Exceptional flexibility marks NUMROTO out

JEL® has relied on NUMROTO software for about 20 years, making it one of the company’s oldest partners. Since being integrated into the KOMET GROUP, the benefits of the flexible and simple, standardised NUMROTO application have also become apparent to the entire KOMET GROUP. Bit by bit, the application has been introduced and successfully used across the whole group.

A leading manufacturer of precision tools, the KOMET GROUP is represented around the world by 15 subsidiaries, 40 service and sales centres and 10 production sites. The company was founded in 1918 and has operated under the name of KOMET® since 1924.

With the takeover of DIHART AG in 1996 and JEL® GmbH in 1999, KOMET® has strongly expanded its product portfolio in the area of thread and friction technology. The company uses a large number of machines equipped with NUMROTO and is set to obtain even more machines this year. A major part of their operation involves producing solid carbide tools in small to medium-sized series. Their machinery includes products from UWS, SAACKE, DECKEL, EWAG, TTB and STRAUSAK. All the machines are connected in a network and are attached to a central multi-user database. NUMROTO has become a tried and tested standard for the KOMET GROUP.

With innovative tool concepts and all-round solutions, the KOMET GROUP is a global technological leader. Reducing production costs, economic efficiency and reproducible drilling quality are the core aims of the tool solutions and concepts, in both the standard and specialised areas. Customer satisfaction is a top priority, along with the possibility of being at the forefront of innovation in the tool sector.

The KOMET GROUP relies on NUMROTO because this software runs on various machine types. Once an employee is familiar with NUMROTO, he or she can work with any machine. This results in greater flexibility in production. The NUMROTO software itself also offers flexibility, which is one of the reasons why the KOMET GROUP uses it. “NUMROTO is incredible flexible”, says Joachim Dünwald, Production Manager at the KOMET GROUP in Stuttgart. “There is a solution for virtually everything.” Another major benefit is that the software is constantly being updated. “NUMROTO is alive – you just have to briefly download the update to the machine and you’re up-to-date”, adds Mr Dünwald. This is true of all the NUMROTO machines in use at KOMET® in Stuttgart; including those that are about to turn 20 years old.

Another plus point is the 3D simulation: “The NUMROTO 3D simulation is always good for showing employees how the process works, but also for identifying errors”, says Mr Kurt Pohle, Head of the Complete Machining department at the KOMET GROUP in Stuttgart. The KOMET GROUP also uses the “in-process measurement” application (see article over the page). This enables very precise grinding by compensating for the wheel wear and thermal effects in the machine itself. In addition, the control measurements make the production process verifiable and secure. This function is becoming increasingly popular, enabling very reliable production.

THE KOMET GROUP insists on consistent quality in production, repairs and delivery, all around the world. This goal is achieved by KOMET SERVICE®. This service covers professional regrinding, individual recoating, ultra-precise retooling and, where needed, a compact tool range, including solid carbide tools and simple VHM special tools. The KOMET GROUP relies increasingly on external partner companies that are licensed by KOMET® to regrind or even produce KOMET® products. This is mainly to cover peak production times and to be able to guarantee waiting periods. The KOMET GROUP prefers to cooperate with partners that use NUMROTO machines themselves, in order to implement the idea of the “extended workbench”. Thanks to the compatibility of the programming systems, the companies can exchange tool data and offer the high quality that the KOMET GROUP guarantees.

This solid carbide drill is designed to bore deep holes. At the same time, it creates a precisely defined profile at the base of the drill hole. This type of tool is generally used to make holes in which components with a special form are to be installed form-locking. For example, sealing rings, springs, mechanical safety mechanisms or sensors. The drill’s two cutting edges can be designed symmetrically or asymmetrically, in order to create sharp-edged corners, for example.

(September 2011)