GE Fanuc Offers Bundled Hardware and Software Package with Open CNC

A new hardware and software package from GE Fanuc Automation (Charlottesville, VA) was announced at Westec. This product, developed in conjunction with its newly acquired CimWorks software, offers users Open CNC capabilities, including networking and productivity tools. It's designed to eliminate the technical difficulties typically associated with add-on products, as well as the investment in a new CNC.

Called the Open Factory Bolt-On, the product includes a touchscreen-capable DuraTouch industrial PC, Gibbs SFP software (shopfloor programming), and the CimWorks software suite that quickly connects to an existing CNC to add and expand functionality as needed.

The company sees Open Factory Bolt-On as a way for shop owners with older CNC technology to maximize their original investment and leverage the latest software and productivity tools without a costly control system replacement.

Open Factory Bolt-On allows users to add productivity-enhancing tools to most GE Fanuc CNCs installed over the last 10 years. The DuraTouch PC is a totally enclosed unit that mounts easily and directly to the operator's CNC station, supplementing the CNC's existing operator interface. From the DuraTouch PC, the operator accesses GE Fanuc's Shop Floor Programming (Gibbs SFP), a graphical parts program that uses the power of Windows and graphical parts modeling to create and verify the cutting of parts right at the machine.

Parts are defined directly from blueprint drawings using standard process steps. Operators can see the part cut graphically, which provides quick confirmation of both part geometry and tool selection.

Complementing Shop Floor Programming is the CimWorks suite of manufacturing solutions, which includes VisualDocs, VisualDNC, and VisualMEM. If a user already employs a GibbsCAM programming system in the plant, VisualDocs can tie the offline system directly to the shopfloor, providing a pathway for organizing and sending information to and from the office to the shopfloor.

VisualDNC, tailored for older GE Fanuc or third-party CNCs, can link CNCs to the office so part programs can be transferred directly to the CNC. VisualMEM is used to analyze CNC data for productivity reports and production data such as uptime/downtime, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair.

GE Fanuc Automation is a global supplier of automation controls, including Cimplicity monitoring and control products, micro- to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control systems, and CO2 and YAG lasers. The company acquired CimWorks GageTalker in January.

GE Fanuc Automation North America Inc., Box 806, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Tel: 804-978-5000.