Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has unveiled an automated computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programming tool, called ProPlanAI, that cuts the time taken to program factory machine tools by 75 per cent, according to a press release.
Powered by Microsoft Azure services built into Hexagon’s cloud-based Nexus connectivity and collaboration platform for discrete manufacturers, the new artificial intelligence technology is the next step in the evolution of CAM programming enabling machine shops to achieve operational excellence at scale. Hexagon’s AI application applies Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB and Azure Databricks to help manufacturing businesses of any size to apply their institutional knowledge more quickly, easily, and thoroughly, by applying artificial intelligence (AI) to automate time-consuming process planning.
Due for public launch in Q1 2025, ProPlanAI will learn from the data being created by a company’s CAM programmers. This will enable manufacturers to automatically explore existing programming information to predict ideal outcomes tailored to a company’s preferences, production capabilities, and needs. Available within Hexagon’s popular desktop CAM software and powered by Nexus, ProPlanAI will continuously learn and adapt, ensuring programmes are as efficient and productive as possible.
Chuck Mathews, General Manager for Production Software at Hexagon comments: “In a highly competitive market, productivity on the factory floor is crucial. While many machines are now automated, the programming of them is often long and laborious and requires highly skilled professionals that are spread thinly. We have collaborated with Microsoft to leverage their powerful AI capabilities through Nexus, so manufacturers can boost productivity by allowing their programmers to focus on complicated tasks where their knowledge has the greatest impact.
“Because manufacturers use their own pool of data to build programmes, suggestions automatically reflect the knowledge and experience of individual businesses, as well as the parts they produce and the machine tools they use. This ensures that new staff members can be quickly brought up to speed, while also ensuring that there is no knowledge drain when a person leaves a company or retires—something that is vital in an industry facing a skills shortage.”
ProPlanAI will also feature a co-pilot that can guide people through the process of setting up a machine and present to them programs that work. As well as offering support and guidance—for example tips on how to use the software, processes to make a specific part, and the best machining strategy to use—users can use chat functionality to ask specific questions and to launch commands.
ProPlanAI has already been beta tested by several industry experts, including RODIN Machining, which is on a journey to towards complete unmanned production for milling, turning, gripper and material handling, loading and unloading machines, and tool change.
ProPlanAI will be available to customers that use Hexagon’s ESPRIT EDGE CAM software from Q1 2025. Customers can add the use of ProPlanAI to their package via an add-on subscription.
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