Learning to connect

Als an der GS ein Einstellgerät angeschafft werden sollte, zog Wöhrle dafür auch MAPAL als Lieferanten in Betracht. „Um eine fundierte Entscheidung zu treffen, habe ich eine Technikerarbeit ausgeschrieben. Einer unserer angehenden Techniker hat unterschiedliche Einstellgeräte gegenübergestellt und das für uns optimale Gerät herausgearbeitet“, erläutert Wöhrle. Sven Frank, Global Head of OEM Management bei MAPAL, erinnert sich: „Die Anfrage der GS nach einem Einstellgerät landete auf meinem Tisch. Natürlich haben wir ein für die Schule passendes Angebot erstellt.“ MAPAL wählte ein UNISET-P aus, das mit zahlreichen Features ausgestattet ist. „Da es sich um ein runderneuertes Rückläufermodell handelte, konnten wir es zu einem unschlagbaren Preis anbieten,“ erläutert Frank. Denn dem Unternehmen sei es ungemein wichtig, die Ausbildung junger Menschen zu unterstützen. „Wenn sich die ausgebildeten Zerspanungsmechaniker, Techniker und Meister in ihren Betrieben an unsere Geräte erinnern und Kunden werden, ist das ein Gewinn für uns“, so Frank. 

Wie die Daten vom Einstellgerät an die Maschinen gelangen und welche Lösungen der Markt hierzu bietet, war ebenfalls Teil der Technikerarbeit. Die Eigenschaften des Einstellgeräts waren also nicht der einzige Grund, warum die Technikerarbeit zu dem Ergebnis kam, dass ein MAPAL Gerät die beste Lösung für die GS ist. „Das Digitalisierungs-Know-how von MAPAL hat uns überzeugt“, so Wöhrle, „die Themen Digitalisierung und Industrie beschäftigten uns enorm. Seit vier Jahren sind sie ein fester Bestandteil des Lehrplans. Wir statten unsere Techniker beispielsweise mit iPads aus.“  
 

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is part of every curriculum at the GS – for vocational students, student technicians and future foremen and women alike. Accurate data and integrating machines into the overall system are correspondingly important. For privacy reasons, however, machines and setting fixtures at the GS cannot be connected to the school network. “Our machines are from 2010 – they didn’t have the prerequisites for connecting them to our system anyway,” adds Wöhrle.

MAPAL therefore offers a solution alongside the UNISET-P that nevertheless allows machines to be connected to the setting fixture: barcode labels for the tools are printed on the UNISET-P. c-Connect boxes with scanners are connected to the machines in the centre of competence. This allows the barcodes to be scanned and labels to be read. The c-Connect boxes, which connect to the machine via USB, transfer the data.

“The solution is incredibly simple and works brilliantly for us. It’s easy to use, we don’t have to make complicated interventions in machine control, and the costs were well within budget,” says Wöhrle with satisfaction. The machine operators – in this case, the school’s students – no longer need to manually input anything into the machine.
 

The results of a variety of project tasks that Harald Wöhrle set his students demonstrate how intensively cutting machine operators, technicians and foremen and women work with the setting fixture and c-Connect boxes today. Accordingly, a variety of different text and video guides on the setting fixture and how it is used at the GS have been created.

The setting fixture also fulfils its duties from a practical perspective. “Before the students machine their workpieces, they equip the machine accordingly. Before that, they measure the tools and adjust them if necessary. They transfer the data into the CAM system and simulate machining. Only then do they move onto actual machining at the machine.” Just like in all manufacturing. Harald Wöhrle is particular proud of this: “We’re mapping out the entire process here – including all calculations.” This is why, for instance, the school operates a cutting database for all teachers and students to access. “That was another technical thesis project in which MAPAL was always on hand to help with any queries and issues,” says Wöhrle.
 

An expansion of the cooperation is therefore planned. “We’d like to build a tool management system, including test equipment management,” says the teacher, looking to the future. “And MAPAL is predestined for that,” says Sven Frank. Sebastian Kreller, Global Head of Tool Management at MAPAL, ran a workshop at the GS to give decision-makers and budding technicians at the GS a glimpse of MAPAL’s tool management options.

“MAPAL has also impressed us in terms of tool management,” says Wöhrle. After all, “unlike with other providers’ dispensing systems and software, at MAPAL, it doesn’t matter what’s being managed. For instance, this would allow us to manage not just all our tools, irrespective of the manufacturer, but also our testing equipment, using UNIBASE software and the associated dispensing cabinets.” A topic that Harald Wöhrle imagines could make a great technical thesis project. Exciting technical thesis projects and other projects are accordingly in the works for the GS in cooperation with MAPAL.