety automotive applications as well as the low-volume/high-variety requires of aerospace and job shops, without compromising the needs of any application.

RGV systems for pallet sizes from 500 to 1600mm are supported by modular hardware.

Proven hardware and software can be configured in an infinite number of ways to support a wide range of production requirements.

The RGV's flexibility is complemented by the capabilities of the MEGA.

The IMTS demonstration will feature aluminum, titanium, and cast iron parts in a random production cycle.

Cincron enables manufacturers to achieve superior return on their capital investment with around-the-clock operations, workload equalization, and high machine utilization.

The system consistently delivers 90% and greater spindle utilization.

Cincron's modular components allow expansion to meet new production requirements.

Many current Cincron cells have been expanded four or five times over their life.

Cincron can be utilized with the entire range of Cincinnati 4- and 5-axis machining centers with a range of pallet sizes from 500 to 1,600mm.

Cincron can also be applied with vertical turning centers from Giddings and Lewis.

Machines from other manufactures have also been successfully integrated into Cincron cells.

FREEDOM E-LOG, Maintenance Technologies' web-based asset and process monitoring software, will be integrated into the Cincron cell as part of Cincron's IMTS demonstration.