The New, Digital Ways of Pre-Machining

​ “When I was thinking about how we used to select tools in the past, we were literally looking through a phone book – and that phone book was huge. The customers who have had the opportunity to try this technology – they are excited…” says MasterCam’s Stas Mylek about the CoroPlus® ToolLibrary and CoroPlus® ToolGuide. Does this sound familiar? Gone are the days of searches through heaps of pages in bulky catalogs to find the right tool and manually entering the feeds and speeds recommended.

CoroPlus® is the umbrella name of a new platform of connected tools and software; essentially comprising technologies that can send and/or receive data also known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) concept. The concept makes it possible to reduce data waste and improve manufacturing processes, from pre- to post-machining, using connected technology and machining knowledge from Sandvik Coromant.

“Users not only get access to Sandvik Coromant product and application data through connected software and hardware, but with sensor-equipped tools they can adjust, control and monitor machining performance in real time,” says Göran Näslund, Head of Digital Machining. “The entire machine shop can be controlled via accurate on-site data dashboards, through the cloud and via integration with the user’s software and machine environment. CoroPlus® connects into existing software environments through open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), offering two-way connectivity and accurate data quality.” APIs are sets of requirements that govern how one application can communicate and interact with another.

CoroPlus® ToolGuide

The principal benefit of the pre-machining offer in CoroPlus® is that of easy tool selection based on your application and requirements using CoroPlus® ToolGuide. Get the speeds and feeds for your tool assembly at the click of a button, without ever leaving your CAM software. This powerful solution uses an open API to connect to the CAM software. The software is available for use both online and downloaded for use offline. “You see these new tools and new strategies being introduced, and that’s where the ToolGuide comes into play,” says Stas Mylek, senior Product Marketing Specialist for MasterCam. “It gives a recommendation of what would be the most efficient way to remove the material. Now the customer knows how to run that tool ­– spindle speed, feed rates, what machining strategy would work best.”

Access the CoroPlus® ToolGuide.

CoroPlus® ToolLibrary

From a CAM programmer’s perspective, connection with accurate tool and application data means that recommendations can be adapted to specific tasks. More so, you can build entire assemblies with the CoroPlus® ToolLibrary and import these into your CAM environment due to the open (API). With ToolLibrary, you can select tools from any supplier’s ISO 13399 standard tool catalog, create assemblies and export to CAM. Like ToolGuide, your workstation doesn’t need to have an internet connection as CoroPlus® ToolLibrary supports you both online and offline.

Simply put, the CoroPlus® ToolGuide gives recommendations on how to use the tools and what tool is best suited for the job at hand, in a rapidly changing universe of tooling. In addition, the CoroPlus® ToolLibrary provides access to catalogs of digital tools that manufacturers can browse through and pick from to build tool assemblies to match what they will run on their machines.

Interested to learn more about Sandvik Coromant's innovations in digital machining? Find more information on the CoroPlus® platform on Sandvik Coromant's website.