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Special functions such as suction cup loading and unloading as well as special forming and wheel tools can be programmed at the same time, as can the tapping stations – plus all other machine options.

SMB Schnekenburger, a job shop based in southern Germany, engineers and produces precision sheet metal assemblies in quantities of between 50 and 10 thousand units for various purposes including industrial electronics or medical technology.

To manufacture blanks, SMB uses the latest top-grade punch-laser combination model by Amada. The EMT 36 10 NT, which is equipped with the fully automated loading and unloading modules L3 and PR 3 and a PDC2 tooling carousel, is operated manlessly on a shift basis, together with three other automated combination machines plus an Alpha laser machine alongside an automatic Stopa sheet metal storage rack.

SMB has used various CADCAM systems, including OEM software, to program its CNC machines since the 1990s. After a brief presentation of the WICAM software, Thomas Schnekenburger decided to integrate the PN4000 system in the production line.

Mr Weiß, Head of Production Planning, comments: “It was only thanks to WICAM that we realised how easy CADCAM programming can be. Now we’re able to assign each job to any machine flexibly and within seconds. We can program and switch out tools very quickly – and integrating new machines is no problem at all. Since we replaced the previous software applications, the time we spend programming the machines has been cut by 50 per cent or more. This is a very clear advantage, since we strive to be just as highly precise, flexible and on time as our own products are.