The Future is digital

With the ToolScope assistance system, KOMET is the first tooling sector company clearly to opt for digitalisation in the area of machining. Now, KOMET is presenting ground-breaking software expansion in the ToolScope product range, as well as new standard tools with digital features.

Digitalisation will play a key role in production in the future – those in charge of KOMET are absolutely convinced of this, which is why they are expecting ample opportunity for development in their business area of digital productivity solutions.

KOMET is putting its words into action with the presentation of ToolScope Net, ToolScope Cockpit and ToolScope Connector – new software products which enable the ToolScope assistance system to be used without the need for additional hardware installation. These connect machine tools to a cloud and transfer all the required machine, process and operating data to it.

Various apps provide simple and specific analysis, while the ToolScope Cockpit ensures that the results, which can be called up from any computer, are displayed in a clearly organised manner.

The new ToolScope software product range is a milestone on the road to the digital future of machining. With these new tools, users can integrate their machines into a purely server-based monitoring environment. And KOMET has also developed the cloud infrastructure required for this. Indeed in order to use the cloud services, V11 ToolScope firmware is required.

The KOMET cloud can be rented via the Internet as a functional structure, or it can be installed as software for a local cloud in the customer's data centre. The data transfer via the Internet is encrypted. The KOMET servers are located in Germany and are under the control of a German company.

The cloud software offers everything you need to manage large quantities of data. Machine status data is collected in databases and is available both in the database and in CSV format. The cloud transfers the data to the ToolScope Cockpit monitoring software, which visualises the data.

The cloud rented from KOMET saves the user the effort and expense of setting up their own data storage. Ready-to-use cloud units including Cockpit software can be purchased from KOMET. KOMET provides free six-month trial access to the cloud storage.

Open platform and free download

To ensure that ToolScope is attractive to and can be used by the widest possible circle of users, KOMET practises maximum openness. This means that all of the system's interfaces – and also the apps provided by KOMET – are documented. Anyone who is interested can access the data for free on the Internet. KOMET is actively looking for partner companies who want to develop their own apps based on ToolScope and who will help to market ToolScope.

To make the expertise of KOMET BRINKHAUS as accessible as possible to resellers and other interested parties, the ToolScope specialists have saved the content of manuals and other documents in a "Wiki" system that can be accessed via the website https://brinkhaus-wiki.kometgroup.com. Those interested can also look up various details by searching directly via online search engines such as Google.

For example, if you enter "toolscope process history" you can find out all about the process history of ToolScopes. Entering "ts-mda data format" provides you with a detailed description of the data format which is used to transport the APP TS-MDA ToolScope data to the cloud.

KOMET allows anyone wanting to explore the practical benefits of the ToolScope systems to download the complete software for free. Installation in the machine and the cloud is very easy and doesn't need an IT specialist. All you need to do to trial the solution is register as a user at https://www.toolscope.de. Anyone wanting to use the software for production purposes must obtain a licence.

Mechatronic tools with their own web server

While ToolScope is the core element of all digital KOMET products, standard tools are also including more and more digital features. The new 3 series of the KOMET KomTronic U-axis UAS160 is one such example. It has its own web server, which enables configuration, parametrisation and diagnostics to be carried out remotely.

To ease the way to Industry 4.0 for mechatronic tools in the future, KOMET is taking part in a number of research projects, such BaZMod – machine configuration that caters to the needs of components in production using cyber­physical auxiliary modules.

This is being sponsored with funds from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) as a contribution to the future project "Industry 4.0" (funding code: 02PJ2639) and is being managed by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA).

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are actuating tools and measuring devices, labelling machines and other tools that are equipped with sensors for process monitoring and optimisation. In other words, systems that are capable of communicating and interacting with one another, and that demonstrate a certain "intelligence".

KOMET's field of activity primarily covers integrated mechanical and electrical interfaces for the transfer of energy, data and possibly other media for U-axis tools.

Communication via Bluetooth

The KOMET MicroKom BluFlex precision adjustment head also supports connection to the digital Industry 4.0 world, since it is now able to transfer data wirelessly via Bluetooth.

As all the Bluetooth technology is located in the precision adjustment head in the new version (version 2), the previous adjustment key is now redundant.

A Bluetooth low-energy interface enables all data to be transmitted to a smartphone (Android 4.3 or iOS 10 or higher). Users can view the BluFlex display on their smartphone using the MicroKom BluFlex 2 app which is available to download from the Google Play Store or App Store – with the added convenience of a wider range of more flexible options for reading data.

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