Collect Data from CNC Machines with Apogean™

Collect data from every critical asset for smart manufacturing apps

Collect Data from CNC Machines with Apogean™

Now it's easy to collect data from CNC machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

Machine shops struggle to collect data from CNC machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps. Apogean™ by Toward Zero makes it quick and easy to collect data from CNC machines, without expensive PLC’s, complex wiring, or third-party conversion software. Apogean is a plug-and-play smart manufacturing data collection device with onboard software to convert data from your CNC machines to almost any protocol needed for OEE, manufacturing analytics, MES, or other smart manufacturing application.

No more expensive hardware, software, infrastructure, or additional network drops. Apogean lets you use the same serial port or ethernet port for both CNC program and machine data collection.

Which data protocol do you need for your smart manufacturing apps?

Collect data from HAAS machines

Yes, I want to collect data from HAAS machineHAAS Machines “Only Speak HAAS”

  • Nearly all HAAS machines up to 2016 have only one serial port, which means the port can only be used for NC program download or to collect machine data, but not both – if the port is used to collect machine data it’s always in the HAAS proprietary protocol (there are still a few out there that don't even have a serial port!)
  • Many HAAS machines from 2016 through today do have an ethernet port, which can be used for both NC program download and to collect machine data, but the data is always in the HAAS proprietary protocol (called HAAS MDC, "machine data collection")

It’s Hard to Collect Data from a HAAS Machine for OEE and Manufacturing Analytics

  • Whether your HAAS machine has an ethernet port or serial port, it still can’t provide the necessary data for most OEE, MES, or smart manufacturing systems on the market today. Data from any HAAS machine is always in the HAAS proprietary protocol (called HAAS MDC, "machine data collection") – it’s limited because the HAAS protocol isn’t open source, and most applications on the market can’t communicate with it.
  • Until recently, machine shops with HAAS machines that wanted to collect data for OEE, MES, analytics, or smart manufacturing apps had limited options:
    1. Use widely available apps and exclude all their HAAS equipment from the initiative
    2. Use HAAS apps, which work only with the HAAS machines (so exclude all their other machines)
    3. Give up and do nothing

Get a quote to collect data from HAAS machineNow it's easy to collect data from HAAS machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

Collect data from machines with a FANUC controller

Yes, I want to collect data from CNC with FANUC controllerFANUC Machines “Only Speak FOCAS”

  • Many machines with FANUC controllers do have an ethernet port, which can be used for both NC program download and to collect machine data, but the data is always in the FANUC proprietary protocol (called FOCAS, “FANUC Open CNC API Specifications)

It can be a hassle to get data from a machine using FANUC for OEE and Manufacturing Analytics

  • Until recently, machine shops with machines using FANUC controllers that wanted to collect data for OEE, MES, analytics, or smart manufacturing apps had limited options:
    1. Use FANUC apps, and exclude all the other machines in your shop
    2. Limit your app choices to only those that support the FANUC protocol
    3. Give up and do nothing

Get a quote to collect data from CNC machine with FANUC controllerNow it's easy to collect data from HAAS machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

Collect data from machines that speak MTConnect

Yes, I want to collect data from CNC machineMachines and apps that “speak” MTConnect are few and far between

  • MTConnect was invented to bridge the gap between CNC machines and smart manufacturing solutions. Some consider it a utopian goal that requires machine builders and app makers to “reinvent” their solutions to provide easy connectivity.
  • To date, there has been low adoption among machine builders and smart manufacturing app developers. It’s rare for a machine shop to have both equipment and systems that “speak” MTConnect.
  • Until recently, machine shops with machines that speak MTConnect had limited options:
    1. Limit your app choices to only those that support the MTConnect protocol
    2. Translate the data from the MTConnect protocol to whatever protocol your app requires
    3. Give up and do nothing

Get a quote to collect data from CNC machineNow it's easy to collect data from CNC machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

Collect data for smart manufacturing apps that speak OPC or OPC-UA

Yes, I want to collect data from CNC machineOPC was designed for PLC's not for CNC machines

  • OPC (OPC and OPC-UA) was designed for process manufacturing equipment that use PLC’s. Most smart manufacturing apps rely on OPC or OPC-UA. There are no CNC machines that natively use OPC or OPC-UA.
  • It’s complicated, time consuming, and expensive to get the data from your machine into smart manufacturing apps using OPC or OPC-UA.
  • Until recently, machine shops that wanted to use innovative apps that speak only OPC or OPC-UA had limited options:
    1. Translate the data from whatever protocol your machine uses to or OPC-UA
    2. Give up and do nothing

Get a quote to collect data from CNC machineNow it's easy to collect data from CNC machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

Collect data from legacy CNC machines

Yes, I want to collect data from CNC machineLegacy CNC machines are “silent” (don't speak any protocol)

  • It’s expensive to connect old and legacy equipment to your smart manufacturing apps. It requires specialized knowledge and tools, it takes a lot of time, and every machine model is unique. If you can figure out how to connect one machine, it’s unlikely the next machine will be similar.
  • Connecting legacy CNC machines requires a lot of expensive downtime.
  • Until recently, machine shops with old and legacy machines that wanted to collect data for OEE, MES, analytics, or smart manufacturing apps had limited options:
    1. Hire a specialist to figure out the machine connectivity strategy for each machine, then conduct a cost analysis to determine ROI
    2. Select only a few legacy machines to connect, and exclude many others from the smart manufacturing initiative
    3. Connect the machines, but end up with too few or the wrong data to feed the smart manufacturing apps
    4. Give up and do nothing

Get a quote to collect data from CNC machineNow it's easy to collect data from older CNC machines for OEE, shop floor analytics, and other apps.

What machine data can you collect with Apogean?

Apogean Machine Compatibility Chart

Some machines let you use the serial port for DNC or to collect data, but not both.

On a HAAS CNC machine, you can use serial port for DNC or to collect data for smart manufacturing

Use Apogean to Collect Data from CNC Machines for Smart Manufacturing

Apogean lets your older and newer CNC equipment “speak” to smart manufacturing solutions quickly and inexpensively. We eliminate the need for expensive PLC’s, complex wiring, and third-party conversion software.

Collect data from CNC machine for smart manufacturing apps

With Apogean, data flows both directions using the serial port or ethernet port on your CNC equipment. Apogean converts your data into other protocols so you can use any analytics or smart manufacturing app on the market today. It also means that you don’t have to change your data collection method or architecture if you change your mind later about applications, or want to try new ones as they come on the market.

With Apogean, use serial port for DNC and to collect machine data for smart manufacturing

As a result, you can capture and leverage data from every critical asset. What does that mean for your machine shop with various machine types, brands, and controllers? Machine tools generate hundreds of data points every millisecond, but not every smart manufacturing software application “speaks” the various proprietary protocols. If you want to use industrial analytics and apps, you need a quick, inexpensive way to get your machine data over to common systems like:

  • OEE / shop floor analytics
  • MES
  • Tool life monitoring
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Energy monitoring
  • Advanced planning and scheduling
  • Quality
  • Plant scheduling systems
  • Asset performance management

There’s no reason to mothball your legacy machines or exclude them from your analytics initiative because you can’t collect data from them. Collect data from CNC machines with the world’s only intelligent data collection solution that “speaks the same language” as all the smart manufacturing applications on the market today.

Trusted by global companies for smart manufacturing:

How to set up Apogean for HAAS Classic

How do I collect data from HAAS machines with Apogean™?

Apogean how-to guide for HAAS Classic

This quick start guide shows you how to set up Apogean™ with your HAAS CNC machine to collect data for smart manufacturing.

Get started now

Smart Manufacturing 101: Which Machine Data is Right for OEE

Which machine data is right for OEE?

Learn how to avoid the "all data is better" syndrome.

Despite advances in collecting data from CNC machines, a lot of manufacturing execs are still at odds about which machine data is required to calculate OEE. Internal debates can sidetrack projects early on. A 35+ year veteran of machine tool data explains how to set priorities around machine data for OEE.

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Collect machine data for smart manufacturing - get help and advice

Need help to collect data from CNC machines?

Collecting CNC machine data doesn't have to be hard.

Getting access to machine data can be frustrating and confusing. That doesn't mean your company has to skip older equipment or machines with proprietary protocols.  If you're unsure what approach is right for your company or specific machines, get advice from a machine connectivity expert.

Get help to collect data from CNC machines

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Toward Zero helps you establish priorities, build consensus, choose and implement solutions, and manage change within manufacturing operations and throughout the industrial enterprise. How can we help you?

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