The Importance of RFID Tool Management in Smart Manufacturing Factories

1. Problems with traditional Tool management

Traditional tool management methods have some problems in modern intelligent manufacturing factories. First, the number of tools is huge and the types are diverse, and manual management is difficult to meet the needs. Second, paper barcodes are easily damaged in oily environments, resulting in the inability to accurately judge the tool life. In addition, due to the lack of tools, the processing process is often interrupted, and machine operators need to spend a lot of time looking for tools.

2. Application of RFID technology in tool management

In order to solve the problems of traditional tool management methods, the introduction of wireless radio frequency technology (RFID) as a tool management is a must. RFID technology can realize real-time collection, status tracking and intelligent management of tool information. For example, in the production line of a mobile phone company, RFID technology is used in tool management to realize the recording and data analysis of the entire life cycle of the tool.

3. RFID identification and initialization of tools

In order to realize the intelligent management of tools, the machine tool needs to initialize the tool magazine and write the tool processing time into the RFID tag of the tool handle. The unique identification information of the tool can be written into the RFID through the tool coding to manage the identity and usage of each tool. When writing the corresponding program, the nominal diameter, nominal length and corresponding program of the tool can be determined according to the specifications of the tool, and then the corresponding diameter compensation and length compensation can be given according to the actual situation. Since the same tool can be installed on different machine tools, and the same machine tool can also process different products, abnormal situations may also occur when processing products, so the above processing information needs to be displayed during processing. Through program control, the tool code, processed products, product quantity, abnormal information, etc. can be displayed dynamically during the processing process, as well as the tool code, tool life, tool usage time and other information in the RFID record.

4. Tool processing information and dynamic display

When writing the corresponding program, the nominal diameter, nominal length and corresponding processing program of the tool can be determined according to the specifications of the tool, and diameter compensation and length compensation can be performed according to the actual situation. The tool processing information and the tool code, tool life, tool usage time and other information in the RFID record can be controlled by the program, and the report can be displayed dynamically during the processing process, showing the tool code, processed products, product quantity, abnormal information, etc.

5. Core functions of the intelligent tool management system

Single product tracking

The system tracks the data information of each single product tool in real time. Users can query the number of processed parts, matching tools, equipment used, number of sharpening times, and remaining life at any time.

Intelligent sharpening management

The system keeps track of sharpening information such as the number of sharpening times and sharpening parameters of each single tool in real time. At the same time, the system also performs sharpening data analysis to effectively extend the service life of the tool.

Intelligent scrap management

The system automatically detects whether the tool meets the scrap conditions, effectively eliminating waste. At the same time, the system conducts data mining and analysis on scrapped tools to provide data support for process improvement and help reduce the abnormal scrap ratio.

Intelligent error prevention mechanism

The system keeps track of the information of single tool in real time. Once there is a state mismatch, mismatch, or mismatch, the system will automatically prompt to effectively avoid human errors.

Supplier performance assessment

The system will conduct full life cycle data analysis on tools from different suppliers to achieve supplier performance assessment. By calculating the contribution and cost-effectiveness data of single tool products from different suppliers, it helps users evaluate the performance of suppliers.

Cost amortization

The system can calculate the cost amortization according to the number of processing in the whole life cycle, and improve the level of product cost accounting.

Reduce work difficulty and improve work efficiency

Through the implementation of the intelligent tool management system, the warehouse saves the manual filling of the in and out documents, the tool setting room saves the manual or computer check drawings to manually fill in the tool setting parameters, and the grinding room saves the manual or computer check drawings to confirm the grinding parameters. This greatly improves the work efficiency of the tool operator.

6. Advantages and application prospects of the intelligent tool management system

Through the implementation of the intelligent tool management system, the work difficulty can be reduced, the work efficiency can be improved, the tedious steps of manually filling in documents and parameters can be eliminated, and the work efficiency of the tool operator can be improved. The introduction of the intelligent tool management system provides strong support for the manufacturing industry to achieve more intelligent and automated goals. Through the application of RFID technology, the real-time collection and intelligent management of tool information can be realized, the use efficiency and life of the tool can be improved, the production cost and work difficulty can be reduced, and new opportunities and challenges can be brought to the development of the manufacturing industry.