The history of CNC development in Japan
The Japanese government attaches great importance to the development of the machine tool industry. Through planning and regulations (such as "Machine Vibration Law", "Electromechanical Law", "Machine Information Law ”, etc.) to guide development. Learn from Germany when it comes to focusing on talents and matching machine tool components, learn from the United States when it comes to quality management and CNC machine tool technology, and even outperform others. Since the first CNC machine tool was developed in 1958, its output (7,342 units) surpassed that of the United States (5,688 units) in 1978. To date, its output and export volume have always ranked first in the world (in 2001, the output was 46,604 units, exports were 27,409 units, accounting for 59%) . Strategically imitating first and creating later, he produces a large number of mid-range CNC machine tools and exports them in large quantities, occupying a vast market in the world. In the 1980s, we began to further strengthen scientific research and develop towards high-performance CNC machine tools. Japan's FANUC company has a correct strategy, combining imitation and innovation, and targeted development of various low, medium and high-end CNC systems required by the market. It is technologically leading and ranks first in the world in terms of output. The company currently has 3,674 employees, more than 600 scientific researchers, and a monthly production capacity of 7,000 sets. Its sales account for 50% of the world market and about 70% of the domestic market. It has played a major role in accelerating the development of CNC machine tools in Japan and the world. effect.
Mitsubishi System Development History
Since the birth of the first CNC machine tool in the United States in 1952, Mitsubishi Electric began the research and development of CNC systems in 1956. It has been more than 50 years ago. Its development history gives it rich experience in CNC system development and superior product performance. However, since it officially entered China relatively late, users only know Mitsubishi CNC systems from equipment imported from abroad. With Mitsubishi Electric's increasing emphasis on the Chinese market in recent years, Mitsubishi CNC systems have ranked among the top three mid-to-high-end CNC systems in China's market share, and their product performance has been continuously recognized by the market and users (especially the mold industry).
As a general-purpose CNC system, Mitsubishi CNC has experienced several generations of product replacement and continuous technological innovation and improvement from the earlier M3/M50/M500 series to the current mainstream M60S/E60/E68 series. .
The M3/L3 CNC system was developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation in the mid-1980s and is a full-featured CNC system product suitable for controlling CNC milling machines, machining centers (3M) and CNC lathes (3L).
Later, Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan developed the MELDAS 50 series CNC system in the mid-1990s. Among them, the MELDAS50 series is divided into multiple product specifications according to different uses: 50D for drilling machine control, 50M for milling machine/machining center control, 50L for lathe control, and 50G for grinder control.
In 2008, in order to improve the market demand for Mitsubishi CNC systems, Mitsubishi launched the integrated M70 series of products, which is more cost-effective than the high-end M700 series.
The M70 series is positioned in the Chinese mainland market and currently has two products: intelligent (70A) and standard (70B) equipped with high-speed PLC engines.
Now, the M70 series CNC system, which inherits most of the technologies and new functions of the M700 series, has become the main model of Mitsubishi Electric Automation (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Other miscellaneous products of the Mitsubishi brand Please read and sort out the information yourself:
Mitsubishi is a well-known brand. Among Mitsubishi products, wire cutting and spark machine business are undoubtedly important components, and in mechanical processing, mold manufacturing, etc. All fields have achieved rapid development. As a member of the Mitsubishi Electric Group, Mitsubishi Electric Automation has been committed to providing customers with professional, high-quality and effective product equipment and solutions in industrial automation, power control and other related businesses. Its products are widely used in machinery, metallurgy, Electricity, steel, food, beverages, packaging, petrochemicals and automobiles, IT electronics, household appliances mold manufacturing and other fields provide comprehensive support for all aspects of social life and production, and enjoy a good reputation among domestic companies and foreign companies in China. reputation.
First of all, as a global comprehensive company, the comprehensive technological advantages that Mitsubishi Electric has cultivated in various fields over the years are unmatched by other manufacturers.
For example, Mitsubishi applies its most cutting-edge technology and best products, such as CNC systems, frequency converters, electrical switches, etc., to its own machine tools, thus maintaining the stability of the technology and reducing costs at the same time. Secondly, Mitsubishi has a strong R&D team, rapid technological updates, and fast model updates. Basically, it launches more than one new product every year. Such R&D speed and strength are also difficult for other companies to match. In addition, Mitsubishi's factories in China are relatively mature. The Dalian factory has a history of ten years and a certain scale. It is launching machine tools suitable for the Chinese market and in compliance with relevant Chinese standards at a rate of 120 units per month. The entire management system it adopts, including quality, procurement, main components, and packaging, is completely unified with that of Japanese companies, which ensures the advancement of technology and the stability of products from a technical level.
In addition to the advancement and stability of products, the sustainable development of an enterprise is closely related to the sales of its products. In terms of sales model, Mitsubishi Electric adopts a sales agency system. The advantages of using agent sales are: first, the controllability of production costs. Regardless of market growth or decline, production costs always remain basically controllable; second, using the agency system can quickly occupy the market and achieve rapid growth. The expansion speed; third, realize resource optimization, reduce the cost of training a large number of sales personnel, and invest the profits and resources obtained in research and development more effectively. Mitsubishi has relatively strict management of agents and conducts training for agents twice a year. In the process of agency sales, Mitsubishi implements a reporting system. The reporting system has two functions. First, it protects the interests of agents. Agents spend their efforts to find customers and can protect their own interests by reporting to the company; The second is to protect the interests of end customers. Mitsubishi will not divide its Chinese market into regions now and for a long time to come. This is a major measure to protect the interests of users, because without regional division, there will be no regional divisions. Only by monopolizing the market can customers get more reasonable and realistic prices.
Adhering to the concept of serving global customers and establishing service centers, Mitsubishi Electric has established technical service centers, maintenance service centers, customer training centers and application demonstration centers in Shanghai, Ningbo, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenzhen and Dongguan. , providing customers with comprehensive technical consultation, technical training and after-sales services, and providing customers with overall solutions to help customers improve their competitiveness. Customers can visit the center to watch the machine tool processing demonstration in person, or make specific requirements, provide samples, and use the machine tools in each center for trial processing, and receive optimal solutions and professional training services.
The development history of Mitsubishi Electric electric discharge machine tools is also the history of electric discharge machine tools. Since Mitsubishi Electric began basic research and development of electrical discharge machining in 1967, it has continued to seek the best way to improve machining accuracy and production efficiency. Mitsubishi Electric has been a leader in the global electrical discharge machining industry for many years. Its professional development and research department conducts research on improving processing speed, processing accuracy, development of new processing technology, and development and research of optimal control technology. In addition to Japan, Mitsubishi Electric established an electrical discharge machining machine production plant in Dalian, China, in the early 1990s. In the current situation of rising energy and manufacturing costs, manufacturers are paying more and more attention to the issue of energy consumption in the manufacturing process. In terms of energy conservation, Mitsubishi Electric is one of the best among Japanese companies. Its energy conservation concept runs through every detail of the equipment: power supply, control system, drive motor, processing fluid pump, etc. According to the latest market feedback, Mitsubishi's FA20S-advance consumes 30% less power during processing than similar products. At the same time, Mitsubishi Electric's Dalian factory itself is also an energy-saving demonstration factory. It integrates energy-saving concepts and practices into the entire production process, providing a visual model for energy-saving and consumption reduction in the manufacturing industry.
Mitsubishi Electric provides an overall solution, and the workshop's power distribution, machine tool control, and monitoring are all integrated and visualized. Unlike traditional machining shops, Mitsubishi Electric's integrated solution connects all machining machine tools through the network. Whether all machine tools are in processing or stopped can be clearly seen on the computer at the other end. How much electricity is used at a specific time? When processing the same products under the same conditions, Mitsubishi Electric provides users with a model that allows for horizontal and vertical comparisons of differences in material consumption, production cycle time, processing effects, and workers' work proficiency. The overall solution provided by Mitsubishi Electric allows customers to experience higher efficiency and unprecedented convenience.
Users can not only achieve the most efficient production, but also optimize training, operation, and management, thereby reducing overall costs.
Electrical discharge machining machine tools have irreplaceable advantages in the field of processing. As a non-contact processing, its electrodes and materials do not contact each other, and there is no need to consider the loss of tools due to contact processing in high-speed milling. At the same time, electrical discharge machining has no requirements on the hardness of the processed materials, and ceramics, diamonds, etc. can be used as processing objects. For some complex mold surfaces, sharp corners, narrow gaps, etc., electric discharge processing machines are more convenient and cost-effective. Mitsubishi Electric's research and development direction has been developing in the direction of high precision. Mitsubishi Electric Discharge Machining Machine Tools continue to introduce new ones, continue to meet changing market demands, and continue to launch a strong lineup of new processing application series machine tools. Its latest FA20S Advance is Mitsubishi's current main model in the market. Its processing accuracy can reach more than 3 to 4 μm, and its surface finish can be obtained. Mitsubishi Electric's product structure is clearly structured. According to the customer's processing needs and economic affordability, there are high , medium and low-end products, users can choose machines with different performance and different prices. At present, Mitsubishi Electric already has a high reputation in the popular market. In the future, it will focus on launching machines with high technical content and low demand for raw materials and labor. We are not simply selling a product, but more importantly, we are providing integrated manufacturing solutions.
The new product EA12A electric spark discharge machining equipment adopts the technological integration of the newly developed control device ADVANCE and the upgraded V power supply. It has sensitive real-time control capabilities. The improved power supply has higher discharge accuracy than before. The power consumption has been greatly improved, and the energy consumption has been further reduced, making it a true "green" power supply. The EA12A adopts network-based control technology, making remote control and remote diagnosis possible. In terms of the overall structure of the equipment, this model adopts a semi- The closed structure cleverly isolates the heating element and external heat, keeping key precision components at a constant temperature, eliminating the impact of temperature on precision. The latest NA series wire-cut electric discharge processing machine adopts the unique energy control technology developed by Mitsubishi Company. When cutting the workpiece, it can apply appropriate discharge energy at different height points according to the thickness of the workpiece, eliminating the need for wire electrodes. The deterioration of vertical surface accuracy caused by the loss of the cutting surface greatly improves the straightness of the cutting surface; the constant tension technology of the electrode wire developed by Mitsubishi can ensure the seamless processing of the cutting surface, and the unique linear electrode control technology can ensure an accuracy of less than 2 microns. cutting processing.
What is the biggest advantage of Mitsubishi products?
The advantage of Mitsubishi products is that we have strong R&D technology, flexible sales and marketing strategies, and quick response methods. to meet user needs. Pay attention to first-hand feedback from end users and adjust our product development direction and sales strategy accordingly. Market share is only a way to reflect brand awareness. Price wars and product dumping in low-end markets may temporarily increase market share. Of course, Mitsubishi will also pay attention to this when examining the current market situation, but we believe that sales and quality, sales and popularity, sales and recognition cannot be equated. What Mitsubishi pursues is how to maintain rapid and healthy development of the enterprise, pursue continuous improvement to launch products that better meet market demand, and pursue to better meet user requirements. These are what Mitsubishi pays more attention to.
From a product strategy perspective, "From 'Mold Mitsubishi' to 'All-round Mitsubishi', this is the new product concept launched by Mitsubishi CNC System." Computer CNC Device Department of Mitsubishi Electric Automation (China) Co., Ltd. Senior manager Zhao Hongwei said so.
Reporter: Based on your analysis and combined with the current development trend of CNC technology, in what direction do you think the focus of Mitsubishi CNC product development will develop?
Zhao Hongwei: The so-called high-end CNC system generally covers two concepts: one is a high-speed, high-precision CNC system and CNC system used in large machine tools; the other is a five-axis linkage CNC system . Due to the involvement of relevant Japanese national policies, the high-end CNC systems currently promoted by Mitsubishi in the Chinese market still fall into the category of the first concept mentioned above.
Judging from the current market development, future CNC systems will develop in the direction of high speed, high precision, high reliability, intelligence, simple debugging, and easy use.
High speed, the first is the high speed of feed, and the second is that the rotation speed of the spindle motor must be high and the acceleration and deceleration time of the spindle motor must be short. Especially in the past two years, because there is more product processing than mold processing, users have more and more requirements for motor speed, positioning speed and spindle speed of machine tools. Two or three years ago, users' requirements for the feed motor speed were only about 3000r/min, but now generally speaking, the minimum requirement must also reach 4000~5000r/min; the changes in the spindle motor speed requirements have also changed from the traditional The speed of 6000~8000r/min has increased to the current speed of 10000r/min, 15000r/min, and even exceeds 20000r/min, and this demand is growing.
Secondly, high precision is also one of the necessary indicators for high-end CNC systems. For example, when Foxconn processes 3G mobile phone workpieces, it often encounters unqualified processing dimensions when using a general CNC system. The reason is that some blind spots cannot be processed and the accuracy cannot meet the requirements. However, after using Mitsubishi's M700 series CNC system, through the high-speed and high-precision detection functions in the CNC system, the workpieces can be processed accurately according to the dimensions they desired. This is a function only available in Mitsubishi's high-end CNC systems.
In addition, the processing accuracy of the CNC system can be reflected in the processing of complex curved surfaces. Generally speaking, manual writing of large-scale machining programs is relatively complicated. Nowadays, many CNC programming software generates a relatively large amount of programs for complex surfaces. The processing of complex curved surfaces is realized by the interpolation of tiny line segments. For CNC systems, it is necessary to realize feedback from the CNC controller and the internal calculation of the driver to the encoder resolution of the motor. At present, the interpolation accuracy of Mitsubishi's M70 and M700 series can reach nanometer level. Nowadays, there are controllers in China that claim to be nanoscale, but they are basically only from the perspective of CNC controllers, and it is difficult to achieve from the perspective of drives and motors. What Mitsubishi proposes is "completely nanoscale", and the system provided to users is also a complete set. The meaning of nanoscale is that it can make the motor run more smoothly without affecting the processing speed in the processing of tiny line segments, thereby making the motor run more smoothly. Improve the surface quality of the workpiece.
Reporter: I remember the last time I interviewed you was in July 2009. You proposed the concept of "Same Mitsubishi, Different Experience". After 9 months, we really want to know what new products and services Mitsubishi can bring to machine tool companies and end users today?
Zhao Hongwei: Before 2009, Mitsubishi's main business was based on hardware, such as controllers, drives, servo motors and other supporting CNC system software. Starting from the second half of 2009, we M70 and M700 were launched one after another, and the supporting software for CNC systems began to increase, and most of the software was provided to machine tool manufacturers free of charge. These software include: servo adjustment, parameter setting and communication. These software can greatly improve the customer's installation efficiency.
In addition, the use of CF cards to store programs in M70 and M700 also provides users with great convenience. The traditional method is to use the computer to store the processing program, and then use the RS232 cable to send the processing code to the NC, and then process it, which is called the DNC method. Now with the improvement of CNC systems, this traditional DNC method has been gradually eliminated, because RS232 transmission has many disadvantages. First, it is susceptible to interference; second, due to poor grounding, it is easy to cause damage to the CNC system and computer; third Third, the transmission distance and transmission speed will also be limited. Therefore, the new method now is to transmit through Ethernet, and to use a CF memory card (large capacity) in the controller, and then call the program in the CF card for processing. After the CAD/CAM is completed, a post-processing program is generated, and its processing code can be stored in the CF card through the Ethernet network. If the CNC system can call programs directly from the CF card or even edit programs, the realization of this idea will be very convenient for users. These functions are provided to users as standard functions of Mitsubishi CNC systems. Related to this, the unique feature of the Mitsubishi M70/M700 series is that processing programs of 10M or more can be edited online. This is still rare in CNC systems of the same grade, which greatly facilitates user use and operation.
In addition, the M70 and M700 series CNC systems also provide users with good compatibility for secondary development. Taking the M70 as an example, users can develop their own customized screens to meet the requirements of specific customers' processing habits. For example, the operation of special machine tools such as gear processing machines is different from that of ordinary machining centers. Users can make the CNC system conform to the processing habits of this industry through simple settings in the customized screen. M700 also provides users with space for self-development, which can implement tool life management, etc. All screens are developed using C language.
The M700 series positioned by Mitsubishi is at the same level as FANUC's 31i and Siemens' 840D. It has a high cost performance in large machine tools and high-speed and high-precision machining applications, and judging from the current sales situation Look, the market demand for large machine tools is very strong. With the promotion of Mitsubishi's high-end CNC system M700 system, competition in the high-end CNC system market will increasingly intensify, benefiting more users and helping the development of China's high-end machine tool manufacturing.
Reporter: What other new measures has Mitsubishi launched to help and serve Chinese users?
Zhao Hongwei: After the outbreak of the international financial crisis in October 2008, Mitsubishi carried out the "100 Enterprise Tours" and achieved certain results. Newly developed users accounted for 20%. Currently, such activities are still going on in progress.
In June 2009, a CNC product hotline was added to Mitsubishi's existing "call center", which can respond to various problems users have with Mitsubishi CNC products. In addition, in the past, in Beijing, The 800 after-sales service hotlines in Shanghai and Shenzhen fully cover pre-sales, sales and after-sales consulting services.
Since October 2009, Mitsubishi has been conducting NC course training (e-Learning) through Ethernet. In terms of CNC products, there are currently 5 courses for everyone to choose from, and more will be added in the future. course. Whether it is a machine tool factory or an end user, as long as there is an Internet connection, you can go to Mitsubishi's website, choose courses, and experience the interactive learning method. After completing the course, users can also choose to take an online exam and download the certificate after passing it. Mitsubishi Electric is the first company to launch free course training services online. With the continuous advancement of e-Learning, Mitsubishi Electric's factory automation products will become more and more popular, thereby realizing our pursuit of product reputation.