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THINC outside the box THINC: Outside the box with the new Okuma control "What we've actually built is a sand box for other people to bring their ideas, implement them on the machine tool, independent of Okuma - without coming to us [Okuma] unless they need to," said Tain. "It is a perpetually expanding, evolving, and fully customizable fluid platform that allows the control hardware and software platform to grow inexpensively as new technology is introduced even after installation on the factory floor," explains Tain. "Machine tool controls must incorporate a robust and user friendly set of Application Programming Interfaces (API) to allow the end user or a third party to develop software to influence machine tool operation, which in turn allows a more productive environment and thus higher profitability." Unique to the machine tool market, THINC is a single processor solution. Extremely robust, a single PC motherboard runs the entire machine from the real-time portion of the machine - motion control to the onboard Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Microsoft Windows OS, Windows-based applications, and the human interfaces. Having just one microprocessor is a major technological advantage. Basically, two boards make up the entire control, one intelligent and one that is passive. The same two boards are used on every machine Okuma builds, meaning, it doesn't matter if it's a lathe or a machining center, it is still the same two boards. The advantage is what Tain calls ‘the fluid platform' where the motherboard can be swapped as more powerful versions become available from Intel. A more powerful motherboard allows the control to run more applications which will, in turn, make more decisions for the customer - improving the customer's bottom line and increasing productivity. Another way to improve productivity is through a variety of new interfaces that continue to be developed by 30 Partners in THINC collaborators that work seamlessly with the THINC-OSP control. Having an interface through the THINC control can mean cutting labor costs at installation to true machine tool peripheral plug and play on the factory floor. Robots, bar feeders, and even interfaces to MRP or ERP can be managed through plug and play via Ethernet or a USB port. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Partners in THINC facility is a one-stop shop for the end-user. A showroom with the latest technologies from world-renown companies ranging from ABB to Zeiss. Customers can come to see their own parts being cut in real time, finding the best solutions for their specific manufacturing needs. "Incorporating leading industry Partners with the control has been a driving force since the initial concept of THINC," says Tain. "We want our partners to have a technical vision and technical capability that matches the THINC control and where the technology is going to go in the future. The responses from our customers who apply Partners in THINC technologies to their THINC controls, and use the Partners in THINC facility to their advantage, have been excellent. Basically, our customers are extremely excited with the idea of autonomy." As the Okuma machine tool continues to become more intelligent and is able to make more decisions independent of the operator, the less intervention is needed from Okuma to implement new ideas and technology. The future of THINC is of continual growth as a result of the fluid platform. As more powerful processors and new software developed by Okuma and by Partners in THINC, third-party software, software from universities, large and small companies, the control will continue to expand capabilities. "We know we cannot do all of this ourselves," says Tain. "Our vision is that in 25-30 years from now, this machine will be completely autonomous, it will think for itself...and thus the name ‘THINC' evolved. |
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