The special purpose machine tool manufacturer Metecno, and the leading CNC automation solution provider Fastems have signed an agreement for aftermarket services for special machine tools manufactured by Fastems and its predecessor Valmet Factory Automation. In accordance with the agreement, Metecno will receive all technical information related to special machine tools from Fastems and at the same time take over the future modernization and maintenance needs of the Finnish-made special machine tools that Fastems has serviced until now.

Founded in 2008, Metecno Oy is Finnish manufacturer of special purpose CNC machine tools. For example, Metecno has developed a radiation-resistant CNC remote milling machine for the hot chamber of VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), a CNC laser welding machine, and a soon-to-be-installed CNC machining center for Posiva Oy’s encapsulation facility of used nuclear fuel.

Valmet’s history as a Finnish manufacturer of machine tools is long and honorable with roots in the tooling department of Linnavuori engine factory of 1950s, and since 1970s the company manufactured special machine tools for various industries. Fastems Oy Ab continued this tradition from 1995 to 2010, developing and supplying special machine tools to several different countries and continents.

“We are honored to continue the fine Finnish machine tool tradition. In the design of future MeteCNC® machines, we will build on the technical insights of many generations of Finnish engineers, and help companies to keep the Finnish machine tools in use until the very end of their lifecycle,” comments Matti Metsähonkala, CEO of Metecno.

“Cooperation with Metecno secures aftermarket services for our machines still in use, and it feels like a natural continuation on Fastems’ path to focus exclusively on automating CNC machines. We are convinced that Metecno offers a good home for the knowledge and technical solutions accumulated over the last decades”, says Markku Lindeman, VP of Service at Fastems.

Part of valuable Finnish industrial history will be transferred to Metecno Oy when the original manufacturing drawings of the machines will be transferred to Metecno Oy. These drawings and other technical information about the machines will continue to be available to researchers interested in industrial history.

Fastems has announced the launch of their Flexible Pallet Tower (FPT), the most compact pallet automation solution for a single CNC milling machine with 300 to 630 mm pallets. FPT integrates with any machine with a wide library of ready-made machine tool interfaces and multiplies the machine tool utilization up by cutting down setup times and enabling lights-out manufacturing. The plug-and-play automation system also shortens the lead times and allows for higher part mix with smaller unit costs, no matter the production batch sizes.

Compared to other similar systems in the market, Fastems FPT is compatible with any machine tool brand, and it integrates with milling machines whether or not they have automatic pallet changers. In addition, the system footprint is extremely compact: FPT-500 for 300-500 mm pallets requires only 9 square meters, and FPT-1000 for 500-630 mm pallets requires 16 square meters. Instead of having a fixed storage, like most of the comparable units, FPT can work with different load heights and pallet sizes with a configurable pallet storage that can store up to 24 pallets in two to four levels.

The first FPT-500 for 300-500 mm pallets will be delivered to the first customer in February 2022, and the FPT-1000 for 500-630 mm will launch in late spring of 2022. These solutions can be delivered within 16 weeks of order placement. The FPT completes the Fastems pallet automation offering for smaller pallets and even tightest shop floor fitment requirements.

FPT is controlled by the completely new version of Fastems Manufacturing Management Software (MMS). MMS offers a single-view user interface with drag-and-drop production ordering and allows bringing new work pieces into the system in under 60 seconds. The system automatically tracks and reports the key performance indicators in real time. With the plug-and-play installation and fast to learn use, FPT brings immediate automation benefits to the shop floor. Fastems CEO Mikko Nyman shared, “With this solution we can serve also the customers looking for affordable automation for smaller milling machines, both with and without the automatic pallet changers. With the compact footprint and the configurable pallet storage, FPT really fits for all kinds of manufacturers. With the new, simplified MMS user interface and the ergonomic work piece loading station we can bring a whole new level of ergonomics to the operators.”

Fastems is hosting a live launch event to demonstrate the first FPT unit to the audience. The event takes place online November 30th at 12:00 GMT (London time in English) / 9:00 CET (Berlin time in German) / 12 PM EST (New York time in English) and the free registration is open at www.fastems.com/fpt-launch – a warm welcome on behalf of everyone at Fastems!

Flexible Pallet Tower FPT is a plug-and-play CNC automation for 4 and 5 axis machine tools

Fastems launched Fastwizard – a new, user-friendly interface for controlling robotized production cells. It is now an integral part of the RPC-20G robot cell designed for the tending of CNC machine tools, especially lathes.

In conventional manual programming of robots, highly skilled robot operators are needed. Fastwizard lowers this requirement dramatically, making it easy even for first-timers to operate a robot cell. Only a short introduction is needed. As the name suggests, Fastwizard is a user interface provided with a fast-guidance function, making the operation and programming of a robot cell easier and faster than ever before.

Everyone can use it
Thanks to Fastwizard, it is no longer necessary to use the robot’s teach pendant in day-to-day operation. The features and operation logic of Fastwizard's interface graphics resemble the user-friendly properties of portable music players, such as MP3s. A central element in Fastwizard is the Player display; in one view, it informs the operator of the cell status, the product being machined, production status, robot speed and the status of material stations. For product changes, new settings can be made quickly. The user interface gives clear instructions to the operator, facilitating the right choices and minimizing errors. The operator can easily choose the product program on the touch screen, as well as start, interrupt or stop production, and order the soon-to-be-ready product for inspection. In addition, Fastwizard speeds up the recognition, diagnosis and recovery from errors.

Quick-touch orders
Fastwizard simplifies the introduction of new work pieces to the production cell. At best, programming a new product for the cell takes only a few minutes. The user can choose between a programming wizard, step-by-step guidance or manual programming. The programming wizard asks the operator to determine the required work cycle phases, work piece measurements for different process phases, as well as the palletizing pattern for material stations, after which the system prepares a product program for the robot. To help the operator make the required choices on the touch screen, the work cycle phases are presented as easily identifiable icons. Fastwizard can also be used for testing and accepting the new program for production; the robot’s teach pendant is no longer needed.

A fast track to factory automation
The user-friendly Fastwizard simplifies the transfer to robotized factory automation. It minimizes the need for operator training, and allows several people to operate the cell, if needed. Even small batches can be brought to the robot rapidly and easily. The cell's utilization becomes more efficient, and the workforce can devote their time to other tasks in production. The factory gets better chances for unmanned production – and for increased productivity.

Today, Fastwizard is a standard component in Fastems' RPC-20G deliveries. It is also available as an option for the bigger RPC-70G cell. Later on, the solution will be available for all other Fastems robotics.