When talking about making choices and investing in machine tools, the fear to choose the wrong machine is the typical feeling that everyone experiences with a certain degree of worry.

Nowadays, with the thousands of possibilities being offered by the market, people are increasingly confused, and there is more and more fear of making a mistake.

If you have been following me for some time, you know very well that the MULTICENTER is the most mass-produced flexible machine since 2005, and it is the machine most commonly used in the sector of small and medium lots.

The fast change from one production to the next is the winning feature of this machine, not so much the speed of part execution, which falls into the background, but rather the production change.

THE FAST PRODUCTION CHANGE IS THE WINNING FEATURE OF THE MULTICENTER!

In this article, I will reveal to you how we have designed this technological gem. I would like for you to understand what is behind the success of this product. The MULTICENTER was designed in a totally different way compared to the previous machines.

We chose a strategic partner, AUTODESK, with which it was possible to design and implement an innovative software for all the steps needed in order to best develop the MULTICENTER.

We were pioneers in the use of 3D design software.

Today, with the new Digital Prototyping approach, which perfectly matches our company’s innovation and design vision, we are once again pioneers in the machine tool sector.

HERE ARE THE FOUR STEPS OF DIGITAL PROTOTYPING:

1. AUTODESK SKETCHBOOK TO OBTAIN SKETCHES ALREADY IN DIGITAL FORMAT
2. AUTODESK INVENTOR FOR THE ENGINEERING AND ASSEMBLY PHASES OF THE MACHINES
3. AUTODESK ALIAS FOR THE CREATION AND MODELLING OF SURFACES
4. AUTODESK MAYA FOR THE SIMULATION AND THE RENDERING

BUT WHAT IS DIGITAL PROTOTYPING EXACTLY?

A production chain based entirely on the AUTODESK digital prototyping solutions corresponds to a series of cascade advantages that have a positive effect on the production of the MULTICENTER.

The digital model is an important aspect in our production, because it allows us to anticipate its yield and possibilities of use, in addition to being able to verify during the design phase the way it will be used.

This modus operandi allows the designer to come as close as possible to the final product, saving time in terms of any modifications that may be needed compared to a physical prototype.

It is also useful for measuring its efficiency, since it is possible to evaluate the cost during the development phase, keeping an eye on the parameters set by the budget. As I mentioned before, I would like to reveal to you the instruments behind the success of the MULTICENTER.

At first I was a bit doubtful on whether or not to let you in on this “secret”, but then I made up my mind, so now I will tell you so that you can understand how we developed the MULTICENTER.

Thanks to AUTODESK, which accompanied us step by step in the use of the various software applications used to develop the MULTICENTER, today we are the only machine tool manufacturer to fully use DIGITAL PROTOTYPING for the entire process, during all of the product design and verification phases.

OBVIOUSLY, I CANNOT BE 100% SURE WITH REGARDS TO THIS STATEMENT!

It’s a big world out there but, generally speaking, if you ask one of my competitors what DIGITAL PROTOTYPING is, I bet the most common answer you will receive will be: “the 3D printer” or “No! We make machine tools”

THIS IS WHY OTHERS HAVE FAILED! THE SUCCESS OBTAINED BY THE MULTICENTER IS NO ACCIDENT!

Thanks to this way of working, we have fully redesigned the MULTICENTER to obtain the following benefits:

• A MACHINE THAT IS VERIFIED VIRTUALLY AND NOT DURING THE ASSEMBLY PHASE
• WE ANTICIPATED POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ON THE CAD SCREEN, SOLVING THEM AT A MUCH LOWER COST
• WE STUDIED THE ENCLOSURE AT THE ERGONOMIC LEVEL TO FACILITATE ALL OPERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE USER
• WE STUDIED THE ERGONOMICS OF THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A MORE NATURAL INTERACTION
• WE DIGITALISED THE ENTIRE PIPING, OPTIMISING THE VARIOUS HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC CIRCUITS, ELIMINATING IMPROVISING DURING THE ASSEMBLY PHASE

These are some of the points that have made it possible to develop a well-designed machine, with no improvisations whatsoever and, even more important, at the lowest cost in its category.

THIS IS MY VERSION OF THE FACTS…

BUT HERE IS WHAT AUTODESK HAS WRITTEN ABOUT US:

Write here your e-mail address and you will be taken straight to the CASE HISTORY written directly by AUTODESK ITALIA that talks about PORTA SOLUTIONS and DIGITAL PROTOTYPING.

Maurizio Porta
Expert in Flexible Production